Getting Sask. residents access to physiotherapy

Apr 2, 2017 | 9:00 AM

The Saskatchewan Physiotherapy Association (SPA) is hoping to ease pressure on the medical system in the province by working to get people access to appropriate care, in particular physiotherapy (PT).

Garnette Weber, SPA project manager, said different health regions offer different services and in many cases it can be a challenge to get access to publically-funded PT services.

Weber said a big area of focus for SPA is working with the different levels of government to get secure access to PT for those who are receiving social assistance benefits. She said SPA has had several meetings with different groups to create models on how granting access to PT would work and how to continue working towards providing PT services to all residents in Saskatchewan.

“We’re hoping [physiotherapy] can be added soon so that [patients] can receive physio and return to the level of physical function that they need to in order to do their daily activities, return to work and be the best they can physically,” Weber said.

She said research has shown that when people have access to PT the results are reduced hospital admissions, reduced emergency room admissions and shorter hospital stays, all of which will reduce health costs.

Adding PT to social assistance can also help the government financially by getting people back to work safer and sooner, Weber said. 

“There’s a lot of initiatives to try to improve recruitment of physiotherapists where they’re needed, especially in the North and also other rural areas,” Weber said. “[We’re] trying to find ways to bring Saskatchewan residents physiotherapy services to those areas.”

Research has shown there are higher incidents of chronic health conditions in rural areas and northern communities, Weber said, and noted the agriculture sector sees high rates of back pain and without access to PT in a timely manner it can lead to long-term physical limitations.

“[Having access to PT] can help people to adjust their needs in a timely manner and working their way back into being physically active and functioning to their best,” Weber said.

Physiotherapy can also help with people who suffer from conditions like diabetes as exercise is critical to the management of the disease, Weber said, but noted exercise can be a challenge for diabetics.

“Someone with diabetes might not be able to pick up and start an intense exercise program, so a physiotherapist can help prescribe a safe and effective exercise program that they can work into,” she said.

Physiotherapy is also beneficial for children as well, Weber said, as kids with injuries who go through PT can stay active throughout their youth.

“It’s important that kids are able to access physiotherapy when they do sustain injuries so those don’t become chronic and lead to more detractors from being active such as obesity or chronic joint pain and other things that may limit their physical activity long term,” Weber said.

Weber said physiotherapists are a direct-access healthcare profession, meaning people don’t need a doctor’s referral to go see one. As a result, Weber said it’s important to ensure timely access because research has shown there is a limited window of opportunity to get back into shape and improve the long-term outcome after an injury.

 

swallace@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahthesquid