Education à United States

Woodlands Health (WH) envisions personalised and quality healthcare for the community of the future. It will co-develop and integrate services with community stakeholders and extend care beyond the hospital into the community and homes.

The Physiotherapist helps patients restore mobility, function and independence through detailed assessment of problems and individualized treatment. Physiotherapists manage a wide range of conditions, with expertise in mobilisation techniques and manual therapy, exercise prescription, electrotherapy, balance and gait training, and education on health promoting strategies. The Physiotherapist works within the context of a multi-disciplinary team, collaborating with Sports Medicine Physicians to address sports-related injuries and with Geriatricians in rehabilitation of geriatric patients. A Physiotherapist must ensure a high standard of clinical practice and professional conduct in all areas of patient care, and proactively participate in continuous professional development and evidence-based practice.

As a Principal Physiotherapist, he/she should have extensive experience and knowledge in inpatient, outpatient, community and preventive care. The therapist will have advanced expertise and knowledge in the area that they specialize in. The Principal Physiotherapist should have a comprehensive understanding and insights into departmental and hospital operations and directions, and should be able to initiate and oversee planning, implementation and execution of new services and initiatives.

In Physiotherapy services, the Principal Physiotherapist must have the general clinical competences below (though not exclusive) and have attained the specific area of competency for their specialty area. Depending on current rotation, the Principal Physiotherapist must have expertise in management of patients in one of these disciplines:

• Orthopedics
• Sports
• Cardiopulmonary
• Chronic Disease Management
• Geriatrics
• Musculoskeletal
• Women’s Health and Lymphoedema
• Pediatrics
• Others

They must be independent in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of complex cases and know when to seek guidance proactively when required.

The Principal Physiotherapist will be recognized in their specialty as a specialist in their field. They will be able to manage and assess walk-in patients as first-line practitioners for their specialty area, and must be able to handle complex cases and know when to request a second opinion.

• General Competency: Demonstrates in-depth understanding of related areas pertaining to their area of specialty
• Demonstrates in-depth understanding of general operational aspects of the department and hospital
• Initiatives in area-related processes and improvement projects
• Initiates the planning, implementation and execution of new services and initiatives within a multi-disciplinary team
• Demonstrates research and literature critique skills
• Possesses qualities of integrity
• Possesses supervisory, coaching and mentorship skills
• Demonstrates effective leadership skills in projects and teams
• Demonstrates ability to trouble-shoot and problem-solve
• Specific Skills and Competency: Possesses advanced knowledge, skills and clinical reasoning in specific area
• Possesses ability to develop and facilitate rehabilitative intervention plans and strategies
• Demonstrates ability to identify and plan the training needs of the team
• Possesses ability to identify and source advancements in research and technology pertaining to the relevant area

• In the course of provision of Physiotherapy services, staff must develop skills and competency in self-management and compliance with medico-legal and governance guidelines
• Be responsible for the department and individual caseload
• Plan and allocate manpower resources and coverage based on departmental needs
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date medical records in continuity of care
• Ensure team compliance with hospital policies
• Capitalize on hospital technology (e.g., IT applications) to improve departmental processes and workflows
• Maintain and monitor departmental and hospital KPIs
• Coordinate processes and flows within teams including understanding each area’s operations
• Plan and develop services under the guidance of the Supervisor/Manager
• Assist in the regulation of finances and workload of the physiotherapy section to ensure cost-effectiveness and productivity
• Assist to evaluate manpower needs and assist in recruitment of new staff
• Set directions for sub-team development with considerations to SWOT analysis and directions set by the Supervisor/Manager and above
• Deputize in the absence of Supervisor/Manager
• Handle patient feedback and media enquiries
• Initiate and lead team/departmental projects
• Propose and formalize SOPs and policies in line with new development

• Principal Physiotherapists are members of the multi-disciplinary team. Staff must demonstrate esprit de corps and professionalism to ensure desired outcomes
• Engage actively and lead the team in patient and care-giver education
• Be proactive in assisting Supervisor/Manager in managing team workload and coverage
• Assist or lead departmental meetings, ward rounds and other professional meetings
• Liaise and maintain good working relations with other healthcare professionals within the hospital and with external organizations
• Develop good relationships with and awareness within junior and senior surgeons/doctors in specific area
• Demonstrate professional behaviour including respect for patient privacy, personal hygiene and to be a role model to subordinates
• Delegate responsibilities appropriately and monitor progress
• Lead the team to adhere to the policies and procedures of the Hospital and Department
• Mentor/coach JG14 and below in their roles within hospital/department activities, e.g., Community Day/ Hospital activities as required

• Supervise JG14 and below in their supervisory and clinical skills
• Supervision of junior staff in the work group
• Be involved in the appraisal of JG14 and below
• Supervise NYP students (Year 1/2/3) and mentor JG14 and below in their clinical educator roles
• Guide area-specific patient education and in-service education

• Mentor and guide others to adhere to patient quality service
• Mentor and guide others to contribute actively to departmental or other service quality improvements projects and initiatives
• Physiotherapist/Manager, seek advice and provide feedback on service delivery and improvement