Reflections about physiotherapists professional performance within the Cardiovascular Pulmonary field in Colombia

Abstract

Introduction: at the beginning of professional Physiotherapy training in the Pulmonary Cardiovascular field, in Colombia, and its evolution who was parallel to the scientific and technological advances so that, at the end of the 20th century revealed a greater knowledge from the evaluation, treatment and improving life expectancy in patients with cardiovascular and chronic respiratory disease. Colombian universities that lead the undergrade programs in physiotherapy work jointly with the Colombian Association of Physiotherapy (ASCOFI) gave the support in continuing education, with specific seminars and certificates in the area, with national and international speakers, in the context of informal, which lead to a great subject reform at the credit level, content and objectives within the curriculum, in addition, clinical rotations, the aim was to form a profile optimizing insertion labor and social development with specialized skills and competencies at the pulmonary cardiovascular level that favor the integration, positioning and impact the physiotherapist role in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) , emergencies, hospitalization and external consultation. The effectiveness of this alliance was the pillar for the creation of specializations in Critical Care, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy in our country. Development: the article is based on the reflection of the training and professional performance of the Colombian Physiotherapist within the Pulmonary Cardiovascular Domain (PCD). Their advances, scope and demands to defend their professional practice in this area, and likewise the development and dynamics of the physiotherapist in our country, which reflected in the autonomy, the introduction of a large number of actions and behaviors of specialized care and comprehensive approach between the PCD, neuro-musculoskeletal and integumentary domains which have turned the physical therapist an essential resource in all hospital and health care centers, favoring the optimization of resources, the timely and effective response to the growing demand for respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Conclusion: although the balance in the PCD in Colombia is positive, the demand continues in an exponential grow, it is important to consider the distribution of specialist physiotherapists or those with optimal skills in the area in different regions of the country, who can respond to the community health care needs and their epidemiological profile, propose alliances, actions and discussions with scientific, governmental and educational associations that allow regulating the quality of postgraduate training programs and continuing education that arise permanently.