Physiotherapy program

Overview of the program:  

The Physiotherapy students will be doing Integrated Longitudinal Rotations in Worcester, Robertson, Ceres and Upington, consisting of 7-10 weeks. 

Local coordinator: Paragraph on who you are 

I am Suzanne Hugo, the Physiotherapy Coordinator at Ukwanda. I have been a qualified Physiotherapist the past 13 years, have worked in private practices the last 12 years and have been involved with SU and UWC student facilitation over the last 5 years. I have a passion for helping people in the community and by coordinating the student’s program in the Rural Clinical School we manage to reach and serve the people in the community in different levels.  

Which communities are involved: Worcester, Robertson, Ceres, and communities  

 How do the clinical rotations work:

• Integrated approach to management of patients:  Students manage any patient as they present on the platform. To optimize opportunities at each site they are long rotations, at least seven weeks.        

• Individualized student learning approach:  

      Students will be an active partner in designing their own learning. 

      Division will track clinical opportunities at site level and at physiotherapy discipline level (Ortho; Neuro; M&SC) to identify potential learning opportunities in real time.                                                                                                                    

• Multi-pronged approach to supervision / support:  

 Each student will receive support in their journey of becoming a clinically competent entry level physiotherapist from 4 unique perspectives. This will include the clinician, site supervisor, communities of practice and professional development mentor.

What is the benefit of the program to student

The purpose of this block is to provide students with longitudinal exposure, within a defined geographical location, to comprehensive and coordinated person-centered care, delivered across the continuum of care through simultaneous exposure to the varied levels of care across the health services platform. The students will be exposed to primary healthcare and hospital service provision. 

  This will include                                                                                                                   

• Comprehensive care: Range of services designed to meet people’s health needs through all stages of life including promotive, preventative, rehabilitative and palliative services.                                               
• Co-ordinated care: Systemic cohesion and responsiveness of the health service to adequately meet people’s needs and emphasizes the primary care providers’ role as effective coordinators of patient care ensuring intra and intersectoral continuity of care.                                                                                         
• Person-centered care: Puts people and communities at the centre of the health system and in collaboration with those communities provides care that is holistic and responsive to people’s needs.