— FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE —
INTERNATIONAL PROJECT BRINGS THE PHYSIOTHERAPY PROFESSION TOGETHER THROUGH KNOWLEDGE
Physiopedia, a global wiki-based web resource provides a home for physiotherapists and physical therapists all over the world to collaborate. It is a open and non-profit project that aims to improve global health by the free dissemination of physiotherapy and physical therapy knowledge
Amsterdam, Netherlands, 20 June 2011 – Physiopedia (http://www.physio-pedia.com), a global wiki-based web resource for the physiotherapy and physical therapy profession will be on exhibit at the World Congress for Physical Therapy this week in Amsterdam. Physiopedia’s misson is to improve global health by promoting the open dissemination of physiotherapy knowledge and aims to be the preeminent online global resource for the physiotherapy profession.
Launched in January 2009, Physiopedia has already gained a reputation as a key knowledge resource and has received support from many universities in the United States, Europe and around the globe. Executive Director, Rachael Lowe, a physiotherapist and technology specialist from the UK, is thrilled with the profession’s warm welcome to Physiopedia. “Right from the site’s launch, there was involvement from several universities and, in particular, students from around the world. Physiopedia offers a place for all physiotherapists to contribute, share, and gain knowledge,” she explains. Content on Physiopedia is driven by experts and represents an evidence-based approach to patient care. As a wiki, Physiopedia relies on user input and collaborative peer review to maintain the current status of the content on the site, as well as to check for accuracy.
“We use the same wiki engine as Wikipedia,” explains Lowe, “so the site is built on a proven, stable platform that can grow with the profession for years to come.” To date, the site has received visitors from 184 countries, nearly all the countries in the world, and has built over 500 pages of content. Physiopedia can serve as a reference library, a place to disseminate research, and a place for educational and professional development projects to take place, as it strives to gather the sum of all physiotherapy knowledge and make it freely available to all.
Eric Robertson, PT, DPT, an Assistant Professor at Texas State University has been involved with Physiopedia from the start, and has used Physiopedia as part of first professional and residency training for his students. “The flexibility of the platform and ease of use has allowed us to be very innovative in the types of projects we develop,” says Robertson. “In general, the student response to the site is overwhelmingly positive. The students enjoy the opportunity to do projects that persist beyond the classroom and provide a benefit to physiotherapists around the world.”
With such a broad online presence and a policy rooted in open access, Physiopedia can be particularly useful to physiotherapists operating in remote parts of the globe. “Imagine a world in which all physiotherapists will freely access and share knowledge, a place where all of us, globally, can collaborate, a place where we can unite across the world to improve patient care, contribute to global health and promote our profession,” ponders Lowe. “We want to spread the word that we are here, we’ve got good content, and we’re free.”
Physiopedia is on display at WCPT Congress in Amsterdam this week, booth #R17
For more information on Physiopedia, visit: http://www.physio-pedia.com
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If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Rachael Lowe, please e-mail Rachael at rachael[at]physio-pedia.com