Professional experience

• 1988 – 1992: Completed course of study for the diploma in physiotherapy, Zurich University Hospital
• 1992 – 1995: Physiotherapist / Placement Advisor, Zurich University Hospital
• 1995 – 1996: Physiotherapist, physiotherapy practice, Muri AG
• 1996 – 2002: Physiotherapy Group Director, Bellikon Rehabilitation Clinic
• 2002 – 2006: Physiotherapy Director, Bellikon Rehabilitation Clinic

Additional training in management, quality management, musculo-skeletal rehabilitation and neurological rehabilitation.
President of the Verein Physiotherapie Rehabilitation (PTR) (Association of Physiotherapeutic Rehabilitation).

Duties

Process controlling for the Orthopaedic and Hand Rehabilitation business unit. Management of the non-physician staff to achieve the defined clinical, operative and strategic goals. Design of therapy programmes as well as treatment standards and processes. Budget control and personnel planning, supervision and continuing education of the non-physician staff. Participation in the continuous further development of the Bellikon Rehabilitation Clinic and the external representation of the business unit.

Vision

With our interdisciplinary, goal-oriented treatment management, we provide optimal conditions for successful social and professional reintegration.
Our experienced specialists ensure on a daily basis that every patient can be certain of receiving optimal treatment.
We are the first choice of patients and referrers.

Combining forces to achieve important goals
Interview with Madeleine Isler, the new president of the Association for Physiotherapy Rehabilitation (Verein Physiotherapie Rehabilitation [PTR])

What does it mean to you to be the new president of the Association for Physiotherapy Rehabilitation?

The PTR as an umbrella organisation with its four interest groups (neurological rehabilitation, musculo-skeletal rehabilitation, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and geriatric rehabilitation) represents the interests of physiotherapy in rehabilitation and promotes quality as well as cooperation with other rehabilitative bodies. As president of PTR I can work even more intensively than before to ensure a good future for physiotherapy in rehabilitation. In PTR we have found that we can accomplish important goals when we combine forces in rehabilitation. Furthermore, I consider this a good opportunity to network the Bellikon Rehabilitation Clinic more closely with other rehabilitation institutions. Thus I was very pleased to accept this new office.

In view of your personal experience, what criticisms and suggestions for the rehabilitation process do you have as the new president?

The healthcare environment has become significantly more difficult in recent years. This poses a huge challenge to the rehabilitation process as well. We have to increase the efficiency of rehabilitation while simultaneously preserving and further developing the high quality of the Swiss rehabilitation clinics. This is possible only by means of a structured rehabilitation process. Everyone talks about quality and processes, but practical implementation is still lacking in many places. PTR wants to provide stimuli in this regard. As I was intensively involved in the development and implementation of goal-oriented treatment management in accordance with ICF at Bellikon Rehabilitation Clinic, I can utilise my expertise in these projects.

Among other things, the association deals with healthcare policy and quality assurance for physiotherapy. What's the next objective you want to achieve with the Association for Physiotherapy Rehabilitation?

Currently we are very busy with the topic of guidelines and courses of treatment in rehabilitation. At the last PTR conference, the individual specialist groups began to catalogue important guidelines and courses of treatment as well as relevant experience in this regard. They were successful in their efforts and received a positive response from the participants. The next PTR conference will be held in Schaffhausen on October 19, 2006. There we want to present the continuation of this work and plan the next steps together. Our long-term goal is to issue joint recommendations with the relevant specialist associations on specific rehabilitation topics.