A pediatric physiotherapy clinic providing care for all kids aged 0-18 years in the Tri-Cities area! At PlayWorks Physio we translate what is typically viewed as a mechanical process into something that kids enjoy. We are a strong advocate that physiotherapy can be fun in addition to being functional.

My fifth placement was my first outpatient and orthopaedic experience. The patients we saw were ones who received surgery or medical attention for a traumatic injury. I was able to consolidate my practical skills in working with shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, knee, ankle and foot injuries. Manual skills were greatly improved and confidence in assessing and treatment planning for orthopaedic injuries was attained. Experience with modalities was also gained throughout my time in the outpatient clinic. The importance of educating patients, creating realistic home exercise programs and and the ability to comfort patients became apparent. My preceptor emphasized the pertinence of taking the time to explain the anatomy of what was injured, educate the patient about healing times and what to expect over the rehab process.

My fourth placement was an international placement in South India. My preceptor was Andrea Mendoza, from Kids Physio Group. Prior to the trip we fundraised almost $10 000 for the organization (SAMUHA) to go towards equipment and therapy for the children. This placement was an eye-opening experience that made me appreciate the families we were working with, the organization that hosted us and how fortunate we are in Canada. We worked with children of all ages and abilities, attempting to educate parents and make a difference in these children's lives in the 6 weeks that we were there. Working in rural India taught me how to create fun and effective physiotherapy sessions in environments where resources are limited and where a language barrier exists. Adapting to cultural norms, different working environments and medical conditions we had never seen was all required to succeed in this placement. This placement re-confirmed my desire to work in paediatrics and made me yearn for a paediatric experience in Canada to further enhance my skills of working with children. Please visit Physio Andrea's website for further detail on our India experience- http://physioandrea.wordpress.com

Laurel Place is an intensive neuro-rehab in-patient facility. Patients who will require, and benefit from intensive therapy, are moved to Laurel Place to receive daily rehab. Services include occupational therapy, speech therapy, recreation therapy and physiotherapy. Nursing staff and doctors are also involved in the patients' care. This placement was a great experience in treatment planning and gaining practical skills while working with the neurological population. The types of patients seen were ones affected by stroke, Guillan-Barre Syndrome, brain tumours, traumatic brain injuries and much more. I was able to have some independence and have a case-load of my own, where I could assess, create plans and treat patients. It was also a great experience working in an inter-professional team environment- working closely with the medical team, patient and their families.

The second practical experience I had was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). This practicum brought me completely out of my comfort zone, however encouraged me to broaden my acute and critical care skills. I was able to learn about a wide variety of conditions and the physiotherapist's role in managing them. The first major area of ICU physiotherapy was chest physiotherapy, which was important to assist patients in breathing more efficiently and also to ensure they would be able to sustain extubation. Mobilizing critical patients was the second major area of the ICU physiotherapist. Having a patient get out of bed with several lines and tubes attached to them was a skill in itself. This experience was very rewarding, as I got to see the pertinent role the physiotherapist has in a patient's recovery.

My first placement was at Brock Fahrni, a residential care facility. The physiotherapist's role was to assess the mobility and strength of incoming residents. Furthermore, the physiotherapist helped decide the safest mode for the resident to navigate the unit and also the type of transfer that was safest. This was an interdisciplinary environment, whereby the occupational therapist, physiotherapist, nurses, doctors and rehab assistants worked closely. I gained lots of experience on conducting family meetings, transfer assessments and how to work in a team environment.