Standard
The physiotherapist demonstrates proficiency in patient assessment, diagnosis, and treatments to deliver quality, safe, patient-centered physiotherapy services.
Expected outcome
Patients can expect the physiotherapist to select appropriate assessment techniques, make an informed diagnosis, and apply treatment procedures that are carried out proficiently for quality delivery of safe, effective physiotherapy services.
Performance expectations
The physiotherapist:
- Delivers only those physiotherapy services that are clinically indicated for patients and that they are competently able to provide.
- Obtains patients’ ongoing informed consent to proposed physiotherapy services.
- Applies professional judgment to select and apply appropriate assessment procedures to evaluate patients’ health status. Appropriate assessment includes taking a history and completing a physical examination relevant to presenting symptoms.
- Uses standardized measures as available to assess and reassess the patient’s condition and progress.
- Uses critical thinking and professional judgment to interpret the assessment findings and determine a diagnosis and prognosis consistent with the scope of practice of the physiotherapy profession and the physiotherapist’s individual competence.
- Addresses patient’s physiotherapy needs and goals by employing professional judgment to develop sensible and practical treatment plans that are consistent with the assessment findings.
- Applies treatment procedures safely and effectively.
- Assigns appropriate tasks to supervisees with patients’ consent.
- Re-evaluates, monitors, and documents patients’ responses throughout the course of treatment.
- Makes adjustments and/or discontinues physiotherapy services that are no longer required or effective.
- Makes appropriate referrals when patients’ needs are best addressed in collaboration with or by another provider.
- Employs professional judgment to plan and implement discharge plans appropriate for the patient’s need, goals and progress.
- Provides patient education to enable and optimize patients’ transition to self-management.
- Promotes continuity in service by collaborating and facilitating patients’ transition from one health sector or provider to another.
- Delivers only those physiotherapy services that are clinically indicated for patients and that they are competently able to provide.
Definitions
- Collaborate
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To work jointly with others or together, especially in an intellectual endeavor.
- Informed Consent
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The process where a patient or their substitute decision maker, in cases where the patient is incapable with respect to the treatment, is provided with information regarding a proposed course of treatment. This information covers essential topics such as the nature of the treatment, expected benefits, material risks and potential side effects, alternative courses of action, and the likely consequences of not undergoing the treatment. The individual is ensured the opportunity to seek and receive additional information to help make an informed decision about the treatment.
- Proficiency
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Performance consistent with the established standards in the profession.
- Quality
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The degree to which a product or service satisfies a specified set of attributes or requirements.
- Safe
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Free from harm or reasonably foreseeable risk; secure from threat or danger.
- Standardized Measures
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Measurement tools that are designed for a specific purpose in a given population. Information is provided regarding the administration, scoring, interpretation, and psychometric properties for each measure.
- Supervisee
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An individual who is working under supervision. In physiotherapy practice this may include physiotherapist residents, physiotherapist assistants, or students and volunteers.