C3 - Physiotherapy in Primary Health Care Teams: Enabling upstream management of pain and functional limitations

Theme 3. Expanding your reach Presentation Details

  • Date: Thursday, October 25, 2018
  • Concurrent Session C
  • Time: 8:45-9:30am
  • Room: Pier 9
  • Style: Presentation (information provided to audience, with opportunity for audience to ask question)
  • Focus: Balance between both (e.g. Presentation of a best-practice guideline that combines research evidence, policy issues and practical steps for implementation)
  • Target Audience: Leadership (ED, clinical lead, board chair, board member, etc.), Clinical providers, Administrative staff, Representatives of stakeholder/partner organizations

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe the role of physiotherapists in primary health care teams, and practical considerations for implementation of physiotherapy services
  2. Describe key performance measures for measuring impact of physiotherapists in primary health care teams(at the level of the client, health service provider, and health system)
  3. Understand the alignment of physiotherapists in primary health care teams with current Ontario health system priorities

Summary/Abstract The expansion of physiotherapy services in primary care in 2015 was an important step towards increasing access in Ontario. The Physical Therapy in Primary Health Care model adopted by community health centres in the Toronto Central LHIN includes 6 features which has guided a population approach to the delivery of physiotherapy services, including: clinic care, shared care, case management, programming consultation, integration and outreach. Since inception, implementation of the model has evolved, and continues to evolve, in order to meet the mobility and pain needs of individuals in our communities. Ongoing evaluation of physiotherapy services in has demonstrated positive impact with respect to client outcomes, primary care team satisfaction and practice patterns, and system efficiencies. Implementing direct access models to physiotherapy is an important consideration for furthering the impact and improving outcomes in primary care. Presenters

  • Emily Stevenson, Community Rehabilitation Lead, Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network
  • Chris Sulway, Toronto Central LHIN