National Physiotherapy Month - Spotlight - Sarah

“Physiotherapy enabled my brother to regain his independence and provided him with the knowledge to manage his residual impairments over time.”

Sarah was inspired to become a physiotherapist after her brother suffered a brain aneurysm at a young age and left him with many physical deficits. Although she had an early interest in physical fitness and wellness, it was this personal event that ultimately drove her to pursue physiotherapy as a career. Currently providing physiotherapy to patients in the Emergency Department at Joseph Brant Hospital, Sarah’s role has her working in a fast-paced environment.

“These days no days are average!  My typical role is physiotherapy in the Emergency Department. I work with patients to help them avoid admission to the hospital or getting admitted patients moving early, to help improve their recovery.

Like many things, the care Physiotherapists provide to their patients changed during the pandemic. Sarah was working in healthcare during the SARS pandemic, but COVID-19 has felt like a marathon in comparison.

“The pandemic has been challenging for every healthcare provider. As a physiotherapist, wearing a mask – although necessary, has been challenging as we depend so much on verbal communication and the nuances of our expressions to encourage our patients, which has been lost.”

We asked Sarah what the most rewarding part of her role is.

“The appreciation from patients and their families after assisting them to achieve their mobility goals, and improving their quality of life!”

Thank you Sarah for your dedication to providing compassionate, exemplary care to your patients!