Programme learning outcomes related to the professional roles of a physical therapist

Healthcare provider
As a healthcare provider, the physical therapist provides patient-centric healthcare to patients with a need for assistance related to impairments experienced in movement-related functioning. After assessing whether there is an indication for physical therapy, the physical therapist provides care through guidance, coaching and/or treatment. Physical therapeutic healthcare is based on clinical reasoning and shared decision-making. Clinical expertise, scientific evidence, contextual factors and the preferences of the patient and/or his/her loved one(s) are considered (evidencebased practice). The physical therapist supports the patient’s self-management while taking into account the patient’s living environment.

Health promotor
As a health promoter, the physical therapist identifies, recognises and analyses lifestyle factors within the framework of indicated and healthcare-related prevention. The physical therapist offers self-management support in his/her coaching role, aimed at permanent lifestyle improvement in the patient’s living environment. The primary focus is on movement-related functioning related to the patient’s living environment.

Collaborator
As a collaborator, the physical therapist initiates intra- and interprofessional cooperation. He/she works together with fellow physical therapists and other (healthcare) professionals (collaborators) in order to organise and offer the right care for patients, thereby helping to support and improve patients’ health. The physical therapist informs patients and collaborators about the physical therapy discipline. He/she is aware of the discipline and the expertise of collaborators and refers patients to them, if necessary. With this the physical therapist contributes to organising the right care for the patient and the social positioning of the physical therapy discipline, both at the local, regional and national level.

Organiser
As an organiser, the physical therapist coordinates, organises and records his/her own work activities and healthcare provided to patients. He/she does this within physical therapy and externally with collaborators so as to guarantee the continuity of the healthcare. The physical therapist transfers information to collaborators such as fellow physical therapists in a clear manner. In doing so, the physical therapist is aware of contextual factors, such as the (social) environment, the dynamic healthcare system, laws and regulations and financial economic factors. The physical therapist guarantees the safety and effectiveness of the healthcare. The physical therapist is aware of the environment and organisation within which he/she works. This also applies to the associated ambitions and goals. The physical therapist is proactive and constructive in his/her thinking in this regard, selecting the most suitable way of information transfer.

Reflective Professional
As a reflective professional, the physical therapist applies, cultivates and maintains his/her own professional competence and contributes to that of colleague physical therapists and other collaborators. The core here is developing (one’s own) professional identity, whereby continuous reflection of one’s own actions is essential. The physical therapist is responsible for planning and organising his/her own professional development and supports that of fellow physical therapists and other collaborators through reflection of their actions and/or behaviour.

Innovator
As an innovative professional, the physical therapist contributes to innovation in healthcare in general and in the discipline of physical therapy in particular. The physical therapist identifies, analyses and interprets organisational, discipline-related and scientific developments in healthcare in general and in physical therapy in particular and shares these with colleagues. The physical therapist participates in initiatives for innovating and/or improving (physical therapeutic) healthcare. It is the physical therapist’s responsibility to apply relevant innovations and implement these in his/her own practices. The physical therapist uses healthcare technology, such as blended care and other e-health applications, if this fits with the patient’s need for assistance and living environment. This can be done supplementally to the treatment, but also as a (partial) substitute to the physical therapeutic treatment with the aim of making the healthcare better and/or more effective. The physical therapist has an open and critical attitude towards innovations. Healthcare technology can be used if this fits with the patient’s need for assistance and living environment.

Communicator
The physical therapist’s communication is aimed at the patient, his/her loved one(s) and fellow physical therapists as well as at other collaborators, with technological tools where possible and appropriate. Communication encompasses communicating with all the senses. It entails verbal and written communication, body language and posture and tactile communication (e.g. through touch). As a communicator, the physical therapist aims at effective information sharing. The physical therapist is able to assess the information need of the patient and his/her informal network and when communicating takes into account the personal factors, cultural background, language fluency, comprehension level and capacity of the patient and his/her loved one(s). In an interprofessional information exchange, the physical therapist is able to issue reports and obtain information in a goal-oriented, careful and unambiguous manner. It is the physical therapist’s responsibility to provide the patient and other involved parties with understandable information appropriate to the request for care or assistance in a timely and optimal fashion.

Related to programme learning outcomes
The graduates of this programme can demonstrate the ability to: 

• carry out private practice, in accordance with the Code of Conduct of the competent authority as well as legal and ethical codes related to professional practice;
• independently organize and execute his/her activities in the field of planning and systematic patient and financial administration, while acting in accordance with the objectives and interests of his/her health care organization;
• create and develop a pleasant constructive working and treatment climate in which cooperation with colleagues leads to efficient work methods and an appropriately organized chain of care;
• contribute as a co-author to the physiotherapy department’s policy documents, annual reports, communication and information materials;
• participate in group work in setting up a research plan, by using applied scientific research and/or by supplying scientific/research data from the field of physiotherapy and relevant scientific areas (e.g. Health Care, Sports, Social Sciences, Physics);
• contribute, as a co-author, to scientific publications and reports in the field of physiotherapy;
• contribute to the professional discourse and develop, in partnership with colleagues, new training programmes and guidelines;
• take full responsibility for his/her personal learning and practice through continued training and keeping up to date with professional literature in the field of physiotherapy, management in health care and other relevant scientific areas (e.g. Health Care in general, Sports, Social Sciences);
• independently incorporate new clinical guidelines in his/her interventions as a physiotherapist.

In relation to physiotherapy activities such as screening, diagnosing and planning, the graduates of this programme can demonstrate the ability to:

• independently apply all aspects of screening, diagnosing and planning in relation to a variety of patients, either in private practice setting or a health care institution setting;
• independently communicate his/her treatment proposals and options in patient directed language, so that the patient/client can make an informed decision;
• independently provide physiotherapeutic advice as well as conduct appropriate referrals;

 In relation to therapy & prevention, the graduates of this programme can demonstrate the ability to:

• independently develop evidence-based, goal-directed physiotherapeutic treatment and prevention plans for a variety of client/patient categories;
• independently carry out and/or supervise evidence-based and goal-directed interventions, such as exercise therapy and training sessions, biopsychosocial counselling, education, advice, massage therapy and electrotherapy on individual clients and/or clients in a group setting;
• explain and evaluate during consultation with a client/patient, the choices made related to therapeutic and preventive interventions and if necessary independently adjust the treatment that was given;
• independently produces and maintains legible, accurate, and appropriate records, in keeping with regulatory requirements;
• communicate according to practical guidelines, the outcomes of physiotherapeutic interventions with colleagues, medical doctors and multidisciplinary teams.