INTERDISCIPLINARY MANUAL

CATEGORY: REHABILITATION SERVICES NUMBER: VIII-034

ISSUED BY: POST ACUTE CARE Q&P COMMITTEE PAGE: 1 OF 2
APPROVED BY: INTERPROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL PRACTICE COMMITTEE
DATE OF ISSUE: JANUARY 2011 REVIEWED: JANUARY 2017

WEEKEND / HOLIDAY PHYSIOTHERAPY PRIORITIZATION GUIDELINES

POLICY:

Rehabilitation therapy will be provided to inpatients at Northumberland Hills Hospital on the weekend and
on holidays based on priority setting criteria and the clinical judgment of the therapy team.
PROCEDURE:
1. The primary therapist will develop a list of patients to be seen by the weekend/holiday therapist or
therapist assistant based on the prioritization guidelines. Discretion of the therapist on the weekend to
prioritize the caseload needs in the moment.

PRIORITIZATION GUIDELINES:

In order of priority:
1. Patients who are scheduled for imminent discharge (within the next 24 hours)
Focus on:
a. imminent needs to facilitate discharge (stairs, transfers, car transfers, equipment, set-up of
services etc.)
b. includes pages to the ER for patients that have not been admitted
c. Patients in Acute Care/Medical Rehab beds who require assessment for referral to Post
Acute Specialty Services

2. Patients who are direct admission to RCP for Assess and Restore intervention, fresh post-operative
patients and Stroke patients who do not have a treatment plan established.

Focus will be on:

a. functional mobility and provision of assistive devices necessary for mobilization
b. assignment to the rehab assistant as appropriate

3. All patients with significant respiratory compromise.

Collaborate with Respiratory Therapist in development of treatment plan.

4. Patients who are identified as being at risk when ambulating and transferring and who require therapy
for that issue.

5. Others as deemed necessary by primary therapists.

REVIEWED (r) or REVISED (R):

NOVEMBER 2012
(R) January 2017

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