CSIRO Publishing, Australian Health Review, 4(44), p. 618-623, 2019
DOI: 10.1071/ah19144
Full text: Unavailable
Extended scope of practice (ESoP) and advanced scope of practice (ASoP) physiotherapy roles have been in place in the UK for over 20 years. However, interest in these types of services appears to be only just evolving within Australia. Although ESoP and/or ASoP cardiorespiratory roles in intensive care units (ICU) may be perceived to be more achievable in large metropolitan teaching hospitals, at least 67% of Australian ICUs provide physiotherapy services. Very little has been published on the practicalities (e.g. training pathways, evidence for use and guidelines) of developing advanced or extended scope cardiorespiratory physiotherapy services within Australian ICUs. This report describes the development and implementation of a physiotherapy-led bronchoscopy service from a regional hospital perspective. What is known about the topic? Although ESoP and ASoP physiotherapy roles are well established in the UK, such services appear to be only just evolving in Australia. Clarity on the definitions of extended and advanced physiotherapy roles have been articulated by the Australian Physiotherapy Association. However, there is a paucity of evidence published on the practicalities of establishing advanced or extended scope cardiorespiratory physiotherapy services within Australian ICUs. What does this paper add? One of the main emerging areas of ESoP and/or ASoP in the cardiorespiratory field is the use of bronchoscopy by physiotherapists. This paper describes the framework, implementation, limitations and barriers of developing a physiotherapy-led bronchoscopy service from a regional hospital perspective. What are the implications for practitioners? This paper allows the potential for our credentialing and practice framework model to be transferred in other public hospitals commencing or considering implementing physiotherapy-led bronchoscopy services within their ICU.