Primary contact physiotherapy services reduce waiting and treatment times for patients presenting with musculoskeletal conditions in Australian emergency departments: an observational study

Bird, Sonia; Thompson, Cristina J; Williams, Kimberly

doi:10.1016/j.jphys.2016.08.005

Cited by 53 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Data from one study 8 were obtained from a programme evaluation report. Data from one study 8 were obtained from a programme evaluation report.…”

Section: Data On Scope Of Ed Physiotherapistsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…7,8,20,21,[23][24][25][26][27][30][31][32][33][34][35]37,39,40 The most commonly reported task was imaging prescription (nine out of 17 studies, 52%). 7,8,20,21,[23][24][25][26][27][30][31][32][33][34][35]37,39,40 The most commonly reported task was imaging prescription (nine out of 17 studies, 52%).…”

Section: Roles and Tasks Of Ed Physiotherapistsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Examples of less common tasks performed by ED physiotherapists included referring patients to hospital or specialist services (five studies, 29%), provision of bandages, slings and plaster casts (one study, 6%). 8,33 Efficiency measures were also evaluated when patients were stratified by emergency triage categories by three studies 8,33,35 and physiotherapists were generally associated with more efficient care across triage categories (Table S2). Figure S1 presents data on the profile of patients usually seen by ED physiotherapists.…”

Section: Roles and Tasks Of Ed Physiotherapistsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…31 Observational data suggest ED physiotherapists are associated with shorter total wait time, 8,27,30,33,35,39 treatment time, 8,26,30,33,39 and length of stay. Some primary contact ED physiotherapists order imaging and prescribe medication.…”

Section: Statement Of Principal Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6 In addition to their traditional role, ED physiotherapists were trained to read and request imaging and to prescribe a limited number of medications. 8 In the USA, secondary contact is the only model of care through which physiotherapists can work in the ED. A similar pattern of practice, excluding the prescription of medications, has emerged in countries like Australia, where physiotherapists now have both secondary contact roles (require patients to be referred) and primary contact roles (can assess and manage patients after initial triage) within the ED.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Review article: A scoping review of physiotherapists in the adult emergency department

Ferreira

Traeger

Maher

2018

Emerg Medicine Australasia

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To provide an overview of the literature that considers physiotherapists working in the ED in relation to their roles, training levels, patient profile, safety, effectiveness, efficiency, cost-effectiveness and the provision of low-value care. We performed a scoping review of the literature. Four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane CENTRAL) were searched from their inception to December 2016 and we updated searches on PubMed in September 2017. Two reviewers independently screened studies for eligibility. We performed a narrative synthesis of quantitative data. We included 27 studies: five randomised controlled trials (n = 1434), 12 prospective observational studies (n = 153 767), six retrospective studies (n = 9968), two survey studies (n = 61), one case report (n = 3) and one qualitative study (n = 11). Physiotherapists primarily managed patients with low urgency musculoskeletal conditions. Physiotherapists appeared to have similar clinical effectiveness and costs compared to other health providers (four randomised controlled trials). Physiotherapists were associated with increased efficiency (eight observational studies) and reduced low-value care (one observational study). Three observational studies reported very low adverse event rates. However, none of the studies followed participants to measure adverse events that became apparent after the ED visit, nor did they consider unsafe discharge decisions or suboptimal follow-up care. The available evidence suggests that physiotherapists may be as effective as other health providers in managing low urgency musculoskeletal conditions in the ED. There is uncertainty about appropriate training and a lack of robust studies investigating the efficiency, safety and cost-effectiveness of this model of care.

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“…Data from one study 8 were obtained from a programme evaluation report. Data from one study 8 were obtained from a programme evaluation report.…”

Section: Data On Scope Of Ed Physiotherapistsmentioning

confidence: 99%