Podiatry Arena members do not see these ads

Hi all I'm enquiring about Therapy assistants. I'm based in Tasmania,and was wondering if FootCare Therapy Assitants are in Podiatry Practices on the mainland. If they are, what would their scope of practice be? What do Podiatrists think of Therapy Assistants,and there future role in Podiatry. I look forward to reading your diverse and varied comments on the subject matter. Cheers Footcare

Hi "Footcare" - Welcome to Podiatry Arena.

I have moved your thread to the Australia forum where its more relevant to. You may find some info in this thread on: Foot and Hand Carers (it is a coupel of years old now and a lot has changed).

__________________
Are you addicted to Podiatry Arena?
Have you added your location to the map? (Map FAQ's)
Earn CPD Points

Thanks Admin2 I'm not so great on the ol' computer, I often get on the arena and have a read its very interesting. Addicted? could be..

Hi Footcare - if you are still there?

1) The APodC has a policy regarding Podiatry Assistants

2) The national Health Training Package has a qualification at the Cert III and Cert IV level in Allied Health Assistance. If the Podiatry "mandatory electives" are selected under this qualification, then the person is trained as a "podiatry assistant".

Are there any RTOs in Australia running this in 2008?

Kate

East Gippsland Tafe are trying to get this Cert 3 and 4 up and running as we speak.

It's difficult to get a clear statement of the liability issues surrounding the use of assisstants, basically you will be responsible for everything they ever do, the vicarious liability concept is a problem. The current position here in East Gippsland is that there are plenty of non podiatrists working in foot care independantly of any podiatry supervision. They do home visits, chose who to treat and not treat, I've got three nurses in the area giving talks to service clubs on foot care stuff ( one of my patients assured me they were podiatrists after going to the talk) and seeing diabetics, using scalpels, I have no idea if they use sterile tools. While this proliferation of others with lower overheads can get into the act it is going to be difficult to compete with $22 for a home visit (NOT THAT I WANT TO COMPETE WITH THIS) .....the nursing homes are using them because they are cheap.....but I'm fairly sure they have only the most superficial idea about what they are seeing and very little understanding of the risks in what they do. But then nobody seems to be working to stop this sort of dive to the lowest level....the association is not acting to stop this erosion of our sphere of practice. I've been told so many times now that nurses know all about podiatry that I almost believe it.......
I'll get off my soap box now...rant over
regards Phill

The Podiatrist Registration Board of Victoria has recently released a

DRAFT GUIDELINE - PODIATRISTS WHO SUPERVISE PODIATRY ASSISTANTS

and are canvasing comment and feedback, by November 19th

__________________
Stephen Tucker
Eastern Health
Podiatry Manager

My location

Hi, who is being canvassed?

Regards

__________________
Heather J Bassett
137 Wheatsheaf Road
Glenroy 3046
Victoria
Australia

re: liability issue

Not an answer - just some info

HLTAH404A Assist with basic foot hygeine - from the cert IV in Allied Health Assistance, HLT07 training package.

"Work performed requires a range of well developed skills where some discretion and judgement is required and individuals will take responsibility for their own outputs

Allied Health Assistants operate within the scope of their defined roles and responsibilities and under supervision of an Allied Health Professional"

More details can be found via www.ntis.gov.au

It is open for public comment, but has been sent out to relavent industry bodies

__________________
Stephen Tucker
Eastern Health
Podiatry Manager

My location

As a UK pod, who knows no better....

Can I ask what the "controlled acts" within podiatry are in Australia?

Thanks

Debbie

In Victoria, Controlled Acts are quite limited, but currently include administration of LA and prescription of medicines.

__________________
Stephen Tucker
Eastern Health
Podiatry Manager

My location

Thank you, Stephen.

We have ongoing discussions about Podiatry Assistants in UK and I was interested in the situation in Australia.

Best wishes

Debbie