Expanding horizons in Advanced Practice Physiotherapy: innovative roles across the care continuum

Whilst many Advanced Practice Physiotherapy roles have traditionally been based in the Emergency Department or the musculoskeletal setting, multiple new roles continue to emerge. New and innovative positions have more recently been developed in response to the 2023 Department of Health Allied Health Workforce Advanced Practice Grant, demonstrating the adaptability and value the Physiotherapy profession. During this online session, presenters will discuss four exciting new advanced practice roles existing in different streams, and points along the care continuum.

Presenters

Luke McDonald is a Senior Physiotherapist & Clinical Educator in the Intensive Care Unit at Austin Health. As an experienced clinician with an interest in workplace based education he has led multiple projects in health professional education, most recently developing an Advanced Practice role and credentialing pathway for ICU physiotherapists at Austin Health. This work also forms one of the pilot studies of Luke’s PhD on post licensure training and credentialing of Physiotherapists.

Stephanie Jameson is a senior physiotherapist who specialises in critical care at Austin Health. With seven years of physiotherapy service, she has honed her skills, with a focus on ventilator weaning, neuromuscular patient management and critical care rehabilitation. Stephanie has a a Graduate Diploma in Health Professions' Education, and she has recently transitioned into a role as a clinical educator for the physiotherapy department. Stephanie is currently co-leading a Department of Health project targeted at developing a sustainable pathway to an advanced scope of practice for physiotherapists within the ICU. The project aims to alleviate workload burnout, improve patient care and enhance outcomes in critical care settings with adherence to best practice guidelines surround patient sedation and ventilator weaning.

Amanda Marriot is a senior Vestibular and Aged and Complex Care physiotherapist with over 10 years' experience within the Emergency Department (ED) setting across a range of tertiary centres in Australia. She is the current implementation Lead and senior clinician in the Advanced Vestibular Physiotherapy-Led (AVeP) Clinic at Eastern Health. Mandy has experience with research in best practice cerebellar assessment, and is leading current research in the management of acute vertigo in the ED. With a strong passion for education, she regularly delivers vestibular training to ED senior medical and physiotherapy clinicians and is a guest lecturer for the School of Medicine at Deakin University.

Kerry O’Sullivan is a Titled Continence and Women’s Health Physiotherapist. She has worked in pelvic health in the public health system for 20 years and is currently the women’s physiotherapy stream lead at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Western Health. She also tutors on the Master of Physiotherapy (Pelvic Health) program at the University of Melbourne. Kerry enjoys helping women of all ages to lead active, engaged, and social lives through improving their pelvic health.

Melissa Webb has over 25 years of clinical practice in Trauma Physiotherapy at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where she currently work as the Allied Health Team Leader in Trauma and Orthopaedics. Melissa has over 25 years of clinical practice in Trauma Physiotherapy at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where she currently work as the Allied Health Team Leader in Trauma and Orthopaedics. She has been integral in the development of a specialised trauma physiotherapy service at the Alfred and has provided consultation to other services who wish to develop a similar model of care. Within her current role she has assisted in the development and co-ordination of a specialised allied health workforce providing an intensive therapy model of care for acute trauma and orthopaedic patients. Melissa has completed a Masters in Health Science, Graduate Certificate in Burn and Trauma Rehabilitation and a number of dedicated trauma professional development courses.  She has also completed a clinical fellowship analysing the practice of physiotherapists in major trauma centres in the US, Germany and Switzerland.  Her special interests include chest trauma management, trauma models of care and the role of physiotherapy and allied health within the acute trauma multidisciplinary team. Melissa is passionate about promoting and advocating for the important role that Physiotherapy and Allied Health play in trauma management and patient recovery and is a Board Member of the Australian & New Zealand Trauma Society, Chest Wall Injury Society and the Royal Australian College of Surgeons Trauma Verification sub-committee.

Host

Advanced Practice (including Emergency Department), Cardiorespiratory, Neurology and Women's, Men's & Pelvic Health National Groups

Date of Live Event

5/06/2024

CPD Hours

1.5 hours

Please note: The content of this Lecture on Demand (LOD) was captured via a recording of a live lecture at the APA premises. Due to the nature of the event and the recording method, this LOD may not have captured some of the questions/comments from live audience. Your purchase of this module indicates your acceptance of this.