Reducing the Lack of Developed Countries' Physiotherapists Using NonDeveloped Countries Physicians:

1
Reducing the Lack of Developed Countries'
Physiotherapists Using Non-Developed Countries
Physicians A Program

• Dr. Stanislav Korobov
• The Lermontovskii Clinical Sanatorium
• Odessa
• Ukraine

2
Terminology

• Physiotherapy (US physical therapy) - the
  treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by
  physical methods such as massage, exercise, and
  the application of heat, light, fresh air, and
  other external influences (The Compact Oxford
  English Dictionary, 2nd ed.)
• Physiotherapist ( physical therapist) - a person
  skilled in the techniques of physical therapy and
  qualified to administer treatments prescribed by
  a physician and under his supervision (Dorland's
  Medical Dictionary)
• Physician - an authorized practitioner of
  medicine, as one graduated from a college of
  medicine and licensed by the appropriate board
  (Dorland's Medical Dictionary)
• Developed countries - Japan, Canada, USA,
  Australia, New Zealand, Western European states,
  some others worldwide
• Non-developed countries other than developed
  ones

3
The problem

• Lack of physiotherapists in developed countries
• Australia There is serious concern in the
  physiotherapy workforce about the shortage of
  practitioners. (Australian Physiotherapy
  Association, 2003).
• The UK
• gt Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care
  Trust said a national shortage of
  physiotherapists had forced it to go abroad.
  (BBC News, 2004/11/05)
• gt there is an acute shortage of
  physiotherapists (York St John University,
  2006).
• Canada There has been a long-standing shortage
  of physiotherapists in British Columbia for over
  a decade (Physiotherapy Association of British
  Columbia, 2006).
• The USA Today, a combination of factors has
  lead to a shortage of physical therapists
  (American Physical Therapy Association, 2007).

4
The solution Physicians from non-developed
countries

• Main steps of the program
• Establishment of international agencies aimed at
  reducing the lack of physiotherapists in
  developed countries.
• Analysis of typical physiotherapy vacancies in
  developed countries.
• Search of appropriate pretenders in non-developed
  countries.
• Dividing pretenders found into groups depending
  on (1) professional skills, and (2) proficiency
  in the destination countrys language.
• At the pretenders home countries, launching
  professional and language courses of relevance
• Starting the state registration process in
  developed countries while the pretenders are in
  their countries yet
• If research vacancies are available, immediate
  relocating suitable pretenders to developed
  countries

5
The Israeli experience

• (by Remennick Shakhar, 2003)
• There were 2 re-training courses for Russian
  immigrant physicians willing to be converted to
  physiotherapists.
• Among those physicians, both with previous
  specialisation in physiotherapy and without it
  (i.e. with other medical specialties) were
  presented.
• The courses duration was 12-15 months (8 months
  of academic studies plus 4-6 months of clinical
  practice).
• After the final exams of the first course, 34 of
  40 selected graduates received full credentials
  as physiotherapists all found jobs soon.
• After the exams of the second course, 33 of 40
  other graduates were certified all started
  working in geriatric or psychiatric centres.
• The answers of the ex-doctors to the professional
  self-image questionnaire pointed to the high
  level of overall adjustment to their new
  physiotherapy role.
• 4-8 years after completion of the retraining
  course, most graduates still thought of
  themselves as physicians.
• It was concluded that conversion of immigrant
  doctors to health related occupations is not only
  possible but may be successful.

6
A caseThe former Soviet Union (FSU) as a source
of physicians for developed countries
physiotherapy

• Physiotherapy practice is here headed and, in
  non-routine situations, directly conducted by
  qualified physicians (graduates of State Medical
  Universities)
• A course of physiotherapy has been taught to all
  students at the 4th year of university studying
• At the 6th year of studying, an expanded course
  of physiotherapy is provided to those choosing
  physiotherapy as their physicians specialty
• Internship (1 year) has been provided
• Further postgraduate specialization and
  additional professional trainings are well
  developed and provided in many ways (by means
  mainly of various courses)

7
The pros

• All FSU physiotherapists are physicians
• Good knowledge of theoretical and clinical
  disciplines is common
• Clinical thinking is usually wide and deep
• Remuneration expectations are usually modest,
  especially as compared to those of developed
  countries residents
• Those with the Kandidat or Doctor of Science
  degree may definitely be considered as holders of
  PhD equivalents

8
The contras

• The FSU physiotherapy education different from
  Western analogs
• Improper foreign languages skills
• Disability to pay any professional or language
  re-training courses
• Possible problems with the authorities of
  developed countries when recognizing the FSU
  diploma and certificates

9
Conclusions

• The program can provide developed countries with
  qualified health care providers of the physician
  level.
• The program looks quite difficult-to-realize.
• Despite the previous point, the program seems to
  be feasible.
• Re-training is expected to be not too expensive
  (relatively inexpensive in terms of usual levels
  of expenses in developed countries).
• The initiative may ultimately be beneficial.
• Further economical and legal assessment of the
  program is certainly needed.

10
Thanks for your attention!