Physiotherapy & Exercise Physiology

Our Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology department aims to improve physical function, independence and quality of life in patients across a continuum of care that includes emergency, inpatient, outpatient, community-based therapy, hydrotherapy and specialist clinics.

Key points

Physiotherapy staff work across all clinical services at the RMH
We provide assessment, treatment and education for patients
Patients may be provided with an opportunity to be involved in one of our research or quality projects

Patients need a referral from their GP or healthcare provider. Access referral information

What we do

Our Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology service provides assessment, treatment and education for patients with various conditions including cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders.

What we do

Physiotherapists and exercise physiologists are trained to assess and treat cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders, and educate patients about managing their condition.

Treatment techniques may include:

Airway clearance techniques and breathing exercises
Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) prescription
Tracheostomy management and weaning
Functional rehabilitation and gait retraining
Motor relearning
Balance and vestibular therapy
Joint mobilisation, manipulation and muscle re-education
Therapeutic exercise including hydrotherapy and group exercise programs
Education, including physical activity advice

Our clinics

Clinic name	Location	Options
Physiotherapy Clinic	The RMH Parkville
Rapid Access Back Assessment Clinic	The RMH Parkville

Our clinics

Physiotherapy Clinic

The RMH Parkville

Rapid Access Back Assessment Clinic

The RMH Parkville

For patients

For health professionals

Referrals

Direct Access Unit

We accept GP and specialist referrals:

Use the RMH Community Services Referral Form, the RMH GP Referral Form or a template from your own system
Complete and fax your referral to Direct Access Unit on (03) 8387 2217

DAU welcomes phone enquiries. Contact us on (03) 8387 2333 to discuss potential or existing referrals.

Referrals should include:

Relevant clinical history
Reason for referral
Patient details including address, date of birth and contact phone numbers
Your details and provider number
Name of the consultant (for Medicare clinics)
Investigation reports related to the referral

Referrals are triaged based on priority. In an emergency, patients can go to the Emergency & Trauma Service at any time.

For advice, urgent referrals and out of hours support, call The RMH Switchboard on (03) 9342 7000 to page our registrar on call.

HealthPathways Melbourne provides guidance on best practice assessment and management of common medical conditions, including when and where to refer patients.

Parkville Connect is a secure web-based portal providing GPs, specialists and other health professionals with information in the Parkville electronic medical record (EMR).

Clinical overview

We provide comprehensive assessment and a range of therapeutic interventions.

Working across the continuum of care from acute and subacute settings, to centre and home-based services, staff maintain safe, effective, evidence-based and person-centred care.

They contribute specialist expertise and provide advanced scope of practice, making sure that the RMH services are of the highest quality.

Tertiary qualified and credentialed through certification and registration, physiotherapists and exercise physiologists contribute to service improvement, quality assurance and research to make sure care is safely delivered and meets the highest standards.

Staff also work in partnership with multiple Victorian universities, taking a leading role in educating the future allied health workforce.

We integrate clinical expertise with evidence-based research and work within a framework of empowering the individual, carer, or the community through education and the promotion of self-management of health and wellbeing.

Where we work

Primary contact physiotherapist in Emergency Department

Credentialed senior physiotherapists independently assess and manage patients presenting to the emergency department with musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain, peripheral joint pain and injury and plaster checks.

Orthopaedic Assessment Clinics (OAHKS, Soft Tissue and Shoulder Clinics)

Credentialed senior physiotherapists assess a subset of non-urgent orthopaedic referrals for peripheral joint conditions.

They formulate and implement management plans for those patients not requiring surgical intervention, facilitating access to timely specialist consultation for those requiring surgical intervention.

Joint replacement service

Credentialed senior physiotherapists conduct specified routine postoperative reviews following hip and knee arthroplasty surgery in place of orthopaedic surgeons to provide consistent best-practice care and facilitating access to orthopaedic consultation if required.

Back Assessment Clinic, Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery Spinal clinics

Credentialed senior physiotherapists independently assess and manage patients referred to the RMH with spinal conditions including low back and neck pain, radiculopathies and scoliosis monitoring.

Find out more about our Back Assessment Clinic, Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery spinal clinics.

Appointments

What to bring

Every time you come

Every time you come in for a test, day procedure, surgery or treatment, you should bring:

Medicare card
Health Care card (if you have one)
Concession card (if you have one)
Adverse drug alert card (if you have one)
Medications you are currently taking, including any that you have bought without a prescription
X-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results you have which are related to your procedure
Private health insurance card (if you want to use it)
Aids (glasses, hearing aid, walking frame)