Standard
The physiotherapist collaborates with patients, healthcare providers, and others (such as caregivers or other members of the health team) to provide safe, effective, quality, concurrent care, when indicated by the patient’s healthcare needs and preferences.
Expected outcome
Patients can expect that the physiotherapist collaborates effectively with others to promote integrated patient-centered care.
Performance expectations
The physiotherapist:
- Inquires about situations where patients may be considering or receiving concurrent treatment from another healthcare provider for the same or a related condition.
- Consults with or refers to the appropriate healthcare provider when the patient’s interests and aspects of patients’ goals are best addressed by another provider.
- Only participates in concurrent treatment of the same or a related condition when approaches are compatible, clinically indicated, of benefit to patients, and an appropriate use of human/financial resources.
- Identifies, communicates, documents and manages risks of concurrent treatment of the same or related condition when:
- Approaches conflict,
- There is inefficient use of resources, and/or
- The risks outweigh the benefits to patients.
- Recognizes when problems or conflicts in the collaborative relationship arise that could interfere with the delivery of safe, quality care, and takes reasonable steps to resolve them in a collaborative way.
- Communicates the decision to decline or discontinue the physiotherapy portion of concurrent treatment to the patient providing their rationale for the decision and documents this discussion.
Definitions
- Compatible approaches
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Methods and strategies that complement each other, work without conflict, and support the patient’s treatment goals rather than hindering them.
- Concurrent Treatment/Care
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The circumstance where more than one health professional (provider) is administering or applying remedies, including medical, surgical or other therapies, to a patient for the same or related disease or injury.
- Risk
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something that may cause injury or harm or the state of not being protected from injury or harm. Patients encounter risk of harm each time they seek health care services. Some risks are directly related to assessment procedures and interventions, while others relate to environmental factors or are sector specific.