Shared governance: a way to improve the care in an inpatient rehabilitation facility.

Background: Rehabilitation care is specialized and individualized requiring effective and efficient communication to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

Purpose: To examine how effective implementation of shared governance could improve care delivery, promote patient-centered care, and improve patient outcomes.

Design: The shared governance approach included all members of the rehabilitation team (i.e., physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, registered nurse and nurse aide) and was implemented over 6 months.

Findings/conclusions: The major end products of this shared governance effort were improved staff communication, problem solving, patient outcomes, and staff satisfaction on our stroke and brain injury unit.

Clinical Relevance: When effectively implemented and sustained, shared governance between all rehabilitation team stakeholders can increase the effectiveness of communication along with more positive patient and staff outcomes.