Day: July 24, 2023

Advance Allied physiotherapist health professionals work in many environments, including aged-care facilities, hospitals and rehabilitation services. Their services are often covered by private health insurance.

New models of care involve physiotherapists working in what are referred to as advanced practice or extended scope practice roles. These roles include role enhancement or substitution related to traditionally performed medical or controlled acts.

Job description

Allied health is a field that involves a range of healthcare professions, including physical therapy. Its scope includes:

• The identification, diagnostic evaluation and treatment of acute and chronic diseases and disorders.
• Provision of dietary and nutritional services.
• Rehabilitation services.

Allied health professionals also play a role in managing and operating health systems. They apply scientific principles and evidence-based practice to optimise patient or client outcomes.

Physiotherapists are health professionals who specialise in diagnosing and treating injuries or disorders related to movement and mobility. They use various methods, such as massage, heat therapy and exercise, to help patients manage pain and improve their mobility. Physiotherapists work in hospitals, community health centres and private practices. Medicare benefits may also cover them.

A recent survey found that physiotherapists who perform extended-scope roles are more satisfied with their job than those who do not. However, the findings of this study are not representative of a wider population. Further studies are needed to identify whether broader clinical skills can be acquired in a shorter time period and if they can lead to improved patient satisfaction.

This research aims to determine whether routine physiotherapists’ management of patients with hip fractures is associated with improved outcomes regarding guideline-recommended daily mobilisation, discharge destination and hospital readmissions. 

The position requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy and current registration. In addition, the successful candidate will have a solid commitment to clinical excellence and professional advocacy. The successful candidate will be expected to collaborate with inter-professional Advance Allied physiotherapist teams and foster client autonomy and self-management. This is a full-time position, but part-time options may be available. The work will require some scheduled weekend shifts at the Church site Reactivation Care Centre and some weekday schedule coverage. The successful candidate will provide relief coverage during planned vacations or absences at the Church and Finch sites RCCs as required.

Education requirements

Allied health workers are essential to the healthcare team and work in many different environments, including aged-care facilities, hospitals and rehabilitation services. They also work in community health centres, medical clinics and private practices. These health professionals are skilled and experienced in their field and are often covered by private health insurance.

The education requirements for an advance allied physiotherapist depend on the discipline. You need a bachelor’s degree in a relevant area for physical therapy. For example, an undergraduate degree in human biology or a health science program suits a physiotherapist. In addition to introductory science courses, you should take kinesiology, functional anatomy, therapeutic communication skills and neurobiology classes. You should also take courses in psychology, organic chemistry and statistics. Taking these prerequisite courses before applying to a PT program is essential.

Most PT programs require 2-3 letters of recommendation from professors and physical therapists you’ve shadowed. Maintain relationships with your professors and the physical therapists you follow, and check in with them periodically. This will help them remember you and write a more vital letter of recommendation.

A scoping review of APP competency frameworks and curricula from countries with well-established APP roles identified critical themes for international standardisation. These include Advanced Allied physiotherapist clinical practice, research, leadership and service development, and professional-related matters. Moreover, participating physiotherapists more commonly prioritised competencies that would be considered beyond entry-level physiotherapy skills. This is a significant finding that calls for a greater understanding of what constitutes an extended scope of physiotherapy. Ultimately, it could have implications for the global training and accreditation of physiotherapists.

Moreover, it can also inform the definition of the role. Physiotherapists in extended-scope roles can potentially improve patient outcomes and enhance patient satisfaction. This will require a clear description of the extended-scope role and an understanding it. This may be achieved by integrating a more holistic view of care for patients with musculoskeletal conditions, incorporating acute and chronic health problems. It may also be possible to reduce healthcare costs by extending the scope of physiotherapists’ interventions to address common health problems.