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Seasonal Covid-19 vaccination for autumn/winter 2024-2025: information for physiotherapists

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Physiotherapists are part of the group eligible for seasonal vaccination against COVID-19 in autumn-winter 2024-2025.

According to Standard no. 08/2024, of 05/09/2024, updated on 06/09/2024, of the Directorate-General for Health, in the groups eligible for seasonal booster vaccination against COVID-19 in autumn/winter 2024-2025, are covered "Professionals and users/residents in Residential Structures for the Elderly (ERPI) and similar institutions; National Integrated Continued Care Network (RNCCI) and prisons; People aged ≥60 years; People aged 5-59 years with risk pathologies (Table 4 and Table 5 - Annex I); People aged 6 months-4 years with severe and moderate immunosuppression conditions (Table 6 - Annex I); Pregnant women; Professionals in health services (public and private) and other health care providers, students in clinical training, firefighters involved in patient transport, carers of dependent people and pharmaceutical distribution professionals.

Vaccination should be organised at local level, with the Local Health Units (ULS), through the contacts listed on the portal Primary Health Care Identity Card (BI-CSP).  

The Order recalls that, as health professionals, physiotherapists must be accompanied by a valid professional card or a statement from their employer proving their professional activity.

More information at:  Seasonal Flu and Covid-19 Vaccination Campaign for Autumn/Winter 2024/2025

World Patient Safety Day: Order of Physiotherapists launches initiatives to improve diagnosis in Physiotherapy

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Today, the 17th of September, marks the World Patient Safety DayThis year's theme is "Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety". In line with the World Health Organisation's choice, the Order of Physiotherapists, recognising the importance of ensuring accurate diagnosis for patient safety, is joining the initiative under the motto "Improving Diagnosis in Physiotherapy for Patient Safety" and is launching various initiatives to raise awareness and involve physiotherapists and the public.

  • One poster with the main ideas on the importance of diagnosis in physiotherapy, which you can see here
  • One questionnaire physiotherapists on safety culture, to assess and reinforce safe practice in everyday life
  • O video "Improving Diagnosis in Physiotherapy for Patient Safety"emphasising that correct, timely and safe diagnosis contributes to improving patient safety
  • O video "Your Health, Your Voice", emphasising the importance of involving the patient in their safety and recovery process.

A Order of Physiotherapists reinforces its commitment to patient safety, emphasising that an accurate diagnosis and clear communication between the professional and the patient are fundamental pillars in guaranteeing the provision of safe, quality physiotherapy care.

For more information on World Patient Safety Day 2024, you can consult the Directorate-General for Health, which has various national materials and initiatives available, as well as the "Patient Safety Bill of Rights"which is part of this year's communication campaign. To find out more, visit the DGS website via this link link.

World Pregnancy Day: The importance of physiotherapy in women's health

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Today, the 9th of September, marks the World Pregnancy DayThis is a date that highlights the importance of specialised care during pregnancy and the postpartum period. A Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in monitoring pregnant women, promoting well-being and preventing pelvic dysfunctions that can arise during this period.

Physiotherapists trained in Women's and Pelvic Health have the ability to educate, assess and treat dysfunctions that can affect women during pregnancy and after childbirth.

During pregnancy and the postpartum period, the most common conditions that can be monitored by physiotherapists include training women for the different stages of follow-up in high-risk pregnancies, teaching pain relief strategies, creating exercise programmes for a healthy pregnancy, and physical recovery after different types of birth. These interventions help not only to improve the pregnant woman's quality of life, but also to prevent future complications.

A3 poster e  A4 poster

What's more, the Physiotherapy can work in situations such as urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and post-surgery recovery, promoting women's general well-being and quality of life.

 To mark the World Pregnancy DayThe Order of Physiotherapists has prepared an information poster in the following formats A3 e A4on low back pain, the focus of the World Day of Physiotherapyin pregnant women and in the postpartum period, emphasising how the Physiotherapy can be a fundamental resource for relieving pain and promoting recovery.

SPLIT programme lays foundations for expansion as part of World Physiotherapy Day

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As part of the World Day of Physiotherapy (8th September), which this year focuses on the low back pain (low back pain) and the role of physiotherapy in its assessment and treatment, the Order of Physiotherapists, in partnership with the School of Health of the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal, is starting the expansion of the SPLIT programmewhich is aligned with the Directorate-General for Health's National Health Plan 2030.

SPLIT, which has already been developed and implemented in the Arrábida Health Centre Grouping - ARSLVT, is an innovative programme in the field. assessment and treatment of low back pain.

It uses a screening tool that classifies individuals with episodes of low back pain into three categories of risk of developing persistent and disabling symptoms (low, medium and high), and which showed promising results in the pilot study.

In a sample of around 500 users in this programme, 6 months after the initial consultation, was reduced, at around 80%, the likelihood of having persistent and disabling low back pain.

Also in terms of prescription of complementary diagnostic means and medication, this programme has enabled reduce each of these indicators by around 30%.

Recently, the SPLIT programme was selected for the 1st phase of the Sustainable Health Pact 2030as part of the process of implementing the National Health Plan 2030coordinated by the Directorate-General for Health, a collaborative and multisectoral process that guides and influences public policies and interventions with an impact on health in Portugal.

This initial implementation phase will focus on expanding the programme to other health units in Portugal that already have integrated physiotherapists.

To this end, in this next phase of the process, potential stakeholders will be identified and consulted, in various regions of the country, with the aim of train physiotherapistsfrom first semester of 2025This will ensure that more users can benefit from this innovative approach to treating low back pain.

The Order of Physiotherapists launches the Social Solidarity Fund

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O Social Solidarity Fund is a support programme of the Order of Physiotherapists aimed at helping physiotherapists and their families who face situations of socio-economic vulnerability.

The main objective is to provide social support to physiotherapists and guarantee access to the minimum conditions of personal and family dignity. All physiotherapists with active membership of the Order who are demonstrably in financial difficulties, deprived of means of subsistence, or who face situations of incapacity resulting from accidents or other events that jeopardise their household's livelihood are eligible.

The Order of Physiotherapists remains committed to promoting the minimum conditions of dignity for its more than 12,000 members, reinforcing our commitment to the well-being of all professionals.

Interested parties can apply for this support using the form available at reserved area members.

Consult the Regulations of the Social Solidarity Fund of the Order of Physiotherapists  here .

Order of Physiotherapists highlights the importance of World Humanitarian Day

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A Order of Physiotherapists signals the World Humanitarian Dayis celebrated on 19 August as a date of great importance for the physiotherapy community and an opportunity to underline the essential role of physiotherapists. Physiotherapy in situations of emergency, disaster and humanitarian action.

The Order of Physiotherapists' commitment to preparing professionals to work in these contexts has been reflected in various initiatives, including the launch of the first postgraduate course in Physiotherapy Emergency, Disaster and Humanitarian Action. This pioneering international training is designed to provide physiotherapists with the necessary skills to intervene effectively in crisis situations, where physical rehabilitation plays a key role in the recovery of affected populations. As part of this effort, and as previously shared, the Order also recently received a visit from a consultant from the World Health Organisation (WHO), who provided specialised training for the physiotherapists attending the postgraduate course.

In addition, the Order of Physiotherapists formalised a cooperation protocol with the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority in March of this year, reinforcing the integration of physiotherapists in Portugal's emergency response systems. This agreement lays the foundations for closer and more effective cooperation, ensuring that Physiotherapy is recognised as an essential component in multidisciplinary responses to disaster situations.

Signalling the World Humanitarian DayThe Order of Physiotherapists reiterates its commitment to preparing and training physiotherapists to work in critical contexts, ensuring that their contribution is maximised and valued in times of great need.

Publication of the Electoral Regulations of the Order of Physiotherapists

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It was today publishedin the Official Gazette, the Electoral Regulationsapproved by the General Council of the Order of Physiotherapists after a period of public consultation.

With the recent legislative changes, including the amendment to the Statutes of the Order, there was a need to review the Electoral Regulationsas a result of the creation of a new body - the Supervisory Board - a structure that cuts across all public professional associations.

The Order of Physiotherapists will shortly announce the date of the election of the Supervisory Board, as well as the associated electoral calendar.

See the full regulations at Official Gazette or on the Order's website, here.

Order of Physiotherapists proposes creation of National Physiotherapist Day

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The Order of Physiotherapists requested a parliamentary hearing, as it had done in the previous legislature, which was granted by the 9th Health Committee and held on 12 July. The aim was to raise awareness of the creation of National Physiotherapist Day, to be celebrated on 30 September, the date that coincides with the creation of the Order.

During the hearing, President António Lopes, accompanied by 1st Vice-President Nuno Cordeiro, presented the proposal, highlighting the importance of the initiative "to value, recognise and promote physiotherapy and the profession of physiotherapist, increasing visibility among citizens".

Throughout the session, several points and benefits in favour of the creation of the date were highlighted:

  • Favouring the creation of public policies and the development of the profession;
  • Strengthening the identity and pride of professionals, promoting greater unity and cohesion;
  • Organisation of events, lectures, workshops and activities that highlight the importance of physiotherapy and the role of physiotherapists in society.
  • Promoting education and awareness campaigns about the importance of physiotherapy services and the contribution of physiotherapists.

In addition to the hearing with the Health Committee, the Order of Physiotherapists requested meetings with all the political parties represented in Parliament, having already met with PCP, IL, CDS-PP, CHEGA and PSD. At these meetings, which took place before and after the parliamentary hearing and also symbolise another important step in the promotion of National Physiotherapist Day, as they seek to obtain as much political support as possible for the initiative, the Order's position on other topical issues was presented, particularly with regard to the autonomous management of Physiotherapy Units.

Consult here the President's intervention at the 9th Health Commission.

Order of Physiotherapists joins the National Health Council

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The Order of Physiotherapists was officially integrated into the National Health Council (CNS), as published in Official Gazette. This inclusion, promulgated by the President of the Republic on 10 July, is an important step towards the recognition and appreciation of our profession in public health in Portugal.

The integration was formalised by amending Decree-Law 49/2016 of 23 August, specifically Article 5, which now includes the Order of Physiotherapists as one of the members of the CNS, which, as with the Order of Veterinary Doctors, joins the other professional orders in the health area (Biologists, Nurses, Pharmacists, Doctors, Dentists, Nutritionists and Psychologists).

Being part of the CNS is recognition of the status acquired by the profession within healthcare teams and the daily work of Physiotherapists in providing direct healthcare, especially to the most vulnerable.

In line with other developed countries, this integration recognises the interdependent relationship between human, animal and environmental health, based on the principles of the One Health concept (One Health).

Now physiotherapists, through their association, will be able to make a significant contribution to the CNS's mission, "in the search for broad consensus on health policy".

 

See the publication in Diário da República, here.

See the website of the National Health Council, here.

See "Contribution to a Health Policy: One Health", here.

Pedro Maciel Barbosa

Specialist physiotherapist at the Matosinhos Local Health Unit Sub-coordinator for Primary Health Care, Matosinhos Local Health Unit Visiting Assistant Professor at the Porto School of Health Member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Health - SNS Member of the General Council of the Order of Physiotherapists

Carlos Sand

Carlos Areia has been a physiotherapist since 2013, and has worked in various hospitals, clinics and clubs in both Portugal and the UK. He began his academic career at Oxford University in 2016, where he led a clinical trial comparing physiotherapy vs surgery in anterior cruciate injuries in 32 hospitals in England. In 2018 she moved to the neurosciences department, where she developed her own studies on remote monitoring of vital signs, which were implemented during the pandemic. Here he discovered his passion for data, and in 2022, he joined Digital Science as a Data Scientist. He completed his PhD earlier this year, and has more than 60 publications in journals such as The Lancet, BMJ, Cochrane, among others. He is also an honorary lecturer at Oxford Brookes University and a consultant in clinical research.

Eduardo José Brazete Carvalho Cruz

PhD in Physiotherapy from the University of Brighton, UK. Post-Doctorate in Epidemiology from the National School of Public Health at the New University of Lisbon.
Coordinator of the Studies and Planning Office of the Order of Physiotherapists. Coordinating Professor of the Physiotherapy Department of the School of Health of the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (ESS-IPS). President of the ESS-IPS Technical-Scientific Council. Coordinator of the Physiotherapy Department at ESS-IPS. Integrated Researcher at the Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC) (a partnership between FCM-UNL, the National School of Public Health, the University of Évora, the Lisbon Institute of Global Mental Health and Santo Espírito Hospital, Terceira Island, Azores).

Sara Souto Miranda

Sara Souto Miranda has a bachelor's and master's degree in physiotherapy from the University of Aveiro, and a postgraduate qualification in adult respiratory physiotherapy from the same institution. In 2023 she completed her double doctorate in Rehabilitation Sciences/Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at the Universities of Aveiro and Maastricht (Netherlands) and is currently working as a technical-scientific advisor to the Studies and Planning Office (GEP) of the Order of Physiotherapists, and as a guest lecturer at the Piaget Institute in Vila Nova de Gaia. As a member of the Respiratory Research and Rehabilitation Laboratory at the University of Aveiro (Lab3R), she has carried out applied research in which she has assessed and treated patients with respiratory pathology, having taken part in 6 research projects. Throughout her career she has published 19 scientific articles in international peer-reviewed journals with an impact factor, 1 book chapter and more than 50 abstracts in conference proceedings. She was a research volunteer at the Ciro rehabilitation centre (Centre for expertise in chronic organ failure) in the Netherlands, and is currently a member of the Guideline Methodology Network of European Respiratory Society. She was honoured by European Lung Foundation e European Respiratory Society for carrying out patient-centred research, by the Directorate General for Higher Education with a merit grant for his master's degree, and by the Ciro Centre with a grant to support research abroad.

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