National Physiotherapy Month - Spotlight - Katie

“Working through the pandemic has been an emotional rollercoaster!”

Katie Williams is a Physiotherapist at Joseph Brant Hospital who has been providing care to patients in the ICU throughout the pandemic.

Physiotherapy plays a critical role in the recovery of COVID-19 patients, as some spend prolonged periods of time on ventilators, which results in severe deconditioning. COVID-19 can cause stiffened lungs, and patients often develop blood clots in their lungs, which contributes to an increased work of breathing.

“Physiotherapy intervention is essential to get these patients moving again.  Simple tasks such as rolling side to side and sitting at the edge of the bed is extremely difficult given the muscle deterioration.”

Different methods of physiotherapy treatment are used for recovering COVID-19 patients. “I have to be able to reassure patients and help them feel safe through this challenging experience. Helping patients stay calm and breathe is key to physiotherapy treatments. Progress is extremely slow so patients require a lot of encouragement to keep up the hard work.  Nurses will often hear the cheers of happiness as I celebrate the small improvements my patients achieve.”

We asked Katie what she loved most about her job.

“The part of my job that brings me the most joy is getting to know my patients really well. I need to know what motivates them to work really hard to achieve little things. I get to learn about their lives, families and what makes them unique. I have learned to communicate in all sorts of imaginative ways, breaking down language and cultural barriers.  I have laughed and cried with my patients. Some have rested their head on my shoulder in both physical and emotional exhaustion!  I have had the privilege in providing a caring touch to those who are socially isolated and missing their loved ones.”