PI Brief Update

Measurable Goals - Bill Braithwaite QC, Head of Exchange Chambers

07/02/15. Following on from my last blog, talking about rehabilitation, measurable goals are becoming increasingly important. I've had a couple of experiences recently which suggest to me that we lawyers may not do enough to make sure the rehab unit sets measurable goals, and measures progress against them. 

I think that, to set effective goals, one needs to analyse the rehab process in some detail. For example, if physio is part of the process, it should be possible to identify an ultimate goal, and all the steps (!) needed to reach it. If, for example, walking without any aid seems realistic, but the patient is currently far removed from that achievement, we could perhaps look for a weekly or monthly prediction of what physio should achieve. It might be possible to predict a few steps with two sticks or crutches, and one or two people supporting at the end of the first week or month, followed by one stick, one person, and eventually none, decreasing incrementally over the weeks or months. 

Of course, such predictions may turn out to be inaccurate, but that’s not a problem, provided that a suitable explanation is given.

Bill Braithwaite QC
Head of Exchange Chambers
This article was first published at http://billbraithwaiteqc.com/blog/

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