Physiotherapy Services at Northern Health

Physiotherapy clinical services are provided at all five sites of Northern Health. Our services cover the complete continuum of care from newborn to geriatric care and from the emergency department to the patient’s home. Northern Health is a significant employer of physiotherapists with approximately 60 EFT or 75 staff members within a structure that comprises of a range of staff expertise and experience from Grade 1 through to Grade 4. We strive to provide patient centred care in a multidisciplinary team based environment. We ensure that our practice is evidence based in all our services through:

• Best practice focused presentations across the sites
• Active participation in research and
• Support for staff education from short courses to formal post graduation qualifications.

All staff are supported by a structured supervision program facilitated by more senior staff.  Many of our senior staff have post graduate qualifications and clinical expertise covering a range of specialities.

Northern Health has the benefit of modern facilities. Our subacute services have benefited from the DHS equipment funding in 2008, which has given us access to state of the art equipment such as a Balance Master, several Diagnostic Ultrasound Units and a comprehensive variety of gym equipment.

Service and Programs

Acute and Community Care Programs
(The Northern Hospital/Craigieburn Health Service/Panch Health Service)
The Northern Hospital in Epping is the acute service for Northern Health. The physiotherapy department provides a seven-day a week inpatient service to:

• Surgical including Orthopaedics and Plastics units
• Intensive and coronary care units
• Medical including stroke units
• Emergency DepartmentGynaecology and Maternity
• Palliative CarePaediatric units including; Special Care Nursery & the Child and Adolescent Health unit
• Post Acute Care

The ambulatory services for acute and community include:

• Outpatient orthopaedics
• Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation
• Hydrotherapy
• Paediatric - Early Intervention
• Adult and Children’s Rehabilitation
• Chronic Disease Programs (Pulmonary, Cardiac and Diabetes Care)

Advanced Scope /Primary contact services are provided in:

• Orthopaedic Screening Clinics
• Orthopaedic Wait List Clinics
• Minor Injury and Illness Clinic

Continuing Care Programs
(Bundoora Extended Care Centre/Broadmeadows Health Service)
Our continuing care services are provided at Bundoora Extended Care Centre and Broadmeadows Health Service, and provide both inpatient and outpatient services.

Inpatient services include:

• Rehabilitation for Orthopaedic, Neurological and general medical conditions
• Geriatric Evaluation and Management
• Palliative care (BHS only).

Outpatient services include:

• Community Therapy Services (HACC and SACS)  - both centre based and home based
• Specialist Medical Clinics (Falls and Balance, Continence, Pain Management)
• Post-Acute Care/Transitional Care
• Chronic Disease Management
• Group and individual hydrotherapy (on-site pool at BHS).

Careers
All Grade 1 staff including new graduates rotate across sites in the acute and continuing care programs. New graduate staff also benefit from a structured interdisciplinary learning and support program. 
Link to Grade 1 Testimonials

Opportunities for secondments and promotion to a more senior physiotherapy position are frequently available within Northern Health and are supported by the health service and the department.
Link to NH Careers Page

Student Clinical Education Information
Northern Health Physiotherapy is a member of the Latrobe University Clinical School for physiotherapy undergraduate students. As well as core clinical placements in the areas of Musculoskeletal, Cardiothoracic, Neurological & General physiotherapy, we are able to provide elective placements in a range of areas such as orthopaedic outpatients, paediatrics and hydrotherapy.

We also provide postgraduate clinical placements and experience and examinations for overseas trained physiotherapists working towards Australian registration.

Research and Achievements
The Physiotherapy Service actively supports physiotherapists wanting to undertake clinical research in their field of speciality. Current Projects undertaken physiotherapy:

• Verticality issue in Stroke patients (BHS)
• Validity of RAPT tool (TNH)
• Continence in stroke patients (BECC)
• Validation of the DEMMI in a inpatient setting (BHS)

Allied Health Learning and Research Page

Contact Us
alliedhealthenquiries@nh.org.au

Links to External Organisations
Australian Physiotherapy Association
Physiotherapist Registration Board of Victoria
Australian Physiotherapy Council