Profession chiropractor
Chiropractors assess, plan and implement rehabilitative programs that improve or restore human motor functions, maximise movement ability, relieve pain syndromes, and treat or prevent physical challenges associated with injuries, diseases and other impairments.
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Personality Type
- Social / Investigative
- Investigative / Social
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Knowledge
- Somatic integrated modalities
The indications, contraindications and modifications of physiotherapeutic modalities and other manual and therapeutic modalities based on various conditions and situations.
- Epidemiology
The branch of medicine that deals with the incidence, distribution and control of diseases. The disease aetiology, transmission, outbreak investigation, and comparisons of treatment effects.
- Psychology
The human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.
- 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.
- Neuropathology
The reactions of peripheral and central nervous systems to disease such as tumours, infections, inflammation, infarction and immune mediated mechanisms.
- Biological chemistry
Biological chemistry is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
- Sociology
The group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
- Orthopaedics
Orthopaedics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
- Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
- 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.
- Neurophysiology
The medical specialty which is concerned with the study of the nervous system functionalities such as the nerve conduction from ion channel function to the massed responses of nerve trunks, fiber tracts and nuclei, and inhibitory and excitatory synaptic functions, the neuromuscular junction, different motor unit types and motor control and the cerebellum.
- General medicine
General medicine is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
- Evidence-based approach in general practice
The general principles, methods and concepts of scientific research and the fundamentals of statistics in medical care. The scientific background of pathology and theories about the forming of hypotheses and problem-solving.
- Neuroanatomy
The major subdivisions of the central and peripheral nervous systems such as fiber tracts and nuclei cortical subdivision and function, the visual, sensory, auditory and motor pathways.
- Geriatrics
Geriatrics 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.
- Orthopaedic conditions
The physiology, pathophysiology, pathology, and natural history of common orthopaedic conditions and injuries.
- Rehabilitation of all organ systems
The principles of physical medicine and rehabilitation of all organ systems as related to physiotherapy.
- Exercise physiology
The effect of exercise on pathology and how the exercise can mitigate or reverse disease progression.
- Radiation physics in healthcare
The radiation physics related to conventional radiology, CT, MRI, ultrasound, diagnostic nuclear medicine and their principles such as areas of application, indications, contraindications, limitations and radiation hazards.
- Orthopaedic treatment alternatives
The appropriate available non-operative and operative treatment alternatives for common orthopaedic conditions and injuries, the benefits and limitations of each type of treatment as well as any potential side effects or complications of the treatment.
- Kinesiology
The study of human movement, performance and function, the sciences of biomechanics, anatomy, physiology and neuroscience.
- Microbiology-bacteriology
Microbiology-Bacteriology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
- Rehabilitation
The methods and procedures used to help an ill or injured person restore lost skills and regain self-sufficiency and control.
- Obstetrics and gynaecology
Obstetrics and gynaecology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
- Radiation effects on human body
The way specific body parts are more specifically affected by exposure to different types of radiation sources.
- Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
- Musculoskeletal anatomy
The human musculoskeletal system, comprising of the skeleton, muscles, cartilage, tendons, joints and other connective tissue that supports and binds tissues and organs together. The human musculoskeletal system's primary functions, such as supporting the body, allowing motion, and protecting vital organs.
- Kinetics
The study of movement and its causes.
- Human physiology
The science of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functions of humans, their organs and cells in good health.
- 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.
- Medical informatics
The processes and tools used for the analysis and dissemination of medical data through computerized systems.
Skills
- Interpret findings from medical examinations
Interpret the findings from a patient`s history, clinical examination, radiographic examination, and other diagnostic tests and procedures.
- Use different communication channels
Use various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the aim of constructing and sharing information and ideas.
- 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.
- 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.
- Provide chiropractic diagnosis
Provide a proper working diagnosis/differential diagnosis and a proper inter-disciplinary or chiropractic treatment/management plan by performing a proper interview, working with patients to identify physical problems and difficulties resulting from illness, injury, disability or aging and by performing a proper/specific physical, neurological and orthopedic examination.
- Supervise chiropractic students
Supervise chiropractic students in the workplace and share own expertise with them; train them so that they can perform well in the workplace.
- Manage staff
Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
- Manage infection control in the facility
Implement a set of measures to prevent and control infections, formulating and establishing health and safety procedures and policies.
- 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.
- Undertake healthcare examination
Assess the healthcare user's physical state, taking detailed information on previous injuries, surgery, general health, resources and lifestyle into account.
- Apply caseload management
Manage a number of patients within a given amount of time, striving to provide optimum health services.
- 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.
- Perform chiropractic examinations
Perform, interpret and report the findings of chiropractic physical examinations, possibly involving an examination of the patient's spine and posture, and where relevant finding the source of discomfort or pain.
- 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.
- Provide information on chiropractic treatment outcomes
Provide information on therapeutic outcomes and any inherent risks to the client, ensuring that the client understands, and acting in accordance with ethical principles and local/national policies where the client does not have the capacity to understand.
- 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.
- 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.
- Provide neuromusculoskeletal therapy
Provide neuromusculoskeletal therapy and care, which involves adjusting a patient`s spinal column and other joints, principally by hand.
- Apply organisational techniques
Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the set goals set such as detailed planning of personnel's schedules. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.
- Educate on preventing injuries
Educate and advise patients and their caregivers about how to prevent injuries and conditions and improve existing conditions.
- Record healthcare users' progress related to treatment
Record the healthcare user's progress in response to treatment by observing, listening and measuring outcomes.
- Apply specific manual chiropractic techniques
Strive to decrease pain caused by neuro-muscular system dysfunction by using specific muscle tissue and joints adjustment and or general manipulation/mobilization.
- Monitor patients' progress related to treatment
Observe and report on healthcare users' response to medical treatment, monitoring their progress or decay on a daily basis and modifying the treatment procedures whenever necessary.
- Conduct neurological examination
Obtain a thorough understanding of the neurodevelopmental history of the patient, making a partial neurological assessment by observation in the case of uncooperative patients.
- Promote health and safety policies in health services
Promote adherence to local, regional, national and EU Health and Safety legislation, policies, guidelines and protocols.
- Formulate a treatment plan
Formulate a treatment plan and evaluation (analysis) based on collected data following assessment using a clinical reasoning 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.
- Provide health education
Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.
- Maintain treatment records
Keep accurate records and file reports related to the prescribed treatment or medication.
- 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.
- Cover a variety of health conditions
Deal with a wide range of health conditions, intervening in acute, chronic, preventative, palliative and emergency care.
- Provide leadership
Lead and influence others to promote and contribute to policy development, advocacy, extending the boundaries and strategy at various levels.
- Prescribe treatment for musculoskeletal injuries
Prescribe non-invasive procedures for injuries, immobilising fractured bones with the use of braces, splints, and casts and recommending therapeutic exercises, medication and nutritional supplements.
- Assess referred healthcare users
Assess healthcare users admitted under other medical specialties.
- Assist patients with rehabilitation
Assist to develop and restore patient`s body systems, their neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, helping them in the rehabilitation process.
- Maintain chiropractic equipment
Maintain the chiropractic professional equipment, supplied and professional spaces in the unit/office, making sure that it is kept in good working condition to support chiropractic services and maintained regularly as required by national legislative regulations.
- Conduct physical examinations
Conduct physical examination of healthcare users, looking for signs of dysfunction and sub-optimal function and analysing the patient`s systems, posture, spine and reflexes.
- 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.
- Advise on pregnancy
Counsel patients on normal changes occurring in pregnancy, providing advice on nutrition, drug effects and other lifestyle changes.
- Promote a safe working environment
Promote adherence to health and safety policies, guidelines and protocols including environmental, aseptic and infection control, conducting risk assessment for client encounters and taking necessary action to minimise any identified hazards.
- Perform orthopaedic examinations
Perform, interpret and report the findings of orthopaedic physical examination, examining the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, spine, pelvis and hip, knee, foot, and ankle.
- Prescribe treatments related to surgical procedures
Prescribe treatment before and after the surgery, such as sedatives, diets, antibiotics, and preparation and treatment of the patient`s operative area.
- 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.
- Manage chiropractic professional equipment
Make sure that the chiropractic professional equipment in the unit/office is kept in good working condition and is maintained regularly as required by national legislative regulation.
- Accept own accountability
Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.
- Have good bedside manner
Make patients feel comfortable and speak to them in a pleasant tone.
- Interpret medical images
Analyse medical images in order to diagnose illnesses and injuries.
- Ensure proper appointment administration
Develop cancellation policies and policies on payment for `no shows`and follow a procedure for arranging appointments. Provide information about waiting times and waiting lists, ensuring that patients are informed in time about any changes to their appointments, and aware of costs and/or fees, and the possibility of public or private health insurance.
- Diagnose musculoskeletal conditions
Identify the patient`s orthopaedic injuries such as fractures, dislocations, torn ligaments, sprains, and strains, tendon injuries, pulled muscles, ruptured disks, sciatica, low back pain, and scoliosis, arthritis and osteoporosis, bone tumours, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy, club foot and unequal leg length, abnormalities of the fingers and toes and growth abnormalities.
- Conduct chiropractic examination
Undertake chiropractic assessment, incorporating data collected physical examinations, process of evaluating objective anatomic findings through the use of observation, palpation, percussion, and auscultation, chirorpactic examination and information derived from other relevant sources.
- 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.
- Triage clients
Contribute to the triage process to assign clients to the most appropriate management pathway for their condition, in collaboration with other healthcare practitioners.
- 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.
- 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.
- Adhere to organisational code of ethics
Adhere to organisational European and regional specific standards and code of ethics, understanding the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and apply this awareness.
- Apply person-centred care
Treat individuals as partners in planning, developing and assessing care, to make sure it is appropriate for their needs. Put them and their caregivers at the heart of all decisions.
- 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.
- Prepare patients for surgery
Assign patients to the best treatment area for their condition, according to priority for surgery.
- Contribute to continuity of health care
Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.
- 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.
- Observe record keeping standards in chiropractics
Ensure good standards of record keeping for all activities relating to patients, and to chiropractic patients specifically.
- Post-process medical images
Perform post-processing on medical images, or develop X-ray films, checking processed images to determine if further care is necessary.
- 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.
- 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.
- Manage chiropractic staff
Recruit, train and manage chiropractic staff within the unit and care team, ensuring clinically effective service to all patients referred to the unit.
- 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.
- 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.
- Advise patients on health and lifestyle issues
Advise patients on issues related to health and lifestyle, such as exercise, nutrition, and sleep habits.
- Apply massage therapy
Apply massage therapy to relieve patient's pain by using various specialised techniques.
- 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.
- 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.
- Apply supports for spinal adjustment
Apply supports such as braces, straps, tapes, bandages and shoe inserts in order to treat and relieve the patient`s pain.
- Undertake clinical chiropractic research
Undertake research activities such as research papers, critical reviews, case studies, editorials, expert commentaries and book reviews in order to improve the evidence base for chiropractic and assist chiropractors in the management of their patients.
- Advise on rehabilitation exercises
Educate and advise on rehabilitation exercises to aid long-term recovery, teaching the appropriate techniques to ensure health is maintained.
- Provide stabilisation care in emergency
Provide comprehensive, immediate, and stabilising care in an emergency situation, such as cardiovascular and respiratory emergencies, poisonings and disasters, independent of the location of the emergency, using techniques such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid treatment of polytrauma and traumatic injury, and disaster medicine.
- Communicate effectively in healthcare
Communicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.
- 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.
- Apply business acumen
Take appropriate actions in a business environment in order to maximise possible outcome from each situation.
- Assess chiropractic intervention
Assess chiropractic interventions based on re-evaluation of the client`s response to treatment.
- 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.
- Respond to changing situations in health care
Cope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.
- 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 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.
- Use techniques to increase patients' motivation
Encourage the patient`s motivation to change and promote the belief that therapy can help, using techniques and treatment engagement procedures for this 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.
- 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.
- Contribute to the rehabilitation process
Contribute to the rehabilitation process to enhance activity, functioning and participation using a person-centered and evidence-based approach.
- 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.
- Promote health in specialised care
Identify health promotion and education needs for patients within the field of specialisation and develop and implement strategies as appropriate.
- 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.
- Write reports on neurological tests
Provide a written report to the referring doctor for every test taken, interpreting results.
- Provide medication information
Provide patients with information about their medication, possible side effects, and contra-indications.
- 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.
- Operate medical imaging equipment
Produce high quality medical images using technologically advanced medical imaging equipment such as CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), mobile X-ray machines, ultrasound (US), nuclear medicine with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT).
- Analyse X-ray imagery
Analyse X-ray imagery in order to locate the sources of patients` difficulties and interpret the findings.
- Develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship
Develop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.
- Manage acute pain
Handle patients with acute pain and ease their pain accordingly.
- Perform clinical neurophysiological examinations
Perform clinical neurophysiological examinations, an extension of a neurologic consultation, which can verify or exclude a clinical suspicion, but also give precise definition of site, type and degree of lesion and reveal abnormalities that are clinically uncertain, silent or unsuspected.
- Address public health issues
Promote healthy practices and behaviours to ensure that populations stay healthy.
- 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.
- 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.
- Develop chiropractic treatment plans
Develop new chiropractic treatment plan and review the existing components such as chiropractic manual therapy, manual therapy of soft tissue and other tissue, therapeutic range of motion, therapeutic rehabilitative exercise and the application of technological equipment (ultrasound, traction, electrical and light modalities).
- Follow-up after patients' surgery
Follow-up after patients` surgery evaluating the needs for a faster recovery.
Optional knowledge and skills
interpret electroencephalograms employ cognitive behaviour treatment techniques interpret evoked potentials records process medical insurance claims record healthcare users' billing information neuropharmacology use functional neuroimaging employ foreign languages for health-related research treat neurological disorders pharmacology employ foreign languages in care obtain healthcare user's medical status information therapeutic massage conduct health related research apply acupunctureCommon job titles
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