Vague Plans a Real Problem

The Case 

The College received a complaint from an insurance company about a physiotherapist who appeared to be billing personal training as physiotherapy.  

When the College reviewed patient records, several issues stood out. Many assessments lacked objective findings and clear diagnoses. Treatment plans were often vague and looked more like general exercise programs. In some cases, notes showed that physiotherapist assistants, not the physiotherapist, had made changes to the treatment plan and patients sometimes went long stretches without being reassessed by the physiotherapist. 

The Standards 

Physiotherapy treatment needs to be based on a specific diagnosis determined through an assessment.  

As detailed in the Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment Standard, physiotherapists should use standardized measures to assess and reassess a patient’s condition and progress. Treatment plans must be consistent with the assessment findings.  

All of this needs to be documented in the patient record. Physiotherapists must use their judgement to adjust or discontinue physiotherapy services that are no longer required or effective.  

Assessments and reassessments must be performed by a physiotherapist and cannot be assigned to a physiotherapist assistant. See the Supervision Standard for more details.  

Similarly, all treatment planning must be done by the physiotherapist. Physiotherapist assistants can’t make modifications to a treatment plan themselves.  

The Outcome 

The physiotherapist was required to complete a Specified Continuing Educational or Remediation Program (SCERP) at their own cost.   

A record of the SCERP will be posted to the Public Register.   

Details of this case have been changed to maintain anonymity. 

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