I hope you all enjoyed you’re last week of clinic, and are feeling ready for the next!!

This last week on clinic I have seen mainly the same patients as I have seen for the last few weeks, in addition to completing a few other mobility assessments and seeing new COPD patients. So having had this Blog in mind for the week I have been trying hard to think of something of interest to write and reflect on. The fact that I have had mostly the same patients for the past few weeks, upon consideration, actually was an issue of importance, if not of interest!

We have all heard a great deal about chronic diseases, rehabilitation and the management of, etc. For a physio in the inpatient setting these issues are of great importance in clinical practice. Not only does the input of physios make an enormous difference, but also how well we rehab, educate, and generally manage patients makes an enormous difference to the lives of these patients. As a very common everyday example I had to do a mobility and respiratory assessment on a patient with COPD who was then to be placed in care, or return home with services after some rehab. For this elderly gentleman in question the difference in options was clearly significant. Although it would be great if we were magicians and could wave away all problems, clearly we aren’t and there are some problems/situations we cannot have an impact on. But there is a huge grey area where PT input can and does make a palpable difference to many patients’ lives. I think we can all empathise with wanting to remain in one owns home for as long as possible, not spending half the year in hospital awaiting placement, or recovering from an exacerbation of COPD which may have been able to be prevented if the infection had been caught earlier. In all these situations our ability to help physically strengthen patients, educate patients, refer appropriately, assist patients to develop daily and long term management strategies and action plans, can make a lifetime of difference. I think if anything could motivate me more to ensure my physiotherapy treatments are effective, efficient and specific this would have to be it…that because of physiotherapy intervention a person will be able to remain at home in their community, with their pets, memories etc rather than be placed in a (lets face it) miserable nursing home. That’s a good days work!!!

Enjoy you’re next placements!!