Introduction to allied health management of Hands, Burns and Cleft Palate

This short module offers allied health clinicians practical knowledge and basic skills for assessing and managing conditions affecting the hands, burns, and cleft lip and palate. The three videos provide guidance on hand therapy evaluations (including SOAP notes and objective measures), managing communication development for cleft lip and palate patients, and implementing evidence-based burns rehabilitation. Ultimately, these resources aim to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes by enhancing assessment techniques, intervention planning, and patient-centred care.

By the end of this short-learning module, allied health students and practitioners will be able to:

1. Conduct hand therapy evaluations to inform appropriate treatment planning, utilising subjective history and objective assessments of range of motion, swelling, and sensation.
2. Outline the phases of burns rehabilitation, identify key rehabilitation goals at each stage, and implement appropriate exercise, positioning, and splinting techniques to optimise patient recovery and functional outcomes.
3. Describe the orofacial anatomy relevant to cleft lip and palate, explain the potential effects of clefting on hearing, dentition, and speech, and discuss appropriate intervention and management strategies.