Recruitment and Careers

Speech-Language Pathologists in the North have the opportunity to develop and participate in well-researched early intervention and acute care programs following a variety of service delivery models.

• preschool - birth to school entry population
• adult services in some Northern Health sites
• work closely with other early intervention programs to provide an integrated service - Child Development Centres, Aboriginal Headstart Programs, Infant Development Programs, Aboriginal Infant and Family Development Programs, Supported Child Development Programs, Preschools, Daycares
• comprehensive family-centered speech language services
• some clinics have the support of Speech Language Therapy Assistants
• networking groups exist to support SLP’s who work in a smaller clinic

• Adults & elderly
• Critical member of multidisciplinary rehab team
• Work with variety of disorders: dysphagia, voice, stroke, brain injuries, progressive conditions, etc

• Acute Care,
• Rehab,
• Assisted living & Complex Care,
• Community and Public Health

Occupational Therapy is a health profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. Occupation refers to everything that people do during the course of everyday life. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people who have experienced a change in function because of illness, injury or disability to participate in the occupations which give meaning and purpose to their lives (Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT, 2004).

Occupational therapists are skilled in the assessment, intervention and evaluation of people’s ability to perform daily activities such as self-care, work, study, volunteerism and leisure (CAOT, 2004). This may be demonstrated in the following ways:

• Maximize functional mobility within the home and community
• Oversee rehabilitation in the home after injury or illness as it relates to daily activities
• Facilitate return to work

Occupational therapists in NH work in the following settings outpatient settings, providing services on an outpatient basis:

Home & Community Care
- Adults and elderly
- Work in clients’ home and residential complex care facilities
- Work with a variety of diagnoses/disorders such as neurological, orthopedic and musculoskeletal

Acute
- Adults, elderly and pediatrics (in some locations)
- Essential member of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team
- Work with a variety of diagnoses/disorders such as neurological, orthopedic and musculoskeletal

Mental Health
- Acute Adult
- Community Adult

Physiotherapy is the primary health care profession that promotes wellness, mobility and independent function. Physiotherapists have advanced understanding of how the body moves, what keeps it from moving well and how to restore mobility (Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA, 2007).

Physiotherapists manage and prevent many physical problems caused by illness, disability and disease, sport and work-related injuries, aging, and long periods of inactivity (CPA, 2007).

Physiotherapists are skilled in the assessment and hands-on management of a broad range of conditions that affect the musculoskeletal, circulatory, respiratory, and nervous systems, including but not limited to:

• Maximize mobility for clients with neurological disorders such as stroke, spinal cord injury or Parkinson’s disease
• Oversee rehabilitation in the home after injury or illness
• Preparation and Recovery before and after Surgery
• Treat and manage respiratory and cardiac conditions (CPA, 2007)
• Palliative Care

Physiotherapists in NH work in the following settings:

Home & Community Care

• Adults and elderly
• Work in clients’ home and residential complex care facilities
• Work with a variety of diagnoses/disorders such as neurological, orthopedic and musculoskeletal
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across the continuum care
• Patient centered care is the cornerstone of service delivery

Acute

• Adults, elderly and pediatrics (in some locations)
• Essential member of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team
• Work with a variety of diagnoses/disorders such as neurological, orthopedic and musculoskeletal

Role

Registered Dietitians are uniquely trained in human nutrition and food science. They are essential members of interprofessional healthcare teams and actively contribute to the health and well being of British Columbians. Dietitians are known for:

• assessing nutritional needs of individuals and groups
• designing, implementing and monitoring nutritional care plans and therapeutic diets based on current and relevant scientific, medical and nutrition information
• disseminating relevant scientific information about food and human nutrition to promote health and assist individuals, groups and communities attain and maintain health and
• managing quality food service operations in healthcare institutions

Common Workplaces

Dietitians practice in a variety of settings:

• hospitals, rehabilitation, long-term care facilities or home care
• community health centres, health clinics
• food service departments in hospitals and other health care facilities, schools, universities, and businesses