Neuro Respiratory Physiotherapy Outreach Clinic
Our team of experienced physiotherapists run a nationwide online clinic specifically for people with respiratory difficulties due to neuromuscular and neurological disabilities.
Stay well and out of hospital
Pneumonia and respiratory insufficiency are common in people with neurological disabilities, however it often goes undetected to the untrained eye. Respiratory compromise that is inadequately assessed and managed can pose significant risk.
We run a nationwide online clinic where people can see a physiotherapist experienced in this complex and specialised area.
We are highly skilled in reversing lung collapse and clearing sputum in complex scenarios where taking a deep breath and coughing is challenging. We are able to work with people and their carers to optimise lung function, either through setup of a maintenance program or an active physiotherapy regime to help with rapid recovery from a chest infection.
We have many years of experience working in acute hospital and critical care settings, routinely using and prescribing volume restoration devices such as the Philips Respironics CoughAssist, Taleb Medical Nippy clearway, BMedical Pegaso, non-invasive and invasive ventilation. We are also highly competent in suctioning, tracheostomy management and the implementation of respiratory muscle training.
People living with the following conditions may benefit from linking in with our outreach services:
- Acquired brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Motor neurone disease
- Multi system atrophy
- Muscular dystrophy
- Spinal muscular atrophy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Post-polio syndrome
- Stroke
What’s involved
We are excited to provide this unique national respiratory outreach clinic
How we can help
Work in partnership with you, your family, carers and multidisciplinary team to keep you safe and healthy at home
Assessing your breathing, ability to cough and clear phlegm effectively
Provide training in therapies that may improve breathing and cough
Identify risks within your 24 hour care that may be contributing to respiratory compromise and work together to optimise your routine care to prevent respiratory complications
Provide you, your family and carers and multidisciplinary team with ongoing education and support
Assist with the prescription of cost and time effective assistive technology
Work with your medical team to establish safe and effective escalation procedures for when you are unwell
Eligibility criteria
We have identified a need for greater physiotherapy support for lung health in the community and are excited to provide this unique respiratory service.
Funded by a national or state wide funding body
Resides outside our home visiting catchment area
Due to the nature of the way we work, there can often be significant time spent on non face to face interventions. Some of examples of this are:
- Liaising with medical professionals – General Practitioners and Specialists
- Liaising with other health professionals such as allied health, carers and case managers/support coordinators
- Establishing and refining care plans
- Reviewing and understanding the complexities of a case
- Creating safe escalation procedures
Due to the way this service is set up and funded, we are not able to offer this clinic to privately funded individuals at this time.
Our outreach clinic services has been set up primarily for people who live outside our travel radius. If you live within our home visiting catchment area and are interested in our services, please get in touch and we can arrange a face to face assessment.