Title: Advance Practice Physio
Department: Central Intake and Assessment Centre (CIAC)
Hours of Work: Casual Position; Days
Salary: $97,794.84- $117,353.93 annually
Union: Non-Union
Location: Hotel Dieu Hospital Site
PRIMARY FUNCTION
The core function of the position is expert clinical practice grounded in evidence, advanced education, and experience. The Advance Practice Physio (APP), in collaboration with, and having been trained by the arthroplasty orthopaedic surgeons, and other members of the interprofessional team, provides clinically effective and efficient care to individuals referred for MSK assessment and management of hip or knee arthritis conditions. Patients may have co-exiting diverse medical presentation and complex physical and psychological conditions. The APP is expected to work autonomously using advanced skills to assess, investigate, diagnose, and manage patients with MSK conditions referred to the program. In the majority of cases, the APP will be the first contact the patient has with the program. The APP is a champion for best practice, and innovative care models and contributes to quality improvement initiatives to achieve safe, effective, and timely care. It should be noted that the APP’s who work at KHSC in the Central Intake and Assessment Centre (CIAC) serve dual roles; first, as the clinicians who triage ALL referrals of individuals with hip or knee arthritis who are being referred to any surgeon in the Southeast Region for consideration of joint replacement, and also as the clinicians who provide individualized assessments for patients referred to the Kingston Rapid Access Clinic (RAC) site who reside closest to Kingston. (The Southeast Regional RAC sites include Belleville, Perth/Smith Falls, Brockville and Kingston)
RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES INCLUDE:
- Performs initial triage of all referrals from SELHIN in order to review content, ensure required data is complete, determine the urgency of when patient should be seen, and to direct the referral to the appropriate RAC site, or to send directly to the most appropriate surgeon. The needs of the patient based on referral information and imaging, the skill set of the surgeon, and the wait time to see a particular surgeon all must be taken into account in making this triage decision.
- Performs comprehensive independent physical assessment of new patients referred to the hip and knee assessment centre to establish or confirm a diagnosis and determine need and urgency for surgical consultation. It is not uncommon for patients to arrive with an incorrect diagnosis, or no diagnosis. The APP must have the skills, training and judgement to be able to accurately diagnose all patients, and work collaboratively with the referral source to ensure that appropriate follow-up is arranged for all patients, those with diagnoses that are appropriate for referral to an arthroplasty surgeon, and also those who are not a candidate for joint replacement.
- Communicates a diagnosis to patient and family, and referral source. Formulates and delivers an individualized treatment and management plan of optimal conservative management in addition to forwarding patient to the most appropriate orthopaedic surgeon with an accurate reflection of the urgency in which they should be seen by the surgeon for an initial consultation. As part of the conservative management that the APP provides to patients deemed not yet appropriate for surgery, the APP must have the skills, knowledge and judgement to determine if an intra-articular knee injection is an appropriate conservative treatment option for patients. That treatment is provided under KHSC’s Delegated Controlled Act (DCA-03)
- Performs assessments on patients post arthroplasty for patients with aging joint replacements, over the expected lifespan of the arthroplasty to ensure that the joint replacement has not failed, and to identify those who may need revision of an older joint replacement before it suffers a catastrophic failure. The APP will also monitor patients who at initial assessment are deemed not ready for surgery, in order to continuously evaluate conservative treatment effectiveness, and to forward to surgeon if adequate management of their hip or knee arthritis is no longer being achieved by conservative measures.
- In order to be able to accurately establish a diagnosis, and monitor those with aging joint replacements, the APP must be able to order diagnostic tests. The APP’s have been trained by the arthroplasty surgeons at KHSC such that they possess the skill, knowledge and judgement described in KHSC Medical Directive 12-06 Hip and Knee Clinic, in order to do so. The APP is required to order, evaluate, and incorporate the results of these diagnostic tests in the normal performance of their duties, The medical directives include ordering and interpreting imaging and bloodwork. The APP is responsible to follow up on the results of any tests ordered, discuss these with the surgeon where necessary, communicate the results with the patient where appropriate, and arrange for further management as required.
NOTE - The above duties are representative but are not to be construed as all-inclusive.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Advanced course work in musculoskeletal specialty beyond entry to practice physiotherapy degree and/or able to demonstrate the ability to work at an advanced level of practice
- Master’s degree in a Health/Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program (research-based or course-based in a related area), post professional course work in musculoskeletal specialty.
- Professional Registration, in good standing, with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario
- Membership in the Canadian Physiotherapy Association preferred
- 5 years of clinical experience in musculoskeletal care.
- 5 years of clinical experience in musculoskeletal care in an advanced practice capacity preferred
- Successful completion of a 3-month Residency with surgeons and other members of the team and passes minimum competency evaluation after Residency preferred
- Proven ability to attend work regularly.
- Satisfactory criminal reference check and vulnerable sector search required.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The applicant must be able to meet the physical demands of this position.
KHSC is located on the ancestral lands and waters of the Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee and serves a wider geographical area that encompasses many Indigenous communities including Tyendinaga, Katarokwi, as well as communities within the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority. As we partner in care, discovery, and learning to achieve better health outcomes for our communities, KHSC is committed to actively advocating for and acting upon the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s Calls to Action on Health.
Unless specifically stated, all job postings are for existing positions at KHSC. KHSC is committed to recruitment practices that support and contribute to building a respectful, diverse and inclusive workplace in compliance with legislation such as the Employment Standards Act and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. We welcome all applications from women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, persons in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and members of other equity deserving groups.
Kingston Health Sciences Centre may use artificial intelligence systems to assess and screen applicants. All hiring decisions are made in accordance with KHSC policies and applicable employment legislation.
We thank all applicants, but only those selected for next steps will be contacted. Kingston Health Sciences Centre is committed to inclusive and accessible employment practices. If you require an accommodation to fully participate in the hiring process, please notify the Recruitment Team.
