Overview: Professional Practice

and Leadership theme

Douglas Maleka
 Terminology
• Module/Course: e.g. MPTA020
• Themes: Professional Practice and leadership
• Study unit: Professional Practice and
leadership
• Learning event: Introduction to the history of
Physiotherapy and fundamental philosophy
underpinning the profession
 Overview of the theme

• Professional practice and leadership is a

theme that is taught across and along
Physiotherapy curriculum.
• It starts in 1st year and proceeds through to 4th
year of study.
• 1st to 4th year: Principles of Physiotherapy and
Applied Physiotherapy.
 Purpose of this theme
• The theme aims to introduce,
debate and discuss broad/specific
professional practice, ethics and
leadership learning events/topics.
Why this theme? CanMEDS
CORE COMPETENCIES & CLINICAL ATTRIBUTES
AS PRESCRIBED BY HPCSA
 HealthCare Practitioner
As healthcare practitioners, healthcare
professionals integrate all of the graduate
attribute roles, applying profession-specific
knowledge, clinical skills and professional
attitudes in their provision of patient/client-
centred care.
The healthcare practitioner is the central role in
the framework of graduate attributes.
 1. Communicator
• As communicators, healthcare professionals
effectively facilitate the carer-patient/carer-
client relationship and the dynamic exchanges
that occur before, during and after
interventions.
 2. Collaborator
• As collaborators, healthcare professionals
work effectively within a team to achieve
optimal patient/client care.
 3. Leader and Manager
• As leaders and managers, healthcare
practitioners are integral participants in
healthcare organisations, organising
sustainable practices, making decisions about
allocating resources, and contributing to the
effectiveness of the healthcare system.
 4. Health Advocate
• As health advocates, healthcare professionals
responsibly use their expertise and influence
to advance the health and well-being of
individuals, communities and populations.
 5. Scholar
• As scholars, healthcare professionals
demonstrate a lifelong commitment to
reflective learning as well as the creation,
dissemination, application and translation of
knowledge.
 6. Professional
• As professionals, healthcare professionals are
committed to ensure the health and well-
being of individuals and communities through
ethical practice, profession-led self-regulation
and high personal standards of behaviour.
 1st Year Content
• Introduction to the
– History of Physiotherapy and fundamental
philosophy underpinning the profession
• Professionalism and professional wellbeing
 1st Year Content
• Introduction to professional practice, ethics
and law
– Regulatory bodies/council and professional associations
– The scope of Physiotherapy
– SA Constitution (human rights), South African Health
System, Batho Pele (People First) and Patient
Responsibilities
– Bioethics and Law- principles
• Introduction to reflective thinking, writing and
practice
 2nd Year Content
• Introduction to outcomes, outcomes
measurement in rehabilitation using the
International Classification of Functioning,
Disability and Health (ICF, 2001).
 2nd Year Content
• Introduction to evidence based practice.
• Introduction to Interprofessional Education
(IPE) and collaborative practice.
• Universal precautions: including infection
control- coordinated by Nursing department
and infection control nurse.
 2nd Year Content
• Communication
– Principles of conducting an interview- in
relation to Subjective and Objective
Examination.
 2nd Year Content
• Elementary application of principle of IPE,
evidence based practice, outcomes
measurements (ICF) and ethics achieved
through small group project and case studies.
• Elementary application of interprofessional
communication
– Situational analysis and monitoring- team
stepps
 3rd Year Content
• Interprofessional education in clinical practice
(MPTB030/MPTF030)
• Elementary practical application of the principles of
evidence based practice, outcomes measurements
(ICF), reflective practice and ethics in clinical practice
(MPTB030/MPTF030)
• Integrative assessment in English language III
(scientific writing)- MPTD030 as well as Research
design and statistics- MRCA030 modules
 4th Year Content
• Inter-professional education in clinical practice
(MPTA040/MPTF040)
• Advanced practical application of the principles of
evidence based practice, outcomes measurements
(ICF), reflective practice and ethics in clinical practice
(MPTA040/MPTF040)
• Integrative assessment in Administration and
practice management module (MPTA030)
• Integrative assessment in Under Graduate Research
Project (UGRP)- (MPTR040)
CORE COMPETENCIES & CLINICAL ATTRIBUTES
AS PRESCRIBED BY HPCSA