Client-specific Flashcards
Deliver and monitor a client-specific physiotherapy program
Some AHA duties and requirements:
Read clients charts;
Transfer patients;
Apply physical agents such as heat, cold and electrical stimulation to muscles;
Instruct clients in functional skills;
Observe and report changes to a client’s condition;
Could be involved in discharge planning and follow-up care and documentation.
Allied Health Professional must maintain a level of general supervision by being immediately available via phone, beeper or nearby office or clinic setting. Additionally supervision occurs through regularly scheduled meetings to review client care plans.
Obtain information about the client-specific program:
You will be provided with clear instructions as to:
The needs of the client;
What treatment the physiotherapist will be providing for each contact with the client;
Specific information about the client’s program;
Time required to complete the program;
Equipment required;
Advice regarding any specific issues relating to the client (such as limitations they might encounter when performing the program).
Determine client availability:
Confirm with the client that they are able to participate in the scheduled session.
This can include asking if they are well, and how they have recovered from earlier treatment sessions.
You will also outline what is expected during the current session and seek from the client confirmation that they expect be able to complete the session planned for that day.
To remember which bone is radius vs ulna:
Foramen:
Mass:
Force:
ulna = under
hole in bone for veins/nerves to travel through.
a unit of weight (example: 1 gram (g), or 1 kilogram (KG).)
Force relates to a change in the rest or motion of an object and is measured in Newton’s.
Energy:
Speed:
ability to produce a force/to perform (measured in kilojoules.
Speed is the distance travelled by a moving object in a set amount of time. For example meters in 1 second or kilometres in 1 hour.
Power:
Work:
the rate of performing work
a force expressed through a distance independently of time. For example the number of kilojoules used to perform a physical task.
Momentum:
a concept in physics:
the product of the mass and velocity of an object, quantified in kilogram-metres per second (kgm/s).
E.g.: a car has a large momentum, and it takes a large or prolonged force to get the car up to a speed of 50kmh, and would take a similarly large or prolonged force to bring it to a stop. In comparison, a motor bike, which is lighter than the car, would have less momentum, and therefore require less impulse to start or stop.
How many sessions does a treatment plan cover?
The Physiotherapist will have a treatment plan that will usually cover several sessions with the client.
Appointments might be once or twice a week, over several weeks until the client has recovered from the injury they have.
Other clients will see a Physiotherapist on a long term basis to manage reoccurring or chronic problems.
As an Allied Health Assistant your role will be to take direction from the Physiotherapist for each client that you are assisting. The Physiotherapist will explain what tasks need to be performed by both yourself and the client and also any additional information that you will need to know.
Prior to commencing session:
Discuss with each client the activities that you expect them to undertake, this may also involve demonstration of the activity as well.
Take the client through each exercise providing feedback on several points.
Feedback to provide the client as they do exercises:
How they are performing the tasks;
Correct any poor technique;
Progress through the session and how much remains;
Point out improvements/progress made during session, and when compared to earlier sessions (if applicable).
Liaise with the physiotherapist as needed.
Client consent:
Clients must be given sufficient information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health care.
In general, a client is asked to consent, or give permission, to a program of healthcare related to their presenting condition.
Informed Consent:
refers to consent (permission) that is clearly and unmistakably stated either in writing or verbally.
Implied consent:
refers to circumstances where it is reasonable for the health professional to infer that consent has been given by the client.
For example, if a client presents to a physiotherapist, discloses health information, discusses intervention options and then settles on a particular program of healthcare, this will generally be regarded as the client giving implied consent to that program of healthcare (used under Part VB, Physioplus).
Therapeutic exercise:
any physical activity that is undertaken to assist in rehabilitation and to improve or maintain well-being.
Therapeutic exercise can include activities that are prescribed to correct injury or to improve muscle function. The exercises can be restricted to specific muscles or more general, but will have the overall aim of improved physical condition.
The prescribed exercises can include:
endurance training,
resistance training,
flexibility training
or a combination of these three modalities.
The aim will be to enhance the client’s physical status. From a rehabilitation perspective this can include achieving goals such as independent walking, joint mobilization, improved balance or improved circulation.
Guide the client to complete the program:
Clear instructions will be provided by AHP regarding what tasks they expect the client to complete.
For example the client might need to undertake 3 sets of 10 repetitions of an exercise to develop strength in the quadriceps muscle.
Each client will have an individualized therapy program designed to address their specific treatment needs. The programs will include the specific exercises to undertake, sets and repetitions and the frequency. In some cases the client will be asked to complete some, or all, of the exercises at home in between appointments.
Repetition:
1 complete motion of an exercise.
Sets:
A group of consecutive repetitions.
Frequency:
How often the sets and repetitions are to be completed.
The frequency might range from undertaking the exercises only under supervision in the therapy clinic, to situations where the client is also performing the therapy tasks several times a day at home.
The goal/s of each session undertaken by the client, and of the overall program, is to work towards achieving the goals as set out during the initial assessment undertaken by the Physiotherapist. The goal/s can include treatment of specific injuries, management of chronic pain, cardiopulmonary fitness development. The long term goal of a treatment program will usually be to assist the client to achieve optimal function and or fitness.
The process of reporting information back to the Physiotherapist is vital because:
The type of information that needs to be reported to the Physiotherapist includes:
often the Physiotherapist has no knowledge of the outcomes of a session unless such information is accurately provided to them by the Allied Health Assistant.
should report: •suggested adjustments •client response •client progress •difficulties and concerns •changes to program •client outcomes •any additional information.
The Allied Health Assistant should take care to document all relevant information about the client in accordance with organizational protocols.
Documenting client progress:
A physiotherapy assessment form will be filled out by the Physiotherapist when they first see a client.
After assessment the Physiotherapist will prescribe a treatment program for the client.
One of your duties will be to keep a record of what the client has done during each session on this form, as well as providing verbal feedback to the Physiotherapist.
Written records are essential to keep track of what each client does during their therapy session, and the record can be referred to in following sessions. Written records also provide an excellent progress report for the client and Physiotherapist to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
