Physiotherapist, Respiratory Rehabilitation Clinic

Location: New Westminster

Detailed Overview

Reporting to the Manager, Health Services and in collaboration with the Nurse Clinician, Respiratory Rehabilitation Clinic, the Physiotherapist, Respiratory Rehabilitation Clinic educates and designs exercises programs for individuals with a chronic respiratory disease using evidence based physical therapy practice. The clinic physiotherapist uses methods such as assessment, treatment planning, evaluation of the plan, and modifying the plan to meet the patient's respiratory needs.

Treating a variety of respiratory conditions in the outpatient setting, the physiotherapist performs chest treatment techniques, teaches airway clearance techniques and utilizes positive feedback to empower patients to achieve their full respiratory potential. In collaboration with the Medical Director and the multidisciplinary team members the physiotherapist uses principles of adult education to teach coping skills and health maintenance strategies to patients to achieve quality of life;

participates in Research Clinical Trials. Responsibilities Completes a physical therapy patient assessment of referred patients to determine the respiratory and general health status of the patient through methods such as a physical assessment, chest auscultation, medication review, and identifying psychosocial needs of the patient or family member that may need referral to other health care providers. Identifies and evaluates changes in the patient's respiratory health by performing duties such as Exercise Oximetry, reviewing pulmonary function testing results, laboratory results and obtaining the patient's own perceptions of changes in their health status.

Using principles of exercise physiology, the respiratory rehabilitation physiotherapist plans a complete exercise program for groups or individuals with a chronic respiratory disease. Throughout the exercise routine, the physiotherapist modifies the exercise program to accommodate the patients with co-morbidities. Identifies patient respiratory problems which can be treated with evidence based physical therapy interventions such as teaching purse lip breathing, the proper use of Inhalers, strategies for airway clearance and teaches other coping strategies for dealing with a chronic respiratory diesease.

Develops a plan of care including identifying short and long term goals, implementing physical therapy interventions and evaluating expected outcomes when monitoring and documenting the patient's progress at subsequent clinic visits. Modifies the plan of care based on outcomes of the evaluation process. Prepares program lesson plans in conjunction with other Respiratory Rehabilitation Team members using adult education principles and research based best practice Guidelines for Respiratory Rehabilitation Medicine.

Identifies patient/family learning needs and teaches and counsels patients and families individually and in-groups using a variety of education tools such as written materials, audio visual aids, and demonstrating techniques such as airway clearance. Monitors and documents the patient's progress through the program, implementing physical therapy interventions in response to the patient's identified health and respiratory needs. Adjusts care plan when necessary through methods such as collaboration with multidisciplinary team members, discussion with the medical staff and other health care disciplines and community agencies as applicable.

Participates in the orientation of new staff through methods such as allowing them to take an active role in lesson planning, teaching them adult education theory and the development of physical therapy care plans. Evaluates their progress through the orientation period providing feedback to enrich their orientation experience. Participates in the observational sessions of students, pharmaceutical representatives and other health care professionals through methods such as providing them an opportunity to observe patient educational presentations, participate in an exercise class and providing them with written education resource materials.

Provides information on physical therapy in respiratory rehabilitation…