Cotreatment as a Vehicle for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice: Physical Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists Collaborating in the Care of Children With Severe Disabilities

Purpose: This article defines interprofessional collaborative practice and links its key features with accepted practice conceptualizations of physical therapy. Cotreatment with speech-language pathology is described as a vehicle for interprofessional collaborative practice for children with severe disabilities. Method: The article reviews the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (WHO, 2015) and the Hypothesis-Oriented Algorithm for Clinicians II (Rothstein, Echternach, & Riddle, 2003) as existing service-delivery frameworks in physical therapy and discusses how interprofessional collaborative practice between speech-language pathologists and physical therapists can be useful within these practice guidelines. Results: A case illustration featuring interprofessional collaborative practice during cotreatment for a child with severe disabilities through physical therapy and speech-language pathology showed more seamless care and better progress in the pursuit of three main goals: physical movement, communication of needs, and participation in classroom activities. Conclusions: Interprofessional collaborative practice is supported as a recommended practice methodology for physical therapists and speech-language pathologists serving persons with severe disabilities.