Mrs Claire Toose¹, Ms Stephanie Wicks¹

¹The Children’s Hospital At Westmead, Westmead, Australia

Abstract:

Burn Therapists, both Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists, play an integral role in the management of burn patients utilizing a refined set of clinical skills that are unique to this area of medicine. Therapists are also actively involved in pushing the boundaries of burn care through research, program development, innovative ideas and collaborative practice. In order to recognize this specialty skill set, depth of expert knowledge and wider contribution, therapists can now apply to be accredited as a certified Burn Therapist (BT-C).

The BT-C was developed by the American Burn Association (ABA) with the first therapists certified in 2018. Now 28 therapists are certified in the USA/Canada. Three Australian Burn Therapists have also completed the process and are recognized as BT-C by the ABA, the first to be certified outside of the USA/Canada.

Certification involves submitting a portfolio comprising three evidence forms that demonstrate an individual’s expertise by addressing specific competency outcomes. Applicants prepare a submission selecting patients they have treated to demonstrate specialised skill and can also have innovative practices they have been involved in (e.g. research, program development) recognised.

This presentation will outline the certification process from the perspective of Australian therapists who have successfully achieved certification. The potential benefits of becoming certified for both therapists and Burn units will be discussed. Increasing the numbers of Burn Therapists achieving certification will help build the profile of this specialty area within Allied Health. This may in turn increase the potential impact of Therapists in clinical outcomes and professional advocacy.

Biography:

Claire and Stephanie have both worked as paediatric burn therapists for over 15 years, involved in clinical practice as well as research, education and advocacy. They have each been accredited as certified Burn Therapists by the American Burn Association.