PL

The Polish Chamber of Physiotherapists

For the first time in history, a physiotherapist heads the Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology Section of the Polish Society of Cardiology

During the 26th Symposium of the Section of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology of the Polish Society of Cardiology, which took place on May 11-13, 2023, new authorities of the Section were elected. We are pleased to announce that the president-elect of the Section is physiotherapist prof. Edyta Smolis – Bąk. The election of a physiotherapist as the chairwoman of the Section of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology of the Polish Society of Cardiology is a groundbreaking event. Never in the history of the Section has a physiotherapist served as chairman. It is also a sign that physiotherapy is treated as a key, even integral, element of the treatment process for patients with cardiac problems. This nomination is not only a great honor for me. This is an expression of recognition and appreciation of my scientific work and experience in conducting physiotherapy for patients with circulatory system diseases. I am very happy that many years of cooperation in the medical team, mutual respect and understanding resulted in people trusting me and voting for my candidacy. Being elected president-elect of the Section is a great mobilization and encouragement for me to act. During my term of office, I would like the Section to engage in promoting cardiac rehabilitation by developing recommendations (including new forms of physiotherapy), as well as conducting workshops and training to help physiotherapists, psychologists and doctors in their professional development. – says prof. Edyta Smolis-Bąk. On May 26, Dr. Tomasz Dybek, president of the KRF, invited prof. Smolis – Bąk to the office of the Polish Chamber of Physiotherapists. During the meeting, he congratulated on being selected for such an honorable function and presented a congratulatory letter with a bouquet of flowers. I express deep respect and appreciation for your scientific achievements and achievements. I appreciate the fact that you are the first physiotherapist to hold this honorable position. I hope that thanks to your commitment and creativity, the number of physiotherapists interested in cardiac rehabilitation of patients with heart failure and circulatory system failure and after cardiac surgery will increase - wrote Dr. Tomasz Dybek in a letter.

The World Health Assembly’s landmark resolution on rehabilitation

During the 76th World Health Assembly, held at the UN headquarters in Geneva on May 21-30, a landmark resolution on “Strengthening rehabilitation in health systems” was adopted. The resolution was adopted by 194 member states, including Poland, and is the first to directly concern taking measures for rehabilitation. This is a response to the huge demand for rehabilitation worldwide and gaps in access to services, especially in low- and middle-income countries. During the Assembly, member state delegates highlighted the large scale of unmet rehabilitation needs for a range of conditions, including communicable and non-communicable diseases and injuries. Attention was also paid to the importance of rehabilitation as a healthy aging strategy. Bearing in mind that rehabilitation is an extremely important factor influencing the quality of life and participation in the community, a strong need was expressed for raising awareness of rehabilitation and commitment to its development, adequate financing and the need to include it in primary health care. Delegates also emphasized the importance of assistive technologies as an important element of meeting the needs of society, as well as the need to increase the appreciation of rehabilitation in the area of mental health. The adopted resolution therefore calls on all states, international organizations and other interested parties to take effective actions aimed at strengthening rehabilitation in health care systems. The WHO Secretariat was obliged, among others, to: to report to the World Health Assembly on progress in the implementation of this resolution in 2026, 2028 and 2030. Find out more: https://www.who.int/news/item/27-05-2023-landmark-resolution-on-strengthening-rehabilitation-in-health-systems

The Polish Chamber of Physiotherapists withdrew from membership in World Physiotherapy

As of December 31, 2022, the Polish Chamber of Physiotherapists withdrew from membership in the World Confederation of Physiotherapy - World Physiotherapy. The resolution not to extend the three-year membership of the KIF until 2023 was put to a vote at the meeting of the KRF in November 2022. The resignation was submitted in accordance with the provisions of Article 15.1 of the World Physiotherapy constitution, and its full text can be read below. Below the letter there is also previous e-mail correspondence on this matter. Letter-for-the-attention-of-World-Physiotherapy   The Polish Chamber of Physiotherapists also assured World Physiotherapy that it is open to a partnership form of cooperation and remains available as a reliable source of information on physiotherapy in Poland. At the same time, we would like to emphasize that we are working on expanding contacts with other chambers and organizations of physiotherapists in Europe, including: with a chamber in France, Italy or organizations in Germany. Together we share experiences and look for new ideas for cooperation and promotion of the achievements of Polish physiotherapy internationally.

2nd General Meeting has voted for the new president of The Polish Chamber of Physiotherapists (KIF).

On May 27-29, 2022, the 2nd General Meeting of physiotherapists took place, during which delegates from all over Poland elected a new President, as well as members of self-government bodies: the National Council of Physiotherapists, the Audit Committee, the Disciplinary Court, the Higher Disciplinary Court, and the Ombudsman and his deputies. Tomasz Dybek, PT, PhD became the new president of KIF. New vice presidents have beed appointed: Hanna Kowalewska, PT, MSc Dominika Batycka – Stachnik, PT, PhD Rafał Trąbka, PT, PhD Congratulations!

World Physiotherapy- Future Network. Call for Network Facilitators

Future Network - a network for physiotherapist students and early career professionals Are you a student or early-career physiotherapist with energy and enthusiasm to engage with others, interested in making a difference by representing your region, and connecting with the global physiotherapy community? World Physiotherapy Future Network has an exciting and rewarding opportunity for you as a network facilitator. The Future Network is for physiotherapy students and early career professionals. The aim of the network is to engage physiotherapist students and early career professionals with World Physiotherapy and their member organisations, encouraging, promoting and facilitating the sharing of ideas and pursuing activities of common interest. As a network facilitator, you will have a chance to: represent your region on the world stage contribute to discussions in the profession help amplify the voice of physiotherapy students and early career professionals create engaging social media develop your career and contacts with the global physiotherapy profession. World Physiotherapy Future is seeking facilitators from the following World Physiotherapy regions: North America Caribbean: 1 Facilitator Europe: 1 Facilitator Send your application via e-mail at: [email protected] and provide the following supporting documents; A one-page summary detailing how you meet the person's specification and why you want to take on the position A CV - Maximum length 2 pages The closing date for this is: 06 April 2022 The information supplied will be stored on KIF and World Physiotherapy systems and used for the purpose stated. FB: https://www.facebook.com/WorldPhysioFuture

New thematic sections were established. They will initiate cooperation between physiotherapists from Poland and the world.

The ceremony of appointment took place on October 18th, 2021, in the office of the Polish Chamber of Physiotherapists in Warsaw. The ceremony was attended by physiotherapists who take the positions of Chair of new, 8 thematic sections on: Physiotherapy in oncology and palliative care - Janusz Doś, PT, PhD Physiotherapy in Sport - dr hab. Monika Grygorowicz, PT Physiotherapy in Geriatrics -  Marta Podhorecka, PT, PhD Physiotherapy in Urology and Gynecology - Bartłomiej Burzyński, PT, PhD Physiotherapy in Neurology - Joanna Tokarska, PT, MSc Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy - Mariusz Stachowiak, PT, MSc Private Practice in Physiotherapy - prof. Zbigniew Śliwiński, PT Physiotherapy in Occupational Health and Ergonomy- Zbigniew Wroński, PT, PhD. A nice surprise awaited the participants during the ceremony. Tracy Bury, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, responsible for subgroups and networks at World Physiotherapy, sent a welcome message! The sections created and the topics chosen are related to KIF's membership in World Physiotherapy. Admitting Polish representatives to global subgroups allow previously assumed goals, both domestic and international to be implemented. National targets: to associate physiotherapists interested in a given topic, to standardize the work of physiotherapists in specific clinical fields, to create the basis for clinical specializations. International goals: promotion of Polish physiotherapy, exchange of professional experiences. The subgroups are important independent organizations. They have a defined area of interest and promote progress in physiotherapy and the exchange of scientific knowledge in their field. It will be a challenging and busy time for appointed representatives to organize the structure and create an action plan for the thematic sections. “After almost two years of a pandemic, which significantly impeded international contacts, establishing subgroups is a great event for us. Thanks to this, we gain even more from membership of World Physiotherapy, and we use the opportunities offered by this international coalition to a large extent,” says Dalia Woźnica from the international department of KIF, a project coordinator. Check updates related to the subgroups on our social media!

‘Voice of Physiotherapist’- 2nd special edition on the occasion of the World PT Day 2021

Another year is behind us. On the occasion of this year’s World Physiotherapy Day, we have collected for you the interesting stories and activities that we have undertaken over the past months. All the highlights have been captured in ‘Voice of Physiotherapist’, a monthly magazine of the Polish Chamber of Physiotherapists – second special edition in English. Read more.

ICF in the Polish healthcare system – facts, myths, real needs

Do we know how to understand the ICF, what are the benefits of using this classification and how should we implement it jointly to the Polish healthcare system and other public services? Read more and watch the English recording of a conference organized by the Polish Chamber of Physiotherapists.

This term of office is your great international win! – Jonathon Kruger, Chief executive officer of World Physiotherapy summarizes over one year of cooperation with KIF.

At the beginning of 2020, the National Chamber of Physiotherapists became an official member of World Physiotherapy. We have been operating together for over a year. What are your impressions of this collaboration? It is worth mentioning that although KIF has been officially in the structures of World Physiotherapy since 2020, our cooperation dates back to earlier years. I am very pleased with our common activities. It is always good to work with an organization that is actively involved in the work from the very beginning and at the same time knowing what it wants. It is the ability to use when new opportunities arrive from the world. From the very beginning, KIF's international activities were aimed at promoting Polish physiotherapy but also to create the global identity of the profession.  This is what I appreciate at KIF. Taking care of Polish physiotherapists is understandably a priority, but you also devoted a lot of work to supporting foreign colleagues. Anyway, this is the key mission of World Physiotherapy - to be a global hub connecting physiotherapists from around the world! Due to the pandemic, this traditional, face-to-face communication has become challenging, therefore we have created the possibility of constant online communication. You mentioned how the pandemic affected World Physiotherapy’s relations. KIF's membership in World Physiotherapy actually began with the appearance of coronavirus. Was it supportive, having KIF and other member organizations onboard during this difficult time? The crisis mobilized everyone to act. Paradoxically, although distant due to lockdown, we felt very close as a professional environment. We were connected by the same concerns: the safety of physiotherapists, their participation in the fight against the pandemic, the transition to telehealth, and problems related to education. KIF has been extremely active in each of the above areas. You have produced videos supporting seniors, COVID patients, office workers, which, thanks to your translations into other languages, we were able to provide to other member organizations. You, on the other hand, have been able to use the materials we shared providing Polish physiotherapists by translating them into your mother tongue. Such a partnership means a lot to us. You are always up to date with the activities of the member organizations. This is impressive considering that World Physiotherapy brings together over 120 countries from all over the world. We summarize KIF's first four-year term. How do you rate our work? I can confidently say that KIF is currently a leader in Europe in an innovative and creative approach to the profession. You show the direction to countries that are deeply rooted in the tradition of the so-called old school physiotherapy. A modern social campaign, films distributed all over the world, but also innovative professional regulations. It puts you at the forefront of progress. A Polish physiotherapist was one of the first to gain the rights to vaccinate against COVID - this is a great achievement! It turns out that KIF is not waiting for the rest of the world to create, research and patent