Physiotherapist

Description:

As outlined above, the need to reform the healthcare services in Ireland in order to provide a more sustainable, integrated and patient-centred approach has come to the fore in recent health policies and strategies. Integrated care requires health and social care services to work together across different levels and sites in order to provide end-to-end care that meets patient need.

The Pulmonary rehabilitation coordinator will offer dynamic leadership to promote and develop a high quality evidenced based pulmonary rehabilitation service championing innovation to improve and support service delivery.

They will act as the representative clinical lead at local and national strategic development meetings disseminating information and acting on initiatives and improvements within the resources available.

The post holder will coordinate resources and services for the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program.

The post holder will also act as an expert clinical resource offering supervision, education and on-going support to staff and teams managing complex respiratory patients.

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation coordinator will be a highly competent, visible and experienced autonomous practitioner who uses specialist knowledge and advanced skills to support Pulmonary Rehabilitation services. They will have a good understanding of the vision of the HSE and Sláintecare and to be able to translate this into a local context for operational implementation within their team and locality area.

They will demonstrate advanced clinical judgement and critical decision-making skills based upon evidence-based practice.

The post-holder will utilise their advanced level knowledge and skills to:

• Triage referrals and identify complex cases and optimise treatment with the Respiratory Consultant and GP before commencing Pulmonary rehabilitation

• Accurately undertake specialist clinical skills including airway clearance techniques, breathlessness management, interpreting and analysing clinical and non-clinical tests to form an accurate assessment and decide suitability for pulmonary rehabilitation.

• Demonstrate a strong working knowledge of guidelines for best practice, competence in physical assessment skills and treatment of complex respiratory patients for pulmonary rehabilitation

• Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatments and interventions of Pulmonary rehabilitation

• Integrate both pharmacological and non-pharmacological aspects of Pulmonary rehabilitation into patient care/management plans

• Be a competent autonomous practitioner, leading innovation and demonstrating respiratory clinical expertise and acting as a role model for others.

• Lead, support and develop the team of health care professionals delivering Pulmonary Rehabilitation and respiratory care to a wide range of patients.

• Liaise with and give specialist advice to other members of the Multidisciplinary team (MDT) regarding the medical management of patients with respiratory problems, have knowledge of disease management pathways within secondary and primary care and be able to signpost and refer on where appropriate

• Carry out risk assessment within the service, equipment and environment and to minimise risk within the team.

• Continuously evaluate patient progress and outcomes.

• Develop operational pathways, protocols and procedures to ensure the delivery of safe pulmonary rehabilitation in accordance with local and national clinical standards.

• Effectively manage capacity within the team and performance including waiting list management

• Work with the multidisciplinary respiratory team and the service lead to strategically develop and operationally manage the Pulmonary Rehabilitation service

• Undertake the evaluation of current practices through the use of evidence-based practice, audit and outcome measures and act upon results through making recommendations and implementing change

• Supporting staff during the process of change within the team and organisation