NSW Health has partnered with the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) to provide specialist training to upskill hospital physiotherapists deployed to provide care to patients with COVID-19.
NSW Chief Allied Health Officer, Andrew Davison said the initiative would help to wean patients off much-needed ventilators and improve treatment outcomes.
“Physiotherapists, and all allied health clinicians, are an essential part of the multidisciplinary team and the collaborative response to treat and support patients with COVID-19,” Mr Davison said.
“More than 350 NSW Health physiotherapists with previous experience in intensive care registered with the Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) and undertook virtual training by APA this weekend.”
He said the training had been developed by the APA’s leading cardiorespiratory physiotherapists from around Australia.
“NSW Health physiotherapists will provide vital support as part of the multidisciplinary team in the critical care environments,” he said.
“Hospitals will use this training to support practical skills of physios in intensive care units.”
He said NSW Health physiotherapists would assist patients with respiratory performance and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Mr Davison said NSW Health would make the retraining package available nationally for other States and Territories.
