Positive team event!

Before starting the physio course, the main experiences I’d had with physio’s was in private practice where the Ax and Rx was done on a 1 to 1 basis. Since then, by doing prac mostly in a hospital setting, ive seen the whole multidisciplinary team approach and recently had a really positive experience.

Last week the local gym in this country town invited the physio’s in the department at the hospital to visit the leisure centre, which had gym, fitness classes and pool facilities. We went down as a group (booked in an hour time slot so that everyone could go together for PD). There were physio’s from every area in the hospital, not just the OP physio’s who dealt with the majority of msc conditions.

The gym managers and instructors were extremely welcoming and very informative in discussing all their equipment as well as the classes they ran. The main aim of this excursion was to have up to date knowledge on the equipment and facilities available for patients who were in their later stages of rehab and no longer needing hospital based Rx.

The gym instructors were very thorough in their explanation of their role and emphasised that they wanted to assist and were able to be involved in the later rehab for patients with our guidelines. They thoroughly assessed every new member to the gym and asked if they were or had been receiving physio Rx. They asked if we referred a patient to the gym, to send a program with them, make it clear, and they would assist them. They emphasised that open communication between them and us would be very welcomed to optimise the patients’ outcome.

Also, a few of the senior physio’s, who were older, were not very familiar with the latest gym equipment and were extremely interested in learning what each machine did, most even hopping on and trying it out!

Whilst we were there, we also discussed a patient as a type of ‘case study’ to work out a good program for him. This particular patient had been involved in a shark attack a few months ago and was progressing really well and wanting to get back to everyday fitness exercises. Their were a number of goals for this patient and all the physio’s and trainers put their heads together to develop a higher level strength and fitness program.

All the physio’s from the hospital, no matter what department they were from, were enthusiastically involved in the discussion. One of the things I learnt from this experience, is that no matter which area you worked in, you were encouraged to share your opinions, interest and skills with the other physio’s.

Another thing I learnt it that it appeared no matter how senior a physio, or how many years experience, there is always something new and interesting to learn. I spoke to the seniors who had had a go on the equipment, and they were rapt to know that now they have an idea of more advanced rehab exercises. The most overwhelming thing I learnt was how much the health professionals in this town worked together. I have not come across this type of interaction in a larger institution in the city, where most later rehab appears to be done by physio’s. I’m not sure of many areas which discuss a combined physio and gym Rx program, I’m sure there are places, and it really seems like a great idea!