The over 200 specialist physiotherapists of Australia offer care for chronic, complex and important health conditions that require a higher level of expertise. And with a new central information and advocacy website it is now easier for patients, physiotherapists, medical practitioners, insurers and other referrers to find the most appropriate specialist physiotherapist.
The pathway from graduate physiotherapist to specialist physiotherapist in Australia takes at least six years and the training program occurs through the Australian College of Physiotherapy. Currently there are nine areas of clinical specialty, including cardiorespiratory, gerontology, musculoskeletal, neurology, occupational health, paediatric, pain, sports and exercise, and women’s, men’s and pelvic health.
At the short, punchy and highly memorable domain of www.specialist.physio, the new website explains, and demonstrates the value of, specialist physiotherapy. With keyword search function that allows location, area of expertise and other search terms, the right specialist can be easily identified.
Project initiator Dr Darren Beales, Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, said,
“Specialist Physiotherapists receive the highest level of clinical training in Australia and perform at least as well, and if not better, as their medical colleagues in terms of diagnostic accuracy, treatment effectiveness, use of healthcare resources, economic costs and patient satisfaction. Yet they are under utilised, undervalued and under resourced. It is time for specialist physiotherapists to promote their real value.”
A private venture, Dr Beales with his business partner Dr Tim Mitchell and colleague Glenn Ruscoe, both also Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapists, built the website for the greater promotion of specialist physiotherapy. They believe that raising the profile of specialist physiotherapy will also increase interest in the highly respected specialisation education process such that more physiotherapists pursue the training program.
Specialist physiotherapist don’t just treat patients directly but can also provide shared care with other physiotherapists and mentoring/training for complex cases. And with the rise of telehealth use in Australia there is not a patient or practitioner in the country who cannot be helped.
Feedback from the specialist physiotherapists across Australia has been very strong with many listing their details on the Find a Specialist page. Eligibility is currently restricted to physiotherapists whose specialisation has been conferred by the Australian College of Physiotherapists, however the site has the potential to become an international resource for the specialist physiotherapists of all nations.
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