Assessment, Diagnosis, Interventions Standard of Practice PDF
Standard
The physiotherapist demonstrates proficiency in client assessment, diagnosis, and treatments to deliver quality, safe, client-centred physiotherapy services.
Expected outcome
Clients can expect the physiotherapist to select appropriate assessment techniques, make an informed diagnosis, and apply treatment procedures that are carried out proficiently for quality delivery of safe, effective physiotherapy services.
Performance expectations
The physiotherapist:
- Obtains clients’ ongoing informed consent to proposed physiotherapy services.
- Applies professional judgment to select and apply appropriate assessment procedures to evaluate clients’ health status. Appropriate assessment includes taking a history and completing a physical examination relevant to presenting symptoms.
- Uses standardized measures as available to assess and reassess the client’s condition and progress.
- Uses critical thinking and professional judgment to interpret the assessment findings and determine a diagnosis and prognosis consistent with the scope of practice of the physiotherapy profession and the physiotherapist’s individual competence.
- Addresses client’s physiotherapy needs and goals by employing professional judgment to develop sensible and practical treatment plans that are consistent with the assessment findings.
- Applies treatment procedures safely and effectively.
- Assigns appropriate tasks to supervisees with clients’ consent.
- Re-evaluates, monitors, and documents clients’ responses throughout the course of treatment.
- Makes adjustments and/or discontinues physiotherapy services that are no longer required or effective.
- Makes appropriate referrals when clients’ needs are best addressed in collaboration with or by another provider.
- Employs professional judgment to plan and implement discharge plans appropriate for the client’s needs, goals, and progress.
- Provides client education to enable and optimize clients’ transition to self-management.
- Promotes continuity in service by collaborating and facilitating clients’ transition from one health sector or provider to another.
- Delivers only those physiotherapy services that are clinically indicated for clients and that they are competently able to provide.
Female genital mutilation
Section 133.2 of the Health Professions Act requires that Colleges establish standards of practice regarding female genital mutilation.
The physiotherapist:
- Must not procure or perform female genital mutilation.
- Reports all instances where the physiotherapist has reasonable grounds to believe that the conduct of another regulated member of any College constitutes the procurement or performance of female genital mutilation to the Complaints Director of the other regulated member’s College.