Physiotherapist, Respiratory Rehabilitation Clinic

1. Completes a physical therapy patient assessment of referred patients to determine the respiratory and general health status of the patient through methods such as a physical assessment, chest auscultation, medication review, and identifying psychosocial needs of the patient or family member that may need referral to other health care providers.
2. Identifies and evaluates changes in the patient's respiratory health by performing duties such as Exercise Oximetry, reviewing pulmonary function testing results, laboratory results and obtaining the patient's own perceptions of changes in their health status.
3. Using principles of exercise physiology, the respiratory rehabilitation physiotherapist plans a complete exercise program for groups or individuals with a chronic respiratory disease. Throughout the exercise routine, the physiotherapist modifies the exercise program to accommodate the patients with co-morbidities.
4. Identifies patient respiratory problems which can be treated with evidence based physical therapy interventions such as teaching purse lip breathing, the proper use of Inhalers, strategies for airway clearance and teaches other coping strategies for dealing with a chronic respiratory diesease. Develops a plan of care including identifying short and long term goals, implementing physical therapy interventions and evaluating expected outcomes when monitoring and documenting the patient's progress at subsequent clinic visits. Modifies the plan of care based on outcomes of the evaluation process.
5. Prepares program lesson plans in conjunction with other Respiratory Rehabilitation Team members using adult education principles and research based best practice Guidelines for Respiratory Rehabilitation Medicine.
6. Identifies patient/family learning needs and teaches and counsels patients and families individually and in-groups using a variety of education tools such as written materials, audio visual aids, and demonstrating techniques such as airway clearance.
7. Monitors and documents the patient's progress through the program, implementing physical therapy interventions in response to the patient's identified health and respiratory needs. Adjusts care plan when necessary through methods such as collaboration with multidisciplinary team members, discussion with the medical staff and other health care disciplines and community agencies as applicable.
8. Participates in the orientation of new staff through methods such as allowing them to take an active role in lesson planning, teaching them adult education theory and the development of physical therapy care plans. Evaluates their progress through the orientation period providing feedback to enrich their orientation experience.
9. Participates in the observational sessions of students, pharmaceutical representatives and other health care professionals through methods such as providing them an opportunity to observe patient educational presentations, participate in an exercise class and providing them with written education resource materials.
10. Provides information on physical therapy in respiratory rehabilitation medicine externally to community agencies through methods such as providing education material, providing workshops or in-services for staff.
11. Participates as a member of internal committees and externally on Local, Provincial and National committees related to the management of chronic respiratory disease.
12. Maintains knowledge of current developments in Physiotherapy Respiratory Rehabilitation through methods such as reviewing relevant literature, attending conferences, educational workshops and in-services as well as consulting or networking with other professionals knowledgeable about Respiratory Rehabilitation Medicine.
13. Participates in clinical trials in conjunction with the Principle Investigator, the Sponsor Company and the Study Co-ordinator by performing duties such as following research protocols, searching the database for study participants, and completing required documentation.
14. Consults with the multidisciplinary team to discuss and implement resolutions to ethical issues/concerns relating to patients and families through methods such as staff conferences, discussions with the Medical Director or the Hospital Ethics Committee.
15. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Graduation from a recognized university with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree.

Current full registration with the College of Physical Therapists of BC (CPTBC). Eligible for membership in the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia (PABC).

One year's recent, related experience working in a Respiratory Rehabilitation Clinic or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Current Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Level C certification.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated organizational, teaching and interpersonal relationship skills.
• Ability to make decisions in an independent manner in a clinical setting.
• Ability to function as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to be a Physiotherapy resource for Respiratory Rehabilitation Medicine.
• Ability to participate in Clinical Trials.
• Demonstrated ability to teach individuals and groups in a classroom setting.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the job.

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.

People - those we care for and those who care for them - are at the heart of everything we do. Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 48,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers.

We are committed to planetary health and value diversity in the work force. We strive to maintain an environment of respect, caring and trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner.

Together, we are the heart of health care.

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