John Cavanagh has taken his first steps with a new prosthetic limb since losing his left leg to vascular problems in June.
Mr Cavanagh has been seeing Mackay Base Hospital Senior Physiotherapist John Finocchi and Prosthetist Peter Osborne since reaching the end of his inpatient stay.
“They were pretty well on the ball after the surgery to ask me if I wanted a prosthesis and I couldn’t be more pleased with what they’ve done,” he said.
“We’ve had some problems along the way but both have always been there to help and they work great together.”
As a physiotherapist in the outpatients department Mr Finocchi helps patients like Mr Cavanagh who are in need of post-operative rehabilitation or other referrals from orthopaedic clinics run by the Mackay Base Hospital.
“By giving patients the tools to manage their recovery I help the patients reach their rehabilitation goals that we set together,” he said.
“Our aim is to get them to a point where they are independent, understand their condition and know what to do to continue progressing through a program of exercises, stretches, and movement controlling activities.
“To put it simply my job is to empower patients to take control of their rehabilitation – I just guide them through.”
Seeing patients such as Mr Cavanagh recover after a debilitating injury or illness is the most rewarding part of Mr Finocchi’s job.
“As an outpatient department physiotherapist you get to spend time regularly with people after they’ve been discharged from the in-hospital care and you become a part of their journey as a support person,” he said.
“Physiotherapists on the ward are there when patients first come out of surgery right through to the moment they are ready for discharge, it’s a great feeling to help a patient well on their way to recovery.”
Now that Mr Cavanagh is able to walk comfortably with his new prosthetic leg his next step will be to attend the Mackay Base Hospital rehabilitation clinics for specific physiotherapy guided prosthetic rehabilitation through CHATs (Community Health and Allied (Health)Therapy services).
More Information
Danielle Jesser, Media and Communications Manager
mhhs-comms@health.qld.gov.au
Phone 0417 756 221
