Fourteenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is part of the World Health Organization’s Family of International Classification. It provides a unifying framework for classifying all aspects of health and functioning. The comprehensive nature of the ICF system makes the framework and classification useful across multiple professions, disciplines, and practice settings including health and social care systems. With an increased global emphasis on interdisciplinary practice, the ICF enables a uniform approach to assessing functioning and to developing appropriate interventions using a team-based approach. Despite demonstrated usefulness of the ICF in many clinical professions (for example, occupational therapy and speech language pathology) and in countries such as Sweden, the classification still lacks widespread momentum in professional implementation. Contributing to this situation is the fact that there has been limited knowledge shared about successful and innovative programs in education and practice. Use cases on the ICF can be helpful in understanding its benefits inter-professionally. This paper describes several interprofessional activities that have enhanced awareness of the ICF system and framework among professionals across disciplines and have increased ICF usage in educational and practice settings across professionals. These examples include a series of ICF training workshops held in the United States, an online international course series on the ICF and rehabilitation, and an innovative interdisciplinary patient clinic operated by a university in the United States.