Physiotherapy Practice in Canada

Module 1 - Self-Reflection Activity

Name: Khatija Punjwani

Date: 1/18/17

Instructions: Provide your own reflections to the following questions. Remember there are no right
or wrong answers. Please be genuine in submitting what you think or believe.

1. What were you most surprised to learn about the organization or funding of health care in
Canada?

I was surprised to see the fact that Canada spends 211 billion dollars on health care according to
the Canadian Institute for Health Information. In Canada people have access to health care
irrespective of their age, gender, race, ethnicity and social status. According to CIHI 2013, Health
care costs in Canada is going to increase by 3.5 percent every year. Therefore, striking the right
balance between finances and providing quality care is going to be challenging for the Canadian
government. The government is working towards improving the efficiency of the health care
services
2. How dobyyou using
feelthe availableabout
personally resources.
workingAccording to Public
with an aging Health Agency
population of Canada,
or in chronic diseaseChronic
management
Diseases andand how in
Injuries can physiotherapists
Canada improve the health
Volume 34.Supplement of these
1.Spring 2014,populations?
67 percent of deaths in
Canada are related to chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular
Working with
diseases. the aging
Hence population
the health always are
care services interests metowards
shifting because as a physiotherapist
chronic I want to and
health care management
make an
health impact inI the
promotion. am society. It is
surprised to going
know to
thatbe70challenging
percent ofbut theas mentioned
health in the module
care services 1,
are public
studentsinshould
funded Canada. think about a career where they work with older adults because we as health care
professionals have a huge impact on their lives. I think it's also a group that is very marginalized in
our society, their voices can often be lost. As a physiotherapist we need to advocate for older
people by changing our attitudes and thereby challenging the stereotypes in the society. I work for
a rehabilitation company where I teach falls prevention and flexibility exercises at various
3. Do you currently work with highly educated patients and how will you approach well informed
retirement residences. The main goal is to reduce falls and maintain flexibility. Therefore, I am
Canadians who are demanding and who might not view you as THE expert?
passionate about working with older population.
IPhysical
work forinactivity is one of
a rehabilitation the risk as
company factors for the occurrence
a physiotherapy of chronic
assistant diseases.
and I teach Physiotherapists
falls prevention and
play a major role in improving physical activity in the elderly. We should work in
flexibility exercises at various retirement residences. As the technology has advanced there is an teams with other
health care
immense professionals
increase and reduce
in knowledge risk factors of
and awareness and help in
client's chronic
health disease
concerns management.
and outcomes. Client's
are in par with the advancements made in the medical field. As a Health care professional, I need
to work closely with my patients both physically and emotionally. I am dealing with a lot of culture
change and it is hard to convince clients in the beginning. Client's are dealing with their own health
problems and they expect nothing but excellence. They have their own values and beliefs which
may hinder their satisfaction and adherence to treatment. I am working towards increasing my
knowledge and awareness about various cultures in Canada. I am currently taking a course called
Therapeutic Communication in health care.