About the region

The region has 15 member organisations and has a programme to reach out to other potential World Physiotherapy members.

The region has published documents establishing physiotherapists as the profession of choice to help people exercise throughout their lives, and has placed an emphasis on continuing education with a series of courses on clinical issues during the regional meetings. It is also addressing the free movement of physiotherapists between countries under the free trade agreement for the Caribbean community (CARICOM).

Message from the chair

This region is quite diverse and encompasses 15 member organisations; including a member organisation that falls in the top three and a member organisation that has the lowest number, as it pertains to physiotherapists’ membership in World Physiotherapy. 

There are also many islands in the Caribbean that fall within the region that do not have organised associations given the number of physiotherapists practicing on those islands. 

As chair of the region, I am challenged to keep the larger organisations engaged and motivate the smaller organisations to learn from the successes of those larger organisations, to create a balanced and cohesive region; on par with other regions. There is also a need to work with World Physiotherapy to encourage other islands in the Caribbean to formulate associations where possible, which should improve their chances of becoming an official part of the region. 

However, there has been a clarion call from member organisations in the region for more support for continuing education and issues pertaining to legislation; marketing of the profession in individual member organisation countries/territories to increase the visibility of the profession; social media and communication plans development; training to encourage research, and addressing mental stress amongst physiotherapists. This is not an exhaustive list but an expectation so grand requires focus and dedication and, with this new regional executive committee, I am committed to facilitating the need expressed by member organisations. 

Additionally, there is a need to work on the strategic direction of the region, and work that began three years ago requires urgent attention. With this able team and the help of World Physiotherapy, I look forward to facilitating the process. 

The work continues!
 

NAC region executive committee

• Chair: Sibyl Edward, member of Physiotherapy Association of Saint Lucia
• Jenny Audette, member of American Physical Therapy Association
• Jacqueline King, member of Barbados Physical Therapy Association
• Lorie Lawrence, member of Jamaica Physiotherapy Association

Events

The North America Caribbean (NAC) regional executive committee has organised a series of webinars. These webinars are only open to members of World Physiotherapy member organisations in the NAC region.

Webinars and events

• July 2022
  • Regional communications call: Mental and physical wellbeing among physiotherapists

• September 2022
  • Webinar: Social media and communication plans

• November 2022
  • Regional communications call: Physiotherapist education and legislation

Telehealth in the Caribbean

The World Physiotherapy North America Caribbean region executive committee has developed a toolkit to help physiotherapists in the region launch and develop telehealth practice.

• Telehealth advocacy toolkit (PDF)
• Physiotherapy care via telerehabilitation: evidence summary (PDF)
• Template letter to health minister (Word)
• Template letter to insurers (Word)
• Flyer: accessing rehabilitation with telehealth (PDF)