SHD: Medications Matter - BPMH for Physiotherapists
SHD: Medications Matter - BPMH for Physiotherapists
1 hour
Overview
This presentation describes a Best Possible Medication History (BPMH) and highlights the emerging role for physiotherapists. While a BPMH is a well-established component of a medical assessment, its application by physiotherapists remains under-utilized.
Strengths in the current knowledge base include standardized BPMH procedures and evidence supporting its impact on patient safety. However, weaknesses lie in the inconsistent integration of non-traditional healthcare providers, such as physiotherapists, into the BPMH process.
Barriers to clinical translation include:
- Lack of training for physiotherapists in medication history-taking.
- Unclear scope of practice and role for physiotherapists.
- Limited access to resources and tools tailored to physiotherapy settings.
This presentation aims to address these gaps by providing a systematic approach, real-life experience, practical tips, and resources to empower physiotherapists in contributing meaningfully to BPMH and enhancing patient care.
Instructor Biographies
Melissa Lang is a registered physiotherapist; she holds a MSc., Physiotherapy from Queen’s University and a BSc., Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo. She has worked with older adults for 17 years in inpatient, outpatient, primary care, community settings and has worked in specialized geriatrics for the last 14 years in the role of physiotherapist and geriatric assessor. She currently works for North Simcoe Muskoka Specialized Geriatric Services in the Geriatric Medicine Team.
Sandra Zaikos graduated in 2009 from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. She worked at Toronto General Hospital for 10 years, in Thoracic Surgery and Respirology then General Internal Medicine. She is a certified respiratory educator, a board-certified geriatric pharmacist, an adjunct professor at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, and a preceptor to pharmacy students and residents. She current works as a clinical pharmacist with GeriMedRisk and the North Simcoe Muskoka Specialized Geriatric Services.
Learning objectives
Upon completion of this workshop participants will be able to:
- Define a Best Possible Medication History (BPMH)
- Describe the role of physiotherapists in BPMHs
- Understand a systematic process for completing a BPMH
- Outline tips and resources for physiotherapists
Cost
- Free for SHD members;
- CPA Members (not SHD) $10.00 (+taxes);
- Non-CPA members $20.00 (+taxes)
The instructors
The Seniors’ Health Division (SHD) is a special interest group within the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. SHD is committed to providing members with services related to older adult health and physiotherapy practice.
It is comprised of physiotherapists from across Canada who work with older adults in a variety of practice settings, including acute geriatric care, geriatric rehabilitative and restorative units, long term care settings, community based and home care settings.
SHD is a member of The International Association of Physical Therapists working with Older Persons.
Vision of the Seniors' Health Division: Older Canadians are moving, moving more and moving better with the help of physiotherapists.
Mission of the Seniors' Health Division: To support our members in providing excellent physiotherapy care to optimize the independence and quality of life of older adults.