Critical reflections on the physiotherapy profession in Canada
Critical reflections on the physiotherapy profession in Canada
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Date
2010
Authors
Gibson, BE
Nixon, SA
Nicholls, DA
Supervisor
Item type
Guest Editorial
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Abstract
No abstract.
Description
A rethinking of scope of practice, patient access, accountability
and payment is coming to bear on healthcare systems
around the world . . . We must be ready to meet
these changes and effect a positive outcome for our
patients and our profession.
—Michel Landry, President, Canadian Physiotherapy
Association (2007–2009)1
Physiotherapists are faced with a number of unprecedented
opportunities and challenges that require new
ways of thinking about and practising physiotherapy.
Significant among these is legislation recently tabled in
Ontario that will enable physiotherapists to order tests
such as x-rays and to diagnose patient conditions that
are within the profession’s scope of practice. This expansion
of scope follows closely on the heels of progressive
changes to physiotherapy (PT) in Canada and other
countries, including the move to entry-level master’s and
doctoral training programmes, increasing privatization
of PT services, licensure of alternative practitioners, and
health workforce reform. Because of the current global
economic crisis, federal budgets are being tightened; in
Canada, this has implications for transfer payments to
provinces and for alterations to the funding of PT services.
Collectively, these changes signal profound shifts
that are underway for PT as our profession continues to
evolve in response to social, political, and economic
influences. In order to respond, we argue, it is crucial
for PT to engage in rigorous critical reflection on the
theoretical basis of physiotherapy practice. As we outline
below, critical reflection will assist us in further developing
the foundations of PT, opening up new opportunities
for growth and change in PT practice, research, and
education.
Keywords
Source
Physiotherapy Canada, vol.62(2), pp.98 - 100
Publisher's version
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