Renee’s Directorship Benefits Cooma Residents
Cooma’s Renee Pirozzi has become a Director and partner of Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy.
Normally a director’s appointment would pass unnoticed. A form would be sent to ASIC and the new director would simply join the company board.
“But my appointment is much more than this,” Renee told the Cooma Monaro Express. “It signifies a significant long-term commitment to the region by Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy.”
“It means that our patients from Cooma will have greater access when it’s needed to specialist physiotherapy, such as the hand physiotherapy and women’s health services, which can be best provided by the Sapphire Coast Physiotherapists who have had additional training in these areas.”
“It also means we can plan to attract more new graduate physiotherapists to Cooma, because they will be able to receive the training and mentoring that only a reasonable size practice like the Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy group can offer.”
“This will ultimately mean more physiotherapists are available to provide treatment to people in the area.”
“And, of course, Cooma’s specific needs will now be directly represented at the highest level within the company.”
Renee joins three other directors on the board of Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy. At age 25, she will be the youngest of the directors.
“We are delighted with how Renee has helped Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy as an employee over the past two years, and are thrilled that she has now accepted our offer to become a director and partner,” Naomi White a Director of Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy said.
“She will bring young thinking and incredible enthusiasm to the company board, which is where the planning decisions are made on how Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy can continue to provide better service to our clients.”
“And I know Renee already has some great ideas on how Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy in Cooma could expand physiotherapy services to provide service to patients, like those in age care facilities or those using the hydrotherapy pool, without their having to visit our Bombala Street clinic.”
“This would be akin to what is being done in Bega, for example, where Sapphire Coast Physiotherapists visit the Bega Cheese factory three times per week to provide physiotherapy to workers from the three different shifts at the factory.”
Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy has clinics in Cooma, Bega, Merimbula and Eden.
It has a reputation for its innovative approaches to providing physiotherapy services to rural communities. It was recently named as one of the ten finalists remaining in the running to receive the 2011 NSW Rural Community Business and Employment Achievement Award because its growth has resulted in many more physiotherapists and ancillary staff being employed, and because it has significantly improved the physiotherapy service available to residents in the south-east of the state.
July 2011
More Women's Health Physiotherapy Services Now Available to Far South Coast Residents
Women’s health services on the Far South Coast have improved now that three physiotherapists with additional Women’s Health Physiotherapy training are working for Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy.
These physiotherapists are Monica Fraser, Tegan Butters and Kristy Nichols.
“Women’s Health Physiotherapy is a highly specialist area of physiotherapy. It requires specialized training beyond the basic physiotherapy course, and as a result there are very few women’s health physiotherapists in rural areas,” Tegan Butters explained.
“But we are lucky enough to now have three therapists trained in Women’s Health Physiotherapy practicing in the south east area at Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy.”
“Women’s Health Physiotherapy manages and treats conditions specific to women such as bladder weakness, bladder urgency, pelvic floor dysfunction, prolapse, and pre- and post-natal musculoskeletal pain.”
“We know up to two thirds of all women will experience some form of bladder dysfunction and one in three women who have had a child will wet themselves. We also know that 50% of women do not perform their pelvic floor exercises correctly, so there really is a huge demand for the services that Women’s Health Physiotherapists provide.”
“Unfortunately many women’s health problems still go untreated,” Tegan suggested. “This is because women do not know that there are services out there to help treat and manage their conditions like incontinence, frequently needing to go to the toilet, or experiencing pain when toileting.”
“We are very keen, therefore, for women to know that sympathetic, professional help is readily available, and that they don’t have to continue to live with these ‘women’s problems’.”
Women’s Health Physiotherapy services can be accessed at Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy’s Merimbula, Bega and Cooma practices. No doctor’s referral is necessary.
June 2011
Alison Lison not Daunted by Pains in the Neck
There’s a new physio in Eden.
She is Alison Viner, who recently joined Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy.
As well as practicing as a physio for many years, Alison has extensive experience teaching undergraduate and postgraduate physiotherapy students at the University of Sydney.
Alison’s particular interest, though, is treating back and neck pain and headache.
Manual therapy techniques, such as manipulation, are extensively used by physiotherapists to treat back and neck pain. Alison’s specialist skill is finding ways for sufferers to supplement and continue this treatment with exercises they can do themselves at home.
“By identifying movements and postures that cause pain, we can suggest one or two simple repeated movements or exercises that can be easily continued at home to accelerate response to treatment,” Alison told the Eden Magnet. “This approach has been extensively researched and shown to be particularly effective in managing pain associated with damage to intervertebral discs in the neck and back.”
“Many people also don’t realise that headache symptoms are frequently caused by dysfunction of the joints and muscles in the neck. So I would encourage anyone who suffers recurrent headaches to consider assessment by a physiotherapist.”
“I’m delighted to now be working on the Far South Coast, and look forward to seeing anyone with back or neck pain, or in need of general physiotherapy services.”
Appointments with Alison can be arranged by phoning Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy on 6496 2828.
Alison has recently arrived in Eden having spent much of the past two years travelling around Australia with her partner and 8 year-old daughter.
Prior to that Alison worked in Sydney dividing her time between clinical practice and teaching at the University of Sydney. “I particularly enjoyed working with physiotherapy students while they were doing their practical training in hospitals and clinics, helping them to refine their diagnostic and treatment skills,” Alison revealed.
Alison joins a growing number of specialised physiotherapists who have joined Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy in recent times.
The group now also employs physiotherapists with a special interest in Women’s Health, Hand Therapy, Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy.
February 2011
New Cooma Physio Enables Expansion of Women’s Health Services
There is a new physio working at Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy in Cooma.
She is 25 year old Kristy Nichols.
Kristy joined Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy after completing her physiotherapy training at Newcastle University and gaining practical experience in Wyong, Grafton, Tamworth, Armidale and Cowra.
“My major interest is rural health, and that is why I chose to gain practical experience in different rural centres throughout the state. It is also one reason why I chose to attend Newcastle University, which has a Department of Rural Health based in Tamworth and requires all its physiotherapy students to spend time working in rural areas,” Kristy told the Cooma-Monaro Express.
“But now I’m thrilled to be returning to Cooma to work as a physiotherapist in a community that I know so well.”
Kristy is a keen sportswoman. “I was brought up in a cricket-mad family and I now particularly enjoy skiing, netball and touch football.”
“For the past four years I have been working with Alison Coles (previously the principal of Cooma Physiotherapy Centre, but now based in Canberra) providing physiotherapy to the ACT Men’s Veterans Hockey Teams.”
“And, in fact, I’m off to Singapore later this year to provide physiotherapy support to the Australian Over 40s Men’s Hockey Team.”
When we enquired whether she, too, played hockey, Kristy coyly replied “No, I’ve never played hockey…I think it’s too dangerous!!”
Kristy is one of two new physiotherapists who have just joined Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy. The other is Tegan Butters, who will be working in their Merimbula clinic.
“On top of their interest and experience in sports physiotherapy, both Kristy and Tegan have a special interest in women’s health services,” Renee Pirozzi of Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy’s Cooma clinic revealed to us.
“So Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy can now enhance and expand the services specifically aimed at women at all its clinics, and this will be one of our main aims in 2011.”
The Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy group now has a total staff of 17 working in its clinics in Merimbula, Bega, Bombala, Eden and Cooma. One of these coincidentally is Kristy’s Mum, Maree, who is receptionist and general assistant at the Cooma clinic.
Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy’s Cooma clinic is located within the Bombala Street Medical Centre at 62 Bombala Street. It has extended opening hours from Mondays to Fridays. Appointments can be arranged by phoning 6452 4203. No referral is necessary.
Clients are able to access EFTPOS at the clinic and claim appropriate on-the-spot rebates for their physiotherapy from private health funds.
August 2010
David is a Hand-i-man
Mondays have become hand-days at Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy's Bega clinic, with physiotherapist David Schmidt joining the team there. David has many years experience as a physiotherapist, most recently as the physiotherapy manager at Bega and Pambula Hospitals. His area of specialist expertise is the treatment of hand and upper limb conditions. David will be working at Sapphire Coast Physiotherpy's Bega Clinic on Mondays alongside Naomi White. Naomi is a specialist hand therapist and has been working in Bega for the past 20 years. So the residents of Bega Valley and surrounds now have available one of the best resourced specialist hand physiotherpay clinics in rural NSW.
"Our expertise will not go unused, the hands and arms are one of the most commonly injured parts of the body", Naomi explained. Almost everybody has had a wrist or hand injury at some time in their life. It may have been the result of a sporting or other recreational injury, a simple fall, repetitive use of the hand or wrist at work, or even something as common as osteoarthritis or tendonitis bought on by the ageing process.
Because our hands are constantly involved in almost all activities we undertake, and because a minor hand or wrist injury can easily progress to a debilitating problem if not treated appropriately, it is essential that we seek experienced care when they are not operating at 100% efficiency. It is wonderful therefore, that David is now working with us and making his hand, wrist and upper limb physiotherapy expertise more widely available to residents of the area. We will be able to assess and help more people to regain pain free hand function.
July 2010
Naomi White named NSW Australian Hand Therapy Assoc. Mentor
Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy's Naomi White, is the new NSW Australian Hand Therapy Association Mentor. Naomi has worked in Hand Therapy since 1980, initially at Sydney Hospital, until 1986. She worked at Prince of Wales Hospital, and then at Pacific Hand. In 1990, the White family moved to Merimbula, where Naomi has continued to practice hand therapy in both the private and public sectors. As a hand therapist in a remote rural area, Naomi is well aware of the challenges of delivering hand therapy services, distant from specialist centres, and welcomes the opportunity to assist others to meet hand therapy needs in rural NSW.
June 7 2010
Cooma Physios on the Move
Cooma Physiotherapy Centre is moving 100 metres up the road to modern, purpose-built rooms within the Bombala Street Medical Centre, from Monday 7th June.
The new rooms, at 62 Bombala Street, are incorporated in the expansion of the Bombala Street Medical Centre.
"Cooma Physiotherapy Centre has operated from its existing location for over 20years.We welcome the many opportunities this move will provide for our existing patients and new patients," Cooma Physiotherapy Centre's Renee Dubois explained.
"We will be under the same roof as local and visiting doctors, the podiatrist, and ulrasonographers. We look forward to the opportunity to work even more closely with other members of your health care team The new, purpose built rooms have excellent access. And we have more opportunity to provide immediate service to patients referred to us by doctors working in the complex.”
"We also have room to expand as demand requires. We have room for additional physiotherapists to join our team, and room to provide a greater range of physiotherapy services."
"Our aim at the new clinic is to continue to provide the highest possible level of physiotherapy service to residents of Cooma and surrounding areas," Ms Dubois added.
March 16 2010
Sports Taping and Injury Management Workshops are on in April and May. Click Here for more information
October 14 2009
A new face, greater service from Cooma Physiotherapy Centre
An additional physiotherapist has joined the team at Cooma Physiotherapy Centre.
Renee Dubois, who has recently been working at Bombala Physiotherapy, joins Susan Mitchell at Cooma Physiotherapy Centre, enabling the practice to extend its opening hours and provide physiotherapy services to more Cooma residents.
Effective immediately, the new hours at Cooma Physiotherapy Centre will be 11am to 7pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursday.
Cooma Physiotherapy Centre recently joined the Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy group, the major physiotherapy provider in the south-east of NSW. It also runs clinics in Bega, Merimbula, Eden and Bombala.
“There are several benefits to us in being part of the Sapphire Physiotherapy group,” Susan Mitchell told The Cooma Monaro Express. “We can call on specialist expertise when required because, for example, one of the Sapphire Coast Physiotherapists is a specialist hand physiotherapist and another is a specialist in treating sporting injuries.”
“And Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy’s extensive, established resources will ensure that a high level of service can continue to be offered to Cooma district residents when we’re away on holidays or if we need time off for any other reason.”
“Plus being a part of Sapphire Coast Physiotherapy will, thankfully, relieve us of many necessary - but time consuming - administrative tasks associated with running a practice.”
“Renee and I look forward to welcoming anyone in need of physiotherapy to our clinic. No referral is necessary. Appointments can be made by phoning 6452 4203,” Susan added.