What Even is the IDT and Why Should I Care?

In all facilities, when we refer to the Interdisciplinary Team (the IDT), we’re talking about the group of people who have a role in the Patient or Resident’s care. This includes the Patient themselves, the family members that they want involved in their care, and the medical, social, and financial healthcare providers that are directly involved in the individual’s care.

I’d like to take the time today to break this down in terms of Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) since that’s the facility we primarily look at here.

Within the SNF, the IDT traditionally consists of the Patient or Resident, the family and/or personal care partners they’ve delegated to their care, the facility’s Medical Director, nursing, any therapies involved, Social Work, the dietary department, Life Enrichment (facility activities), and the billing office.

When an individual is a short-term Patient (usually receiving services under their MedA benefit), the team meets within the first 72 hours of admission, and again at least once more prior to discharge. These meetings are the opportunity to review the Patient’s current condition, their home environment, their prior level of function, and their goals and desired discharge plan; as well as how well they’ve been progressing and how reasonable that plan is.

When an individual is a long-term care Resident (usually receiving long-term nursing care through Medicaid with therapies via a MedB benefit), the team meets once a quarter to review the Resident’s current status and care plan and ensure that all needs are being met. In my experience, the Director of Rehab will attend all these meetings to review the potential need for therapy or the current therapy services the Resident has been receiving.

Now, as a regular old OTR or COTA, this should matter to you.

These meetings are yet another opportunity for you to voice your concerns, demonstrate the benefit of OT services, and advocate for your Patients and Residents. It’s the semi-formal setting where all members of the team are present and required to hear your input on this individual’s needs, progress, and response to OT services.

If you’re feeling stuck on what to do and say in these meetings, I’ve got some tips for that. And you can download and print this Communication Sheet for free to keep each meeting’s notes organized and concise.