Description 

Two week placement with an MACP tutor based at Leeds North PCT.

Dates 4-15 April 2005

• Being shadowed and assessed whilst treating a caseload of clients.
  
• Practical revision sessions
  
• Evidence based discussions relating to manual therapy
  
• Literature reviews

Spending two weeks working with an MACP tutor has consolidated my knowledge and skills directly in relation to presenting clients. Whilst currently treating GP referrals with musculoskeletal conditions the learning has been directly relevent to my current practice. I feel that my skills and knowledge have come together to enhance my clinical reasoning and treatment choices which has improved the effectiveness of my practice. As a result of this my future clients are likey to benefit from more sophisticated management decisions which should reduce their number of treatments and improve their ultimate outcome. This will benefit our service by helping to take the pressure off waiting lists.

Description 

OCPPP Education course presented at the OCPPP conference by Amanda Blake and Richard Whatley. 8 Hours CPD.

Date 22nd April 2005

Activities 

• Lecture on the fundamentals of MRI principles
  
• Lecture on safety issues regarding MRI referrals
  
• Lecture on clinical use of MRI
  
• Workshop on the role of MRI in major joints and soft tissues
  
• Workshop on the role of MRI in spinal imaging, diagnosis and treatment
  

Evidence

Course certificate attached.

mri_course_certificate.pdf

Reflection

On completing this course I now have a better understanding of the basic principles of MRI, when it is appropriate to refer clients for a scan and how to interperet the image. I now feel confident to appropriately and safely refer clients for MRI when required. This will enhance the management of my clients by enabling me to make treatment programs that are entirely appropriate for their condition. Treatment will therefore be more effective for the client and more efficient for the physiotherapy department.

Current situation 

Over the past year I have managed to increase my knowledge base and clinical skills by attending IST's, courses and reading literature relevant to my case load. My confidence has increased with this and through regular meetings with my mentor. My research activities have continued and I have started a CPD portfolio which will help and record my development. I feel that I have become well integrated within the physiotherapy department by showing an active interest in departmental professional and social affairs.

Ideal situation 

Next year I would like to:

1. Continue to develop clinical knowledge and handling skills to increase confidence and effectiveness.
2. Maintain my research involvement.
3. Increase involvement in departmental/professional affairs.
4. Develop knowledge specific to out-patients.
5. Become involved in sports physiotherapy.
6. Continue to complete my CPD portfolio.

Steps to success 

• Attend relevent musculoskeletal courses
  
• Continue to discuss patients and clinical problems with relevent senior.
• Ensure that objectives are set and completed for each learning objective during each rotation.
• Finish writing research paper up for publication in Physiotherapy Journal.
• Discuss opportunities to continue research involvement with Sue Mawson.
  
• Continue involvement in journal clubs and audit activity.
  
• Continue to develop role as junior representative.
  
• Discuss opportunities to become involved with professional affairs with Bhanu.
  
• Discuss opportunities to become involved in sports physio with Alison.
  
• Look into attending Sydney Olympics and look for travelling teams.
  
• Continue to complete portfolio on a regular basis.
  

Description

Weekly mentor session with my senior one in the out-patient department at the General Hospital.

Date - 4 August 1999

Location

Out-patient department

Attendees 

Myself and my mentor.

Meeting outcomes 

• To discuss my dizzy patient and develop a treatment plan.
• To have a better understanding of the causes of dizziness.
• To be able to safely VBI test patients and differentiate from vestibular.
• To know how to perform cervical instability tests.

Reflection

I have been nervous of treating one of my patients due to her presentation of dizziness which can be an indicator of serious pathology. Now that we have completed this mentor session on dizziness I know how to appropriately to question patients further regarding their dizziness to aid clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis. I feel confident to complete VBI testing and have a better understanding of instability testing. In this way I feel that my management of dizzy patients is safer and I should be more effective at recognising those patients at risk. This means that the patient willl benefit from safer, more effective and appropriate managment and the department will benefit as I will not be using up appointments inappropriately.

Two day course at Holme Pierrepont in Nottingham presented by Alan Taylor and Roger Kerry.

16 hours CPD.

Dates - 22-23 November 2002

Activities 

• Lecture on haemodynamic anatomy and physiology
• Lecture with clinical examples of how altered haemodynamics may mimic MSK conditions
• Clinical reasoning workshop
  
• Practical sessions to assess haemodynamic function
  

Evidence 

Certificate of attendance attached.

Altered Haemodynamics Course Certificate

Reflection 

With a lack of haemodynamic education in physiotherapy training it has been a very important course to attend. My knowledge of haemodynamic anatomy and physiology has been improved and I am more aware of the signs and symptoms that vascular conditions may present and how they can mimick musculoskeletal conditions. I now feel confident to incorporate vascular assessment into my consultations which previously I have only irregularly done. This will improve my clinical reasoning and consequently client management. I feel that presenting vascular clients will benefit from more accurate diagnosis and therefore more appropriate subsequent management. This will directly benefit the out-patient department waiting lists and success rates by recognising patients that are inappropriate for physiotherapy treatment and referring them on for more appropriate management.