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National Physiotherapy Month – Members on Scope of Practice – Helen Razmjou

April 30, 2024 

For National Physiotherapy Month 2024, Ontario Physiotherapy Association members shared the impact of physiotherapists’ scope of practice on their communities.   

Helen Razmjou, PT, PhD: 

“The Advanced Practice Provider (APP) role was developed in Ontario to maximize health human resources with the goal of streamlining access to care for patients with shoulder conditions, and hip and knee arthritis. Extensive responsibilities of the APPs include triaging of the referrals, clinical examination, ordering diagnostic imaging, using complex decision-making tools, and providing post-operative care. Our APPs at Sunnybrook have shown continuous leadership in clinical and research activities, which contributes to ongoing practice changes. 

APPs in our centre have been authorized by medical directive to order diagnostic imaging investigations. We have seen the growth and success of the APP model of care over the past 18 years in Ontario, and I am positive that by final approval of the Bill 179 and expanding the scope of practice to all eligible Ontario physiotherapists, we can further facilitate timely and effective access to diagnostic imaging. 

Our team at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre’s Holland Bone and Joint Program is leading the way in optimizing patient care. Through extensive research, we have shown that physiotherapists and occupational therapists working to their full scope and beyond, can significantly reduce unnecessary investigations and consultations, ultimately improving the patient experience. I have specifically written a book about the radiological examination of the shoulder joint, that is available via University of Toronto to all physiotherapists who wish to enrich their training for ordering and interpreting diagnostic imaging of the shoulder. 

I would like to celebrate National Physiotherapy Month with all my fellow colleagues who reach for their full potential and strive for excellence every single day.” 

National Physiotherapy Month – Members on Scope of Practice – Pamela Houghton

May 6, 2024 

For National Physiotherapy Month 2024, Ontario Physiotherapy Association members shared the impact of physiotherapists’ scope of practice on their communities. 

Pamela Houghton, Physiotherapist:  

“I am a retired physiotherapist as of 2022. I was registered with the College in Ontario (CPO) for 29 years. I worked as a full professor teaching and doing research that supported the important role of physical therapists in wound care in Canada. 

For many years physiotherapists in Ontario have been able to “work below the dermis” which includes many of the skills needed to provide wound care. Skin health and wound care is an emerging field of practice aimed at improving the outcomes of people who are at risk of, or those who are living with chronic wounds. This includes a huge number of Canadians since chronic wounds are a common complication of many health conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurological conditions such as MS, SCI, stroke. Problems with skin integrity and delayed healing also affect a significant proportion of elderly people with limited mobility and people with critical illnesses such as acute trauma, complex surgery, and cancer. 

Throughout my career I provided evidence based physical therapy treatments that are known to speed healing of many types of chronic wounds including rehabilitation programs that “take the pressure off” the skin and leg exercises that improve peripheral circulation. Additionally, many of the therapeutic modalities used in physiotherapy are known to promote faster and stronger wound closure including electrical stimulation therapy (E-Stim), ultrasound, and light therapies. I have had the opportunity to help many people living with spinal cord injuries (SCI) who have developed terrible sitting acquired pressure injuries. Pressure injuries (PrIs) or skin breakdown is known to be the second most common complication after SCI and the one that has the greatest impact on quality of life. 

The implementation of self-management programs has allowed 100s of people with SCI and PrIs  to treat their own wounds with E-Stim, to close long standing open PrIs, and to ultimately regain their mobility and independence. Not many PTs in Canada appreciate that wound care is part of their scope of practice. However, so many of our current practices can help this growing population of people affected by chronic non healing skin wounds.” 

National Physiotherapy Month – Members on Scope of Practice – Wanda Chen

May 21, 2024 

During National Physiotherapy Month 2024, Ontario Physiotherapy Association members share the impact of physiotherapists’ scope of practice on their communities. 

Wanda Chen, PT: 

“Being able to communicate a diagnosis increases patients’ understanding and trust in their therapy program and leads to better treatment outcomes. In addition to communicating a diagnosis, being able to order imaging studies in a private practice could further benefit Ontarians. 

Working to full scope of practice will enable physiotherapists to: 

  • order diagnostic imaging when indicated, which will allow for improved diagnoses, more targeted treatment options, and better discussions of prognosis 
  • communicate prognosis with patients and escalate issues to physicians faster. It does not take away physicians’ involvement but saves patients’ and physician’s time in redundant assessments. 
  • decrease wait times to see a physician in Ontario and will alleviate the burden from the general practitioner for musculoskeletal cases. 

It will help patients gain an understanding of their pain and have resolutions sooner. It will improve the quality of life for Ontarians.” 

National Physiotherapy Month – Members on Scope of Practice – Jennifer Howey

May 28, 2024

National Physiotherapy Month 2024, Ontario Physiotherapy Association members share the impact of physiotherapists’ scope of practice on their communities. 

Jennifer Howey, PT: 

“Movement is life and life is movement.” As physiotherapists, we are movement specialists, with the ability to diagnose and treat movement disorders and injury. Our scope of practice goes beyond the treatment room. It includes public education, injury prevention and promoting healthy activity throughout the spectrum of life. In today’s sedentary world, it is more important than ever to encourage movement with every generation. 

At InsideOut Physiotherapy and Wellness Group, we found that Nordic Pole Walking (NPW) – walking with Nordic walking sticks- is fun, inexpensive, and people of any age or exercise ability can benefit. It can get us moving and keep us moving! NPW has been shown to help people rehabilitate post surgery, those with chronic conditions, diabetes, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s Disease and many more. 

As a clinic, we have developed a significant NPW program with a great deal of community outreach. InsideOut has had a 6-year collaboration with the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association and University of Hong Kong Physiotherapy program. Two InsideOut physiotherapists went to Hong Kong and trained 25 physiotherapists to be instructors and started to support research within the University on NPW and its benefits with patients with Parkinson’s Disease. In Hong Kong, physiotherapists now get funding for NPW programs within their rehabilitation and community settings. We are currently advocating to get similar approval in Ontario. 

As a physiotherapist, one of my proudest moments was when we had a group of clients enter as Nordic Pole walkers in the Scotiabank 5km walk. These clients would not have thought they were capable of doing an event like this! One of the participants had come to us using a scooter for full-time ambulation seven months earlier. She was completely deconditioned, having suffered years of low back pain and multiple chronic problems. We worked with her, using our physiotherapy treatment and home program that included NPW.  Seven months later she was one of the participants completing in this 5 km walk, using the poles. She was so proud of her accomplishment she signed up for two more that year. 

It is the impact we can have on the lives of others that motivate me as a physiotherapist and clinic owner. Happy National Physiotherapy Month!” 

OPA Meets with MPs & Sends Letter to the Minister of Health

May 28, 2024 

During National Physiotherapy Month in May, OPA joined CPA and physiotherapists to meet with federal MPs from Ontario ridings. These meetings have highlighted the benefits of full implementation of physiotherapy scope of practice, and how enabling physiotherapists to order diagnostic imaging and lab tests will improve care for the people of Ontario while reducing costs. 

Some of the meetings to date: 

  • Pam Damoff, MP Oakville-North Burlington 
  • Peter Fragiskatos, MP London North Centre 
  • Lindsay Mathyssen, MP London-Fanshawe 
  • Anthony Rota, MP Nipissing-Timiskaming 
  • Valerie Bradford, MP Kitchener South-Hespeler 

OPA President, Courtney Bean, and OPA CEO, Sarah Hutchison, have followed up with Ontario’s Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, and requested a meeting with her and the Deputy Minister, to discuss the outstanding regulations needed. 

Read the letter