Professional Standards in (ICRC) Physiotherapy

Welcome to The ICRC Physiotherapy Standards Content Development Project. This space was created by Physiopedia for the creation of content relating to the ICRC Physiotherapy Standards Workshop. Please do not edit unless you are involved in this project, but please come back in the near future to check out new information!!

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Related Pages[edit | edit source]

  1. Professional Standards in (ICRC) Physiotherapy
  2. ICRC Physiotherapy Standards Project Cycle
  3. ICRC Physiotherapy Standards Rehab Cycle

Introduction[edit | edit source]

PT is a process, and decisions about therapeutic interventions are negotiated between the therapist and the patient/service user. Each patient’s experience will be unique, so PT can be difficult to measure, and attention is normally focused on clinical outcomes. The ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Programme (PRP) has explored how the quality of physiotherapy interventions themselves might be measured. ICRC physical therapists have been trained in many different countries and healthcare systems and work in the most challenging contexts. This means that PT interventions are likely to be highly variable across different field situations, and outcomes are difficult to measure in a valid and reliable way[1].

ICRC PTS IntroductionIllustration.jpg

The ICRC Physiotherapy Standards[edit | edit source]

The ICRC is committed to ensure that ‘the highest possible quality of care in line with appropriate standards' are integrated into all healthcare systems. To achieve this the ICRC has developed international standards, adapted to the humanitarian context, the ICRC 23 PT Standards explained (PTS). They aim to achieve a threshold standard of quality, as the first step in improving physiotherapy outcomes for service users in ICRC-supported projects[1], they include - direct patient care; supervision; management and teaching.

The ICRC PT standards are international standards adapted to the humanitarian context. They standards cover all aspects of PT practice including:

  • User/Patient related - Respect, informed consent, confidentiality
  • Procedures (rehab cycle) related - assessment, treatment planning, implementation, evaluation, discharge
  • Therapist (service provider) related - Communication, lifelong learning, professional conduct, quality improvement
  • Service Provision relation - data management, safety and security, Human Resources.

A strong foundation has been laid for phase two of the project (implementation). Impact evaluation will be necessary to maximise learning from the initiative. The process is both replicable and transferable to other professions and other humanitarian organisations in a context where physiotherapy is often still poorly recognised and valued. Below is a summary of each standard.

User/Patient Related (Service User)[edit | edit source]

  • Standard 1 - Respect Recognition of the service user as an individual is central to physiotherapy and is demonstrated at all times
  • Standard 2 - Informed Consent Service users are given relevant information about the proposed physiotherapy plan. This should take into account their age, gender, culture, emotional state and ability to understand, to allow informed consent to be given. The most appropriate format for informing the service user should be used
  • Standard 3 - Confidentiality Information which the service user gives to the physiotherapist is treated in the strictest confidence by the physiotherapist

Therapist Related (Service Provider)[edit | edit source]

  • Standard 4 MDT Assessment Information is gathered from a variety of sources in order to determine the service user’s health status
  • Standard 5 Analysis and Treatment Planning Following information gathering and assessment, analysis and clinical decision-making is undertaken in order to formulate a treatment plan
  • Standard 6 Implementation The treatment is adapted to meet the service user’s individual needs and delivered in a way that benefits the service user. Where applicable, this should be done within a MDT context
  • Standard 7 Evaluation The service user’s physiotherapeutic progress is reviewed when possible
  • Standard 8 Evaluation The service user’s response to physiotherapy is measured using a service user focused outcome measure
  • Standard 9 Transfer / Discharge On completion of the treatment arrangements are made, with the MDT, for the transfer of care or discharge
  • Standard 10 Communication The physiotherapist communicates effectively with service users and/or their carers/relatives
  • Standard 11 Communication The physiotherapist communicates effectively with the MDT and other relevant professionals to provide an effective and efficient service to the service user
  • Standard 18 Human Resources Each member of the team should have clearly defined roles and expectations
  • Standard 19 Lifelong Learning The physiotherapist assesses, plans, implements and evaluates his/her formal and informal lifelong learning
  • Standard 20 Professional Conduct The physiotherapist demonstrates ethical and professional conduct, and compliance with guidelines and regulations
  • Standard 21 Quality Improvement The physiotherapist demonstrates commitment to and contributes to improving the quality of service user services, to improve the health of service users
  • Standard 22 The physiotherapist encourages and responds to service user feedback
  • Standard 23 Physiotherapy is based on review of the best available evidence

Service Provision (Service)[edit | edit source]

  • Standard 12 Data Management To facilitate service user management and satisfy legal requirements, every service user who receives physiotherapy must have a record
  • Standard 13 Data Management Service user records are retained in accordance with existing policies
  • Standard 14 Data Management Relevant information is recorded, collated and reported to stakeholders as required Explanation There is clear reporting as required

Service User, Therapist and Service Related[edit | edit source]

  • Standard 15 Physical Environment and Safety of the Service User and Physiotherapist The physical set up of the clinic must have adequate spaces and therapeutic equipment that enables physiotherapists to deliver physiotherapy services across the full scope of practise of the service
  • Standard 16 Physical Environment and Safety of the Service User and Physiotherapist Service users are treated in a clinical environment that is safe for service users, physiotherapists and carers
  • Standard 17 Physical Environment and Safety of the Service User and Physiotherapist All equipment is safe, fit for purpose and ensures service user, carer and physiotherapist safety.

Monitoring and Evaluating the Standards ​[edit | edit source]

The standards are their to guide service delivery, staff competency and growth, and service user satisfaction. In order to ensure all needs are being met it is important to use tools and implement a system to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the standards. The ICRC recommends using a Results Based Management (RBM) approach, a strategy that focuses on the impact of an intervention on service provision and patient satisfaction, rather than just the intervention itself. It takes into account other aspects such as the relevance of the intervention to service users as well as assessing if it is effective, cost and time efficient. Does it meet the objectives of the goals that were set and have a positive effect on the community it serves?.

Project Cycle vs Rehab Cycle[edit | edit source]

The PTS are divided into two parts the project cycle and the rehab cycle. Both cycles are based on a system of:

  1. Assessment and analysis
  2. Formulate and Plan
  3. Implement and Monitor
  4. Evaluate and Learn

A number of the standards are related to projects, others are related to a rehab cycle.

Project vs Rehab Cycle.png

Tools[edit | edit source]

(from Intro to PTS)

Cycle Stage Rehab Cycle Tools Project Cycle Tools
Assess & analyse Assessment & treatment guidance, outcome measures Situation analysis, gap analysis, PT competency checklist
Formulate & plan Assessment & treatment guidance; SMART goal setting; tx protocols Action plan; SMART goal setting
Implement & monitor Applied EIP/EBP; progress diary; phone app; exercise tracker (watch) Action plan and other monitoring tools (reporting tools, database ..)
Evaluate & learn Same assessment and outcome measures, user feedback Same assessment tools (SA, GA, competency checklist), action plan (verify indicators)

Resources[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]