Deloitte studied the clinical evidence for the cost-effectiveness of physiotherapy treatments and modelled the impact of expanding physiotherapy care on three specific diseases: osteoporosis, back pain, and coronary heart disease. Key findings are summarized below. Please see the full report for further details and sources.
(See: Deloitte Economic Impact of Physiotherapy in Canada, p30)
Physiotherapists per 1,000 population, OECD countries, 2021
Chart Source: The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
OECD. Healthcare Resources: Physiotherapists. https://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?DataSetCode=HEALTH_REAC. (Accessed December 12, 2023).
Potential savings across osteoarthritis illness.
Potential savings across back-pain illness.
Potential savings across coronary heart disease.
Economic benefit of an expanded physiotherapy profession on the three diseases studied
Growth needed in physiotherapy workforce to bring Canada to OECD average
Portion of Canadians who currently receive physiotherapy
Most of these benefits come as cost savings for the health care system
Learn more about the impact physiotherapy can have on Canada’s healthcare system and economy.
© 2024 Canadian Physiotherapy Association
| Footnotes: | ||||
1. Per the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia, 16 February 2024: Professional regulation is undergoing significant change both in terms of the introduction of the new Health Professions and Occupations Act (“HPOA”), which is not yet in force, and the scheduled amalgamation of several of the colleges under the Health Professions Act in June 2024. https://cptbc.org/2024/02/16/faqs-on-proposed-physical-therapists-regulation-amendments/ The College of Physical Therapists of BC will amalgamate with the other six colleges to form the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC on June 28, 2024. Until then, the College of Physical Therapists of BC and the other six colleges will continue to regulate health professionals. https://cptbc.org/2024/02/29/ministry-of-health-confirms-name-of-new-multi-profession-college/ | ||||
2. Jurisdiction does not have a defined or described scope of practice for physiotherapy. Physiotherapists working in this jurisdiction are required hold an active licence from another jurisdiction. Individual physiotherapist scope of practice may vary depending upon respective legislations. | ||||
| 3. Jurisdiction does not have a defined or described scope of practice for physiotherapy. Physiotherapists working in this jurisdiction are required hold an active licence from another jurisdiction. Individual physiotherapist scope of practice may vary depending upon respective legislations. | ||||
| 4. All legislation has passed, all proclaimed, all pending a change to a regulation for implementation. in interim can perform through delegation or standing order. The regulation change needed is an amendment to the Exemptions Section of Regulation 107/93 under the RHPA (MRI and Ultrasound for diagnostic purposes are referenced in the Regulation as per the Interpretation Section) via the addition of “a member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario” for purposes of MRIs and diagnostic ultrasound. | ||||
| 5. Physiotherapists employed by Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health can already request X-rays, but starting in early spring (2024), physiotherapists working in private practice will also be able to request X-rays. They must be in good standing with the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists to request an X-ray. | ||||
| 6. All legislation has passed, all proclaimed, all pending a change to a regulation for implementation. in interim can perform through delegation or standing order. The regulation change needed is an amendment to the Exemptions Section of Regulation 107/93 under the RHPA (MRI and Ultrasound for diagnostic purposes are referenced in the Regulation as per the Interpretation Section) via the addition of “a member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario” for purposes of MRIs and diagnostic ultrasound. | ||||
| 7. All legislation has passed, all proclaimed, all pending a change to a regulation for implementation. in interim can perform through delegation or standing order. The regulation change needed is an amendment to the Exemptions Section of Regulation 107/93 under the RHPA (MRI and Ultrasound for diagnostic purposes are referenced in the Regulation as per the Interpretation Section) via the addition of “a member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario” for purposes of MRIs and diagnostic ultrasound. | ||||
| 8. No laws require amendment. All that remains are changes to two regulations: the first under the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act amendments are required to sections 17 and 18 of Regulation 45/27 (that replaced Regulation 682) under that Act to enable “a member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario” to collect specimens for and requisition laboratory tests. Second an amendment is required to section 12 of Regulation 207/94 under the Medical Laboratory Technology Act to include “a member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario” as a “prescribed person” in order to satisfy the requirements of subsection 5. (1) of the Act. interim can be performed through delegation or standing order | ||||
| 9. Recommendation and application only | ||||
| 10. Practice of Physiotherapy includes (j) administration of physical therapy-related medications as prescribed by a physician or a nurse licensed to practice as a nurse practitioner in the jurisdiction where the nurse practices nursing, | ||||
| 11. Practice of Physiotherapy includes (j) administration of physical therapy-related medications as prescribed by a physician or a nurse licensed to practice as a nurse practitioner in the jurisdiction where the nurse practices nursing, | ||||
| 12. Practice of Physiotherapy includes (j) administration of physical therapy-related medications as prescribed by a physician or a nurse licensed to practice as a nurse practitioner in the jurisdiction where the nurse practices nursing, |
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