Canada is going through a serious healthcare problem – and it’s not nearly hospital wait occasions or physician shortages. In keeping with the Public Well being Company of Canada, the financial burden of sickness now sits at a staggering $236.3 billion yearly.[i] One promising answer? Physiotherapy. Analysis continues to point out that physiotherapy not solely helps enhance affected person outcomes but in addition reduces general well being care prices.
At present 15% of Canadians entry physiotherapy companies every year.[ii] As of 2023, there are 29,153 practising physiotherapists in Canada[iii], but with an growing older inhabitants and rising demand, that quantity falls brief. In reality, projections point out we’ll want a 62% enhance in physiotherapists simply to fulfill the Group for Financial Cooperation and Improvement (OECD) common and sustain with our populations wants.[iv]
This weblog will discover how elevated integration of Physiotherapy Assistants (PTAs) and Occupational Remedy Assistants (OTAs) may help bridge this rising hole – supporting physiotherapy companies, enhancing entry to care, and strengthening Canada’s well being care system from the bottom up.[v]
Desk of Contents:
The Rising Demand for Outpatient Remedy Providers
Canada’s demographic panorama is shifting notably, with seniors (aged 65 and older) now numbering over 7.8 million as of July 1, 2024.[vi] This group represents a good portion of the inhabitants and is projected to develop, with estimates suggesting that by 2035, one in 4 Canadians might be over 65.[vii]
This growing older development is accompanied by an increase in power situations; as an illustration, amongst Canadians aged 85 and older, 83.4% have hypertension, 54.0% undergo from osteoarthritis, and 42.0% reside with ischemic coronary heart illness.[viii][ix]
Regardless of the growing demand for rehabilitation companies, Canada is going through a scarcity of physiotherapists. In reality, there would must be a 62% enhance within the variety of physiotherapists in Canada to fulfill the typical for the greater than 100 OECD nations.[x]
This shortfall is especially evident in outpatient settings, the place wait occasions could be intensive – for instance, median wait occasions for publicly funded outpatient physiotherapy companies vary from two days for pressing referrals to twenty months for low precedence instances.[xi]
These delays are compounded by a nationwide Well being Human Assets (HHR) disaster, as outlined in Well being Canada’s 2023 HHR Symposium Abstract Report, which highlights widespread workforce pressure and requires rapid motion to strengthen and assist the well being workforce.[xii] Addressing these workforce challenges is essential to fulfill the rising wants of Canada’s growing older inhabitants and to make sure well timed entry to important rehabilitation companies.
The Function of OTAs PTAs
Occupational Remedy Assistants (OTAs) and Physiotherapy Assistants (PTAs) play an important position in supporting the supply of rehabilitation companies inside Canada’s healthcare system.
Working underneath the supervision of licensed Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Physiotherapists (PTs), OTAs and PTAs assist perform remedy plans by guiding sufferers by means of therapeutic workouts, helping with mobility coaching, and supporting actions of every day dwelling.[xiii] Whereas they don’t assess, diagnose, or modify remedy plans, their scope of apply consists of implementing care plans, documenting affected person progress, and making certain continuity of care.[xiv]
Their involvement not solely enhances affected person entry and continuity of remedy, particularly in high-demand settings like outpatient clinics and long-term care but in addition permits OTs and PTs to deal with extra complicated medical choices. By working collaboratively, these groups assist maximize effectivity, scale back wait occasions, and guarantee high-quality care throughout the rehabilitation continuum.
Advantages of Integrating OTA/PTAs Into the Interprofessional Crew
Integrating OTAs and PTAs into the interprofessional healthcare group presents a spread of advantages that immediately improve affected person care and system effectivity. One of the vital important benefits is improved entry to care – with OTA/PTAs supporting the supply of routine therapies and follow-ups, clinics can scale back wait occasions and serve extra sufferers with out overburdening therapists.
This mannequin additionally promotes the optimized use of therapist time, permitting OTs and PTs to focus on assessments, complicated therapies, and discharge planning, whereas delegating routine interventions to educated assist personnel. Because of this, sufferers profit from extra constant and frequent remedy classes, which improves continuity of care and helps higher outcomes.
OTAs and PTAs additionally play a key position in facilitating group packages, dwelling train steering, and purposeful coaching, enhancing affected person engagement between formal remedy classes. Furthermore, OTAs and PTAs function invaluable collaborators inside the interprofessional group by coordinating care with case managers and different allied well being professionals.
Their involvement helps a extra streamlined and collaborative strategy to affected person care, making certain that remedy plans are carried out persistently whereas aligning with the broader targets of the healthcare group.
The P.A.V.E Mission: Physiotherapy At dwelling with Digital Engagement
In response to the present HHR disaster, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to an modern analysis initiative geared toward optimizing the position of PTAs in group care. The challenge, titled P.A.V.E – Physiotherapy At dwelling with Digital Engagement – explores a hybrid care mannequin that integrates in-person assist with digital medical oversight.
On this mannequin, the PTA conducts dwelling visits whereas the physiotherapist joins remotely by way of safe video conferencing. Collectively, we assess the affected person’s purposeful skills utilizing standardized consequence measures and collaboratively develop an individualized remedy plan.
Over a six-week interval, the PTA delivers the prescribed interventions independently, with the discharge session following the identical hybrid format. This strategy not solely enhances entry to care for sufferers with mobility or transportation limitations but in addition permits physiotherapists to dedicate their time to higher-complexity instances – providing a scalable, patient-centered answer to handle rising service calls for in outpatient and home-based settings.
Addressing Issues and Misconceptions Round OTAs and PTAs
Regardless of the rising recognition of OTAs and PTAs, some misconceptions nonetheless persist – notably the priority that these roles could change therapists. In actuality, OTAs and PTAs aren’t an alternative to OTs or PTs, however reasonably a method to lengthen the attain and affect of therapists in busy medical environments.
These assist personnel bear formal training and competency-based coaching to securely and successfully help in delivering remedy companies. Their duties are clearly outlined and function strictly underneath the supervision and delegation of a licensed therapist, who stays absolutely answerable for assessing sufferers, creating care plans, and making medical choices. By clarifying roles and selling collaborative apply, OTAs and PTAs assist guarantee extra sufferers obtain well timed, high-quality care with out compromising medical oversight or requirements.
Conclusion
As Canada’s inhabitants continues to age and the demand for outpatient rehabilitation companies rises, modern options are wanted to fulfill the rising care wants with out overburdening an already stretched healthcare system. OTAs and PTAs supply a sensible, environment friendly method to improve service supply whereas sustaining excessive requirements of care.
By supporting therapists, enhancing affected person entry, and contributing to interdisciplinary collaboration, OTA/PTAs play an important position in strengthening outpatient remedy companies. Their structured coaching, outlined scope of apply, and shut supervision by licensed therapists make sure that care stays secure, efficient, and patient-centered.
Addressing misconceptions is essential – these professionals don’t change therapists; they lengthen their attain. Embracing the combination of OTAs and PTAs not solely improves affected person outcomes but in addition helps construct a extra resilient and responsive rehabilitation system for the long run.
References
[i] Financial Impression of Physiotherapy in Canada Ready for Canadian Physiotherapy Affiliation.; 2023. https://physiotherapy.ca/app/uploads/2024/04/Deloitte-report_EN.pdf
[ii] Financial Impression of Physiotherapy in Canada Ready for Canadian Physiotherapy Affiliation.; 2023. https://physiotherapy.ca/app/uploads/2024/04/Deloitte-report_EN.pdf
[iii] Physiotherapists | CIHI. Cihi.ca. Revealed 2024. Accessed April 29, 2025. https://www.cihi.ca/en/physiotherapists
[iv] Singh S, Goodwin S, Zhong S, et al. Inequalities in health-related high quality of life and purposeful well being of an growing older inhabitants: A Canadian group perspective. Samaranayaka A, ed. PLOS ONE. 2024;19(7):e0304457. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304457
[v] Financial Impression of Physiotherapy in Canada Ready for Canadian Physiotherapy Affiliation.; 2023. https://physiotherapy.ca/app/uploads/2024/04/Deloitte-report_EN.pdf
[vi] Public. Ageing and power illnesses: A profile of Canadian seniors – Canada.ca. Canada.ca. Revealed 2020. Accessed April 29, 2025. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/companies/publications/diseases-conditions/aging-chronic-diseases-profile-canadian-seniors-report.html
[vii] Passalent LA, Landry MD, Cott CA. Wait Occasions for Publicly Funded Outpatient and Group Physiotherapy and Occupational Remedy Providers: Implications for the Growing Variety of Individuals with Persistent Situations in Ontario, Canada. Physiotherapy Canada. 2009;61(1):5-14. doi:https://doi.org/10.3138/physio.61.1.5
[viii] Public. Ageing and power illnesses: A profile of Canadian seniors – Canada.ca. Canada.ca. Revealed 2020. Accessed April 29, 2025. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/companies/publications/diseases-conditions/aging-chronic-diseases-profile-canadian-seniors-report.html
[ix] Singh S, Goodwin S, Zhong S, et al. Inequalities in health-related high quality of life and purposeful well being of an growing older inhabitants: A Canadian group perspective. Samaranayaka A, ed. PLOS ONE. 2024;19(7):e0304457. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304457
[x] Financial Impression of Physiotherapy in Canada Ready for Canadian Physiotherapy Affiliation.; 2023. https://physiotherapy.ca/app/uploads/2024/04/Deloitte-report_EN.pdf
[xi] Passalent LA, Landry MD, Cott CA. Wait Occasions for Publicly Funded Outpatient and Group Physiotherapy and Occupational Remedy Providers: Implications for the Growing Variety of Individuals with Persistent Situations in Ontario, Canada. Physiotherapy Canada. 2009;61(1):5-14. doi:https://doi.org/10.3138/physio.61.1.5
[xii] Canada H. Abstract Report of the Well being Human Assets Symposium – Canada.ca. Canada.ca. Revealed 2022. Accessed April 29, 2025. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/companies/health-care-system/health-human-resources/summary-report-symposium.html
[xiii] Important Competency Profile for Physiotherapist Assistants in Canada.; 2012. https://npag.ca/PDFs/Jointpercent20Initiatives/PTApercent20profilepercent202012percent20English.pdf
[xiv] Canada H. Abstract Report of the Well being Human Assets Symposium – Canada.ca. Canada.ca. Revealed 2022. Accessed April 29, 2025. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/companies/health-care-system/health-human-resources/summary-report-symposium.html