Part-time Physiotherapist - Hospital to Home Program

Job Description

The Physiotherapist, working as an independent contractor, is an integral member of the Sinai Health to Home (SHtoH) point of care team at Circle of Care. With a focus on population health and the social determinants of health, each member of the team works within the program guidelines to support patients recently discharged from Sinai Health. The program is intended to provide wrap-around services to support the transition from hospital to home and optimize functional recovery through self-efficacy and chronic disease management. In order to touch as many lives as possible and positively impact patient and family outcomes while on the program, team members will provide evidence informed professional practice, continually assess needs, progress and suitability of services; provide community referrals and resources and make recommendations that align with the program goals for financially sustainable home care.

The Physiotherapist assesses, diagnoses, and develops a treatment plan to improve a person’s functional independence with a focus on strength, range of motion, balance and mobility.  The Physiotherapist also promotes energy conservation in people living with CHF, COPD, and supports ongoing recovery after stroke, brain injury, spinal cord and nerve injury. 

We are looking for: 3 part-time Physiotherapists (Independent Contractors)
Hours of Work: Minimum 5 visits per week.  This is a community-based position that requires travel to client homes in Toronto.
Reports to: Program Manager, Sinai Hospital to Home

Clinical Practice – Excellence and Quality Improvement

• Conduct in home comprehensive assessments to identify functional limitations related to strength, range of motion, balance, gait and pain management.
• Assess the home environment for safety and falls prevention risks e.g. bathroom safety.
• Develop a personalized treatment plan, including goals for improving independence in activities of daily living (ADLs) from a rehabilitative lens.
• Recommend and fit assistive devices like grab bars, raised toilet seats, shower chairs, walking aids and simple wheelchairs.
• Set SMART goals with the patient/family within the program length of stay.
• Use therapeutic communication and motivational interviewing to engage patients and families in partnership and use empathy to manage frustration and escalation.
• Provide guidance and training to family and caregivers on how to assist the patient with safe transfers using simple mobility/gait aids and fall prevention strategies.
• Implement strategies to manage pain related activities of daily living, including body biomechanics, positioning techniques, and pain management education.
• Conduct fall risk assessments and implement interventions to reduce the risk of falls, such as exercise programs, environmental modifications, and gait training.
• Provide health education for patients and their caregivers on effective exercise techniques, falls prevention and self-management strategies.
• Use TUGS tool to evaluate progress throughout the patient treatment plan and provide an update to patients and their caregivers.
• Prepare patients and their caregivers for the initiation and discontinuation of treatment based on outcomes and program guidelines.

Clinical Excellence and Quality Improvement 

• Complete patient comprehensive assessments and other clinical documentation in alignment with college documentation standards.
• Supervise and support rehabilitation assistant practice as per college guidelines.
• Submit Professional Service Reports three days after initial visit, when requested due to a change of status and when goals are met/almost met to support transition planning.
• Submit their visit schedule and billings for payment.
• Submit their First Visit Capacity weekly.
• Adhere to verbal reporting requirements for NSNF, Missed Care, Service Refusal or inability to contact patients, adverse effects (witnessed falls), complaints or compliments.
• Report all safety events impacting clients, caregivers, and families in a timely and honest disclosure.

Information Management and Reporting

• Complete and maintain the patient health record and adhere to the clinical documentation standards for privacy, safety and return.
• Adhere to CPO standard, organizational and funder policies for record keeping, consent, disclosure requests, privacy and confidentiality.
• Ensure all funding letters or copies, including ADP applications, are part of the health record.
• Follow the organization’s policy on privacy and confidential and cybersecurity when using own devices for managing PHI.

Integrated Team and Clinical Leadership

• Strive to promote the values of the blended care model to promote an optimal patient experience, continuity of care and reduce duplication of assessments.
• Collaborate by communicating with the Program Supervisor, participating in huddles for patient updates or warm hand offs where applicable.
• Work successfully with Rehabilitation Assistants to develop and implement a treatment plan with follow-up through joint visits or phone communication.

Risk, Health, and Safety Management

• Identifying and reporting health and safety incidents and concerns in a timely manner to the appropriate supervisors and/or funders, documenting incidents in EasyCare and escalating appropriately to the designated supervisors as outlined in the Client Safety Reporting policy (C.01.38).
• Participating in health and safety processes and procedures
• Participating in maintaining a safe workplace environment by cultivating a positive safety culture and encouraging best practices to promote both staff and client safety and well-being
• Participating in all health and safety training initiatives on a regular basis.
• Taking proactive action against client incidents within your scope of practice.
• Developing a plan to identify, manage and/or minimize client safety risks or situations in adherence with risk management operations policies.
• Assessing the severity of an adverse client safety/risk event and determining the best follow-up and developing an action plan following the event. Collaborating with funder and following any additional processes as required.
• Calling emergency services (911) when the client is an immediate risk of harming themselves or others, or if there is a serious injury and/or imminent harm.
• Evaluating any potential hazards and identifying clients at risk for adverse health and safety events, taking preventative measures when necessary to minimize reoccurrence.
• Reporting all safety events impacting clients, caregivers and families in a timely and honest disclosure.

Qualifications

• Physiotherapist with current registration with CPO.  
• Experience working in the home care sector.
• Experience working as part of an integrated team with knowledge of regulated and unregulated health care providers, including rehabilitation assistants.
• Current ADP authorizer for walkers/wheelchair is an asset.
• Commitment to evidence-informed professional practice and outcome measures; professional practice models and practice requirements in Ontario. 
• Commitment to person-centred care and cultural diversity. 
• Knowledge of population health and vulnerable populations e.g. elder adults, Indigenous people, people living with mental health and addictions, 2SLLGBTQI+ 
• Experience supporting patients with Acquired Brain Injury or post stroke recovery.
• Knowledge of the social determinants of health and impact on clinical outcomes.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, problem solving, and assessment skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced setting, highly organized, able to work independently and function as a member of a team.
• Additional languages are an asset, a preference for French speaking.
• Computer literacy skills and compliant with PHI cybersecurity guidelines.
• Valid Driver’s license and vehicle required.