Communicating the findings of a physiotherapy assessment is necessary to effectively deliver quality service, which benefits the client and improves client outcomes. They are, however, interested in and responsible for defining movement and pain disorders that arise from disease states. Using the necessary data from the assessment to draw relevant conclusions about the effect of the disorder on functional movement. In reaching this determination, the physiotherapist relies on specific measured criteria that reflect the domains of impairment, disability and handicap. Clients are then informed how specific findings of impairment, disability or handicap are integrated when forming conclusions.
Clients frequently request further information about their disease or diagnosis.
Physiotherapists have the right of primary access and may be the first health-care practitioners to see the client. In the course of their assessment, they may find signs or symptoms which are indicative of a disease or disorder of which the client is unaware. It is the physiotherapist's ethical and professional responsibility to refer a client to another appropriate health-care practitioner when the physiotherapist believes that further investigation is required. The information contained in this position statement may be time limited. Persons referring to this information more than two years from the date of publication should contact the College to confirm that the information is current.