Treating patients in the ITU

Sport Rehabilitator, Ryan Smith is working with patients recovering from Covid in an ITU ward as a Respiratory Therapy Assistant. We caught up with him to hear more about how he is successfully working with patients on the road to recovery. 

What is your day to day role on the ITU?

I work on the ITU and COVID designated wards carrying out a variety of duties.

“Primarily I implement exercise programs designed to improve cardio-respiratory function, muscular endurance, and general overall strength.”

I also aim to restore our patients confidence in performing their ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living).

Have Exercise programs made the biggest difference in recovery?

Without a doubt, the early implementation of exercise programs, either in the ITU setting or the COVID designated wards, is an essential component of successful rehabilitation. We know that the recovery from COVID-19 is a long process, with issues ranging from severe physical activity limitations to the need for emotional and psychological coping strategies, as a lot of my patients are intubated and sedated on the ITU. 

Regular exercise has proved the difference, not only physically but mentally too, as our patients feel they are contributing to their own recovery which gives them a drive to improve.

How did you establish procedures for success?

It has certainly been trial and error, initially we knew that respiratory function was significantly decreased, so we needed to develop exercise programs to specifically target these limitations. Another challenge was the lasting fatigue due to the long ITU sedation and ventilation, so instead of developing a ‘core’ program we designed a framework template that was specific for each patient. 

This was patient centred rehabilitation; everyone has unique needs due to each COVID presentation being so different. Based on patient feedback and the positive results to date, this new approach is working well and we will continue to adapt our framework template as our knowledge and experience continues to improve.

“Every patient who leaves our service better than when they were admitted, is a success.”

BASRaT Guidance to registrants for operating during Covid

In response to the announcements of enhanced restrictions in all four nations of the UK, we have updated our guidance for operating during COVID. The updated guidance is available here Now more than ever, it is important to utilise telehealth, where possible, in order to limit the number of contacts you have with people outside of your household. This will help to slow the spread of the virus and protect the health of you, your family and your patients.

To support remote delivery of care, BASRaT Registrants have access to RehabGuru as a membership benefit. This offers bookings & scheduling, telehealth and exercise prescription. Any registrants not yet signed up that would like access can email administration@basrat.org

We are looking for Exam Writers to contribute to quality assurance for local and global health

Exam Writers

BASRaT is currently in the final phases of developing and introducing a pre-registration certification exam. To support these activities, BASRaT is forming an exam writing team and we are looking for enthusiastic individuals with a wide range of experience who are willing and able to contribute. If you are a healthcare professional specialising in MSK, have experience in exam writing in academia, and have a specialist subject area that falls within the scope of practice for a Graduate Sport Rehabilitator, then please send a brief covering letter and summary CV to administration@basrat.org 

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real and positive difference to both local and global health and will influence the way we enhance quality assurance in the profession. Full training and support will be provided to ensure that you are equipped to write questions of the required standard and format. The topics for questions will be based on the BASRaT Educational Framework. Team members will be selected based on expertise and availability, with clear agreements on timescales and time commitment. 

Remuneration will be at £24 per/hour and BASRaT will provide oversight and full administrative support.      

                                                       
    
Background – International Arrangement

An International Arrangement will be launched this Summer, where BASRaT members will be recognised to work overseas, as part of a global family of 60,000 healthcare professionals, we will collaborate to ensure best practice and quality assured high standards, both educational and professional.

As part of the quality assurance and to allow portability between countries, we will be introducing an independent capstone exam at the end of all our accredited HE programmes; future BASRaT registrants will be required to pass the certification exam. All registrants on our register in June 2021 will not be required to sit the exam; anyone wishing to register after that date will need to complete one of our accredited programmes and pass the certification exam.

The International Arrangement will ensure comparable best practices, quality education, professional standards, and the opportunity for professionals to be mobile on a global level by creating a pathway to challenge each other’s credentialed examination.

BASRaT Guidance to registrants for operating during COVID

Following changes to national restrictions across the UK, we have updated your guidance to registrants. The latest version of the guidance is available here: BASRaT Guidance to registrants for operating during COVID

Becoming a global family of 60,000 healthcare professionals and enabling Sport Rehabilitators to work in certain countries