South Africa
Welcome to Worldwide Physical Therapy Practice: a focus on Primary Care Physical Therapy
This is a project created by and for the students in the School of Physical Therapy at the University of St. Augustine in St. Augustine Florida. Please do not edit unless you are involved in this project, but please come back in the near future to check out new information!!
Original Editor - Mayra Escbach.
Lead Editors - Your name will be added here if you are a lead editor on this page. Read more.
Patient Access to Physiotherapy or Physical Therapy Services / Entry Point[edit | edit source]
Physiotherapists in South Africa have first line practitioner status. By definition a first line practioner is a practitioner capable of making a diagnosis and being able to treat. The practitioner must refer if the problem is outside of his/her scope of practice.(1)
Physiotherapists were first recognized as first line practitioners in the 1985 Scope of Practice Document and were acknowledged as such by both the then regulating body, the SAMDC (South African Medical and Dental Council) and current regulating body of physiotherapists, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) who further verified the first line practitioner status of physiotherapists in 1997.(1)
According to HPCSA the Physiotherapist assesses, treats and manages a wide variety of injuries including ailments from the fields of orthopedics, neurology, respiratory , cardio-vascular, obstetrics, sports medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, intensive care units and general rehabilitation. Other medical fields and community care also falls within the scope of physiotherapy (2)
As first line practioners, physiotherapists also practice and work in association with the patients’ medical team and may refer patients for X-rays, refer to a specialist, write and issue sick notes and administer prescribed medicine. (1)
Therapist Preparation[edit | edit source]
Degree/Credentialing[edit | edit source]
- What is the education process to become a Physiotherapist or Physical Therapist in this country?
Specialization[edit | edit source]
- Do clinicians specialise in certain areas of care and if so how?
Professional Associations[edit | edit source]
- What are the professional associations associated with Physiotherapy or Physial Therapy in this country?
Information about the Patient Community[edit | edit source]
- What is the population these PT’s serve?
- What are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the population served?
Social/Cultural Influences[edit | edit source]
- What is the influence of the family on a patient's health status?
- What are the typical patient's living conditions, family dynamics, and cultural back ground?
Delivery of Care[edit | edit source]
- Is delivery of care provided in a timely manner?
- Special methods? Home health etc
Type of Health System[edit | edit source]
- Is it a national health system with universal access?
Payment System[edit | edit source]
- What methods to patient use to pay for service? (Insurance, bartering etc.)
