Profession physiotherapist

Physiotherapists are autonomous health professionals who are responsible for developing, maintaining or restoring motor function and movement throughout the lifespan using evidence-based practice. They relieve pain and treat or prevent physical conditions associated with injury, disease or other impairments. Physiotherapists empower patients and their carers to manage the condition outside clinical settings. They work within their scope of practice and their professional Code of Conduct. 

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Personality Type

• Social / Investigative

Knowledge

• Rehabilitation

  The methods and procedures used to help an ill or injured person restore lost skills and regain self-sufficiency and control.

• Surgery

  The essential procedures in surgical practice such as the principle of safe surgery, the pathophysiology of wound healing, knot tying, tissue handling, retraction and any other instruments and procedures used in the operating room.

• First aid

  The emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person in the case of circulatory and/or respiratory failure, unconsciousness, wounds, bleeding, shock or poisoning.

• Pharmacology

  Pharmacology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• Biomechanics

  The use of mechanical means to understand the function and structure of biological organisms.

• Obstetrics and gynaecology

  Obstetrics and gynaecology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• Physics

  The natural science involving the study of matter, motion, energy, force and related notions.

• Orthopaedic manual physiotherapy

  A specialised area of physiotherapy for the management of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions, based on clinical reasoning, using highly specific treatment approaches including manual techniques and therapeutic exercises.

• Medical informatics

  The processes and tools used for the analysis and dissemination of medical data through computerized systems.

• Sociology

  The group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

• Kinetics

  The study of movement and its causes.

• Respiratory therapy

  Treatment focused on the management of the airways in various medical conditions or situations such as emergency or trauma.

• Intensive care medicine

  Medical specialty dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening conditions.

• Therapeutic massage

  Massage techniques used to relieve pain and alleviate other symptoms associated with a number of different medical conditions.

• Medical terminology

  The meaning of medical terms and abbreviations, of medical prescriptions and various medical specialties and when to use it correctly.

• Psychiatry

  Psychiatry is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• General medicine

  General medicine is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• Orthopaedics

  Orthopaedics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• Human physiology

  The science that studies the human organs and its interactions and mechanisms.

• Human anatomy

  The dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and altered anatomy and physiology throughout the human lifespan.

• Neurology

  Neurology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• Emergency surgery

  The characteristics and methods of a surgical intervention performed in emergency cases.

• Geriatrics

  Geriatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• Psychology

  The human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.

• Paediatrics

  Paediatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• Manage healthcare staff

  The managerial tasks and responsibilities required in a health care setting.

Skills

• Apply health sciences

  Apply a broad range of bio-medical, psycho-social, organisational, educational, and societal aspects of health, disease, and healthcare to improve healthcare services and to improve quality of life.

• Contribute to quality physiotherapy services

  Participate in activities that promote quality, particularly in the acquisition and evaluation of equipment, resources, safe storage and supply management.

• Apply clinical physiotherapy skills

  Apply clincial physiotherapy skills across different practice areas using a holistic and evidence-based approach.

• Provide leadership

  Lead and influence others to promote and contribute to policy development, advocacy, extending the boundaries and strategy at various levels.

• Listen actively

  Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.

• Supervise physiotherapist assistants

  Supervise and provide learning opportunities for physiotherapist assistants.

• Record healthcare users' progress related to treatment

  Record the healthcare user's progress in response to treatment by observing, listening and measuring outcomes.

• Collect healthcare user's general data

  Collect qualitative and quantitative data related to the healthcare user's anagraphic data and provide support on filling out the present and past history questionnaire and record the measures/tests performed by the practitioner.

• Provide physiotherapy diagnosis

  Provide a physiotherapy diagnosis/clinical impression of the client`s condition, working with the client to identify impairments, activity and participation limitations resulting from illness, injury and/or ageing, undertaking a holistic approach.

• Provide information on the effects of physiotherapy

  Provide information on therapeutic outcomes and any inherent risks to the client making sure he/she understands, acting in accordance with ethical principles and local/national policies where the client does not have the capacity to understand.

• Triage clients for physiotherapy

  Triage clients for physiotherapy, prioritising their assessment and indicating where additional services are required.

• Measure effectiveness of the service provided

  Use a problem-solving approach to develop and measure recommendations for improving the quality of professional practice in increasingly unpredictable contexts, contributing to change and development within the profession or service at a local, regional or national level.

• Interact with healthcare users

  Communicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.

• Accept own accountability

  Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.

• Ensure safety of healthcare users

  Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.

• Refer healthcare users

  Make referrals to other professionals, based on the healthcare user's requirements and needs, especially when recognising that additional healthcare diagnostics or interventions are required.

• Advise on healthcare users' informed consent

  Ensure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.

• Develop plans related to client discharge

  Organise discharge planning, when applicable, across a range of healthcare settings, communicating effectively and ensuring that the client and carers are involved in the decision making process.

• Adhere to health well-being and safety

  Comply with and apply the main points of health well-being and safety policy and procedures, in accordance with employer's policies. Report health and safety risks that have been identified and follow the appropriate procedures if an accident or injury should occur.

• Educate on the prevention of illness

  Offer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and health conditions. Provide advice on the identification of risks leading to ill health and help to increase the patients' resilience by targeting prevention and early intervention strategies.

• Develop plans related to the transfer of care

  Organise transfer of care, when applicable, across a range of healthcare settings, communicating effectively and ensuring that the patient/client and carers are involved in the decision making process.

• Interpret medical results

  Interpret, integrate and apply results of diagnostic imaging, laboratory tests and other investigations as part of the assessment of the client, in consultation with other healthcare practitioners.

• Create solutions to problems

  Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.

• Manage physiotherapy staff

  Recruit, train, manage, develop and supervise physiotherapy staff where appropriate, ensuring provision of a clinically effective service to clients, recognising the need for further training both for oneself and other physiotherapy staff.

• Develop physiotherapy services

  Develop a safe, effective and efficient quality physiotherapy service.

• Comply with legislation related to health care

  Comply with the regional and national legislation that is relevant to one`s work and apply it in practice.

• Empathise with the healthcare user

  Understand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence. Demonstrate a concern for their welfare and handle according to the personal boundaries, sensitivities, cultural differences and preferences of the client and patient in mind.

• Manage healthcare users' data

  Keep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, written and electronic) are treated confidentially.

• Work in a multicultural environment in health care

  Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.

• Deal with emergency care situations

  Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.  

• Work in multidisciplinary health teams

  Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.

• Manage a healthcare unit budget

  Manage a healthcare unit budget. Collaborate in budget planning processes including cost of supplies needed for adequate health services and management.

• Develop strategic plans for physiotherapy services

  Contribute to the development of systems, policies and procedures for the provision of physiotherapy services, sharing knowledge and contributing to internal and external learning opportunities.

• Engage in physiotherapy research

  Undertake different levels of engagement in physiotherapy research activities to improve the quality and evidence base in the physiotherapy field.

• Communicate effectively in healthcare

  Communicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.

• Adjust physiotherapy interventions

  Adjust physiotherapy interventions based on re-evaluation of the client`s response to treatment.

• Employ cognitive behaviour treatment techniques

  Employ cognitive behavioural treatment techniques for those whose treatment involves cognitive re-training, addressing dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviours and cognitive processes and contents through a variety of systematic procedures.

• Respond to changing situations in health care

  Cope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.

• Formulate a treatment plan

  Formulate a treatment plan and evaluation analysis based on collected data following assessment using a clinical reasoning process.

• Prescribe healthcare products

  Prescribe healthcare products, when indicated, for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to the client`s needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice, national and practice protocols and within scope of practice.

• Conduct physiotherapy assessment

  Undertake physiotherapy assessment, incorporating data collected from subjective, physical examinations and information derived from other relevant sources, maintaining clients` safety, comfort and dignity during assessment.

• Contribute to the rehabilitation process

  Contribute to the rehabilitation process to enhance activity, functioning and participation using a person-centered and evidence-based approach.

• Use different communication channels

  Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

• Provide health education

  Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.

• Promote health and safety policies in health services

  Promote adherence to local, regional, national and EU Health and Safety legislation, policies, guidelines and protocols.

• Follow clinical guidelines

  Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.

• Use e-health and mobile health technologies

  Use mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.

• Manage clinical risk

  Improve the quality and safe delivery of healthcare, placing special emphasis on identifying those circumstances that place clients, their families and carers, staff, students and others at risk of harm and act to prevent or control those risks.

• Provide self management support

  Provide evidence-based information and strategies on self management to the client.

• Provide learning support in healthcare

  Provide the necessary support to facilitate learning for clients, carers, students, peers, support workers and other healthcare practitioners by assessing the learner`s development needs and preferences, designing agreed formal and informal outcomes of learning and delivering materials that facilitate learning and development.

• Adhere to organisational guidelines

  Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.

• Develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship

  Develop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.

• Apply context specific clinical competences

  Apply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within one`s own scope of practice.

• Inform policy makers on health-related challenges

  Provide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.

• Maintain physiotherapy equipment

  Maintain the physiotherapy equipment and supplies, ensuring that equipment is safe and fit for purpose.

• Comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice

  Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.

• Contribute to continuity of health care

  Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.

• Provide treatment strategies for challenges to human health

  Identify possible treatment protocols for the challenges to human health within a given community in cases such as infectious diseases of high consequences at the global level.

• Supervise physiotherapy students

  Supervise, educate and provide learning opportunities for physiotherapy students.

• Advocate health

  Advocate for health promotion, well-being and disease or injury prevention on behalf of clients and the profession to enhance community, public and population health.

• Develop therapeutic relationships

  Maintain the individual therapeutic relationship to engage the individual's innate healing capacities, to achieve active collaboration in the health education and healing process and to maximise the potential of healthy change.

• Apply organisational techniques

  Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the goals set. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.

• Conduct health related research

  Conduct research in health related topics and communicate findings orally, through public presentations or by writing reports and other publications.

• Promote inclusion

  Promote inclusion in health care and social services and respect diversity of beliefs, culture, values and preferences, keeping in mind the importance of equality and diversity issues.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB