Lauren O'Donohue, Physiotherapist

Providing health care

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"People are more familiar with the sports aspect of physiotherapy and don't realize that there is a whole other world of physiotherapy out there. We treat patients with [a variety of conditions from] chronic lung diseases up to spinal cord injuries.

"So many times people come to us when it's gotten to the point where they can't deal with the pain anymore. I think if we could get out in the community and advocate for more preventative type medicine, that might be of benefit for both the health care system as well as individuals to help take care of their bodies and avoid injury."

Images from my workplace

Where I work

I work with five other therapists and a massage therapist at Fitness Physiotherapy Services of Manitoba, a private practice clinic in Osborne Village.

The clinic has an eastern focus. We do acupuncture, Cranial Sacral Therapy and the Feldenkrais Method*.

*Note: Acupuncture is a healing method where needles are inserted at points on the body to cure illness or relieve pain. Cranial Sacral Therapy deals with manipulating the flow of cerebral spinal fluid from the brain toward the spinal cord. The Feldenkrais Method helps people learn the most efficient way to move their bodies.

Physical work

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"I'm physically active all day long except for when I'm charting and eating lunch. So it is a physically demanding job. Some of the treatment techniques we use involve a fair bit of strength, so you have to be sure that you're able to maintain that and protect your own body as well.

"You want to be making sure you're using proper body mechanics. When I go to lift a patient, I'm being sure I'm not lifting them, yanking them up using my back. With some of the manual therapy, we have to protect the joints so we're not wearing them out over time."

Tools I use

The tools I use in the clinic include a neuromuscular stimulator, an ultrasound unit and Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation, TENS*. These are used in the earlier or more acute stages of an injury and then we progress to more active exercise and reconditioning. At that point, I use weights, exercise equipment, gym balls and Pilates Reformers.

*Note: Neuromuscular stimulators use electricity to create a muscle contraction to speed healing and increase blood flow. TENS sends painless electrical currents to decrease nerve and muscle pain.

Building a caseload

Because people have direct access to physiotherapy care, a doctor's referral isn't required to come into the clinic. There are still doctors who refer patients to me, typically patients coming in under Manitoba Public Insurance or Worker's Compensation Board claims.

Some patients that call the clinic are placed into my schedule because the particular time slots that are available suit their schedule best. The rest of my caseload comes from me getting my name out there and networking.

There are different ways you can get out into the community to help make people more aware of physiotherapy, health and fitness. One way I do that is through volunteering.

Being creative

I problem solve every day on the job, which requires me to think on my feet a lot.

I treat patients for approximately 30 minute time periods. Within that time I have to assess or re-assess them as required, treat the condition, educate them about their condition and provide them with some exercises to continue at home.

Everybody's recovery is different- some treatments require more emotional support or assistance where others are more physical. So with each patient, I have to adapt my treatments to what works best for them.

Supportive mom

I'm very close with my mom. She's a physiotherapist and has been very supportive of my career choice. I always knew I wanted to get into something medically related. She provided me with information about what her career was all about. She let me come to visit her at work to see what a typical day is like.

To help pay tuition, I had a part-time job the entire time I was going to university. Working and studying was quite a challenge. Mom encouraged me to stick to it and keep going.

Lifelong Winnipegger

I grew up in Winnipeg and have lived in Charleswood for most of my life.

The people here are very friendly. I never have a problem striking up a conversation with anyone wherever I go. Even though Winnipeg is a city, it isn't a big city. It almost has a small town feeling, which I like.

I love the weather in this province. The winter weather helps me to be more appreciative of the hot summers and beautiful lakes.

Active lifestyle

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"When I'm not working, I like to stay as active as I can. I run, I swim. I like to go camping in the summer time. Anytime I can spend with my friends, I love to do that. I volunteer with a program called Manitoba Riding for the Disabled so that takes up a bit of my time but it's well worth it.

"I love taking my dog out for runs. He's a yellow lab with three legs. We've sort of joked about it because after he had his leg amputated, my mom and I were his physios. We had to rehabilitate him."

Treating myself

I love music so I enjoy buying CDs. Sometimes I'll pamper myself and go for a massage, manicure or a pedicure.

I also enjoy travelling. I try to save some money every year so I can go travel. I have friends out in Calgary that I love to go and visit. I would love to travel around Europe at some point. I need to save up some more money because ideally I'd love to spend a couple of months there, exploring.

Making time for people

My family and friends are important to me and I look forward to spending time with them.
Everyone's busy so I like to make set plans with them to get together.

Starting a new career is a transition phase. Sometimes it felt like I didn't have time for a cup of coffee with a friend but it's really important to have that balance. Work is part of my life, but so are my friends and family. A scheduled date with someone is usually enough to remind me to leave work at work.

Time with patients

Where I work, they schedule half-hour appointments. This gives me plenty of time with the patients I'm treating, which I think is a good thing.

On days when I'm not teaching Pilates, I can see up to 12 or 13 patients, back to back. That takes up most of my day.

Flexible hours

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"Working in private practice, we're self-employed so we can say what hours we would like to be working, within reason.

"Every day might be a little different for me. If I know that I have a client who can only come in at 6:00, I'm not starting until 10:00 that day. I can find ways to accommodate other people's needs. Tuesdays and Thursdays are my later days because I teach Pilates in the evening as well, so I won't start until noon that day."

Being self-employed

I'm paid on commission, which means I earn a percentage of the money the clinic is getting from the clients when they come in for treatment. My paycheque is gross pay instead of net. I have to put money away to pay off my taxes at the end of the year.

There are benefits to being self-employed. I can claim things like travel and gas and part of my car payments. If I can show that I've done some work at home that has to do with my career and that I have an area in my home that I do this work, I can claim those types of things as well.

Responsible for care

It's fast-paced in the clinic, with back-to-back patients. Some days can be a little bit stressful. I've got a responsibility not only to the patient but also to the insurance company and community supports to clearly show and communicate that my patients are being cared for in the best way possible.

The stress keeps things interesting for me but sometimes I need a walk around the block to clear my head during my breaks.

After a long day that's been particularly intense, I'll go for a run with my dog or call a friend to talk. It helps me to shake it off.

Working from home

There are only certain things I can do at home for work, because of confidentiality. Legally, I can't bring my charts home to update them. That has to be done in the clinic.

If I want to make up an exercise program for someone and print it out, that's something I can do at home. Most of the work I do at home is research. I keep up to date on my reading so I know about new techniques, professional development opportunities and different conditions.

Assessing patients

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"Because we are now moving more towards being the primary health care providers, patients are coming to us without actually having gone to see their doctors beforehand.

"Our assessment skills have to be such that we are able to know if there is something sinister going on and say, ‘We need to have further investigation.' For example, if somebody comes in with a sore shoulder we need to be able to recognize is this a joint or a muscle problem or is it something more serious?"

What I enjoy

The most interesting part of my job is interacting with people all day long. I love getting to know people, hearing their stories. I enjoy helping them overcome injuries and get well.

I also like the fact that physiotherapy is such a diverse career, there are a number of ways I can expand what I know. There are different areas for me to gain expertise in. That allows for lifelong learning and I don't feel like I'm limited to one area. I can develop and grow throughout my entire career.

Friendly and professional

My work isn't always serious. Because I work so closely with my patients, I get to know them really well. Once I get to know a patient, I try to create a relaxed and informal atmosphere. I try to have some fun with them and joke around a bit. I hear about their families, what they're doing in their lives. We talk about what's important to them, what's stressing them out.

I do have to maintain a certain degree of professionalism at work. I can be friendly with them while maintaining a good working relationship and healthy boundaries.

Co-workers collaborate

I'm close with the people in the clinic. We laugh together often. We'll schedule lunches together or a barbecue so that we can be together outside of the working environment.

Sometimes when I'm treating a patient, I'll come across something that stumps me. I'll go to one of the other therapists to see if they have any insight or suggestions about how to treat a patient. It's good to have that kind of relationship with people I work with so I can lean on them for support.

Helping people

As a physiotherapist, I am able to help people through their injuries. It goes beyond their injured knee. Because I spend time with them and get to know them better, I see them as people instead of an injury I'm treating. People appreciate that.

Pain management or pain relief is one part of the work I do. The other part of my work is promoting health and fitness. Helping people become more aware of their conditions, informing them about how to get and stay healthy empowers people and gives them confidence.

Helpful teachers

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"I went to Oak Park High School. I became more interested in pursuing physiotherapy as a career in about grade 10 or grade 11 so I went to student services.

"The teachers in student services told me about the type of courses that I should be taking in high school to get into university to begin with. And they also gave me some information about the open house that the School of Medical Rehabilitation was holding, and were really quite helpful in sending me in the right direction where I should be seeking out more information about this career."

Open house important

The annual open house at the University of Manitoba School of Medical Rehabilitation is a really important event. If somebody is interested in any type of medical rehabilitation - physiotherapy, occupational therapy or respiratory therapy - they should attend.

When I attended, I got a better sense of how the program is set up, what the curriculum is and an even better sense of what physiotherapists do.

Clinical placements

I took a three-year program at the University of Manitoba. At the end of each year, we had a clinical placement ranging from five to 16 weeks. Each placement helped me use the skills I had acquired that year. I learned about different aspects of physiotherapy in hospitals and private practice settings.

The first year I worked with people who had chronic lung conditions and heart problems. The second year I was dealing with muscle and joint issues. The third year I worked with people who had spinal cord injuries, strokes and neuromuscular problems.

Volunteering helps

Volunteering with Manitoba Riding for the Disabled gives me a chance to work with kids in the community. It's a fun yet therapeutic atmosphere. It helps me to be more creative in the treatment techniques I use with them.

It's also a different population that I'm working with. Most of my patients at the clinic are adults.

Private vs. public

It's possible to make more money in private practice but you don't have the health benefits a hospital offers.

Working in private practice gives me more control over my schedule and the patients I see. Once people referred others to me, I had a tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment. I realized I was making a difference in these people's lives.

My priorities

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"I have student loans to pay off and staying at home is more cost efficient. I've been lucky enough that my mom has allowed me to stay at home to be able to pay that off and make a good foundation for myself.

"I'm a new grad, so I feel like I still have a lot of developing of my career that I want to focus on. I want to take some more post-graduate courses. I've just finished my acupuncture course but I'd like to get what they call your ‘levels' in manual therapy."

Explore the profession

Do what you can to make sure you're familiar with the profession. Really put some thought into whether you'd like to pursue physiotherapy as a career.

Hospitals and some private practice clinics have opportunities to job shadow. You can watch the physios working and get an idea of a typical day. Some hospitals allow for volunteers to come in and help with activities of the clinic or physiotherapy department other than direct patient care. When I was in high school I volunteered at a personal care home working with the Rehabilitation Assistant.

What I want

Once I have paid off my student loans, I'll have more financial freedom and the chance to do more of the things I'd like to do. Perhaps I'll look at getting a place of my own. I'll be in a better position to do some of the things I enjoy, like travelling and experiencing the world.

Continuous improvement

At some point I would like to have my own clinic. Before I look at doing that, I want to develop my skills further and take as many post-graduate courses as I can. That way I'll have a well-balanced skill set to treat my patients in the best way I can.

I would like to learn more about how to educate patients to independently manage their health.
Pediatric physiotherapy and women's health also interest me.

Future outlook

Physiotherapists are moving more towards becoming primary health care providers with more responsibility as members of the health care team in both rural and urban areas. People don't need a doctor's referral to come and see us. This is a big step for the progression of this profession.

With Manitoba's aging population, I think the demand for physiotherapists in the next few years will increase. If we can continue to expand the profession to focus more on preventative health care, it will continue to grow.

Job market info

The links below take you to federal and regional government information on employment, education, salary ranges and long range prospects for this career.

The official title for Lauren's occupation is "Physiotherapist" and its NOC* code is 3142.

Manitoba Job Futures

Employment Prospects - Labour Market Information

*Each occupation has an official name and unique number called the 'National Occupation Classification' code or 'NOC'.

Education

Useful High School subjects

- Physics
- Biology
- Math
- English

*Source: JobFutures.ca  

For those out of school, Adult Learning Centres can help you get or upgrade your high school diploma, including adding subjects that are required for work or further education. All Manitobans are normally entitled to four free courses.

Below are links to various programs and courses that will you on the path to a career as a Physiotherapist:

Colleges & Universities

University of Manitoba

Physical Therapy

School of Medical Rehabilitation

University of Winnipeg

Pre-Medical Rehabilitation: Physical Therapy

Brandon University

Physical Therapy

Skills

Useful Skills/Experience:*

- Multidisciplinary teamwork
- Proposal writing
- Business and financial management
- Committee work
- Interpersonal skills
- Program development

Source: Job Futures.ca

There is not yet an Essential Skills* profile for this occupation.**

*For more information on Essential Skills and their importance, go to: Essential Skills.

**Note: A document created by the profession called the Essential Competency Profile for Physiotherapists in Canada addresses the essential competencies of a physiotherapist at entry level and beyond.

Professional Resources

College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba
The province's regulatory body for physiotherapists

Canadian Physiotherapy Association
Resources and information for the physiotherapist

Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals
A provincial union for health care professionals

CareerTrek
A not-for-profit organization that provides innovative educational programming for young people with perceived barriers to entering post-secondary education

Related Careers

Director of physiotherapy (NOC 0311)

Rehabilitation technicians (NOC 3235)