Landmark trial confirms the benefits of physiotherapist- led emergency care Clinician researchers at Ryde Hospital
in emergency departments,” she said. “It created a rare chance to introduce a primary contact physiotherapy service to the Ryde Hospital emergency department, enabling physiotherapists to assess and manage musculoskeletal presentations as the first point of contact within the ED. “The study provided valuable insights into the benefits of this innovative model of care, she said” This trial also demonstrated the financial benefits of the approach, with an economic evaluation confirming that physiotherapist-led care in emergency departments could save NSW hospitals $19 million a year.
have had a crucial role in a large-scale trial which found that physiotherapist-led care significantly reduced emergency department waiting and treatment times for people presenting with musculoskeletal conditions. Close to 1500 patients were involved in the trial across five emergency departments, with patients receiving either standard care by emergency physicians or nurse practitioners; or physiotherapist-led care. Dubbed RESHAP-ED, the trial found there were significant differences in the musculoskeletal care provided by physiotherapists, with better patient satisfaction and a reduction in the time spent in the emergency department.
Patients who received the physio- led care spent an hour less in ED, were assessed 40 minutes faster and were three times more likely to be seen within the recommended triage timeframes. Importantly, the trial found that physiotherapy-led care did not compromise patient outcomes or safety.
The research comes at an important time with
musculoskeletal conditions leading to more than 1.3 million ED visits in
Australia each year. Ryde Hospital senior
physiotherapist Sharon Xu welcomed the chance to be involved in the multi-site trial saying it was an extremely rewarding experience. “The trial provided a valuable opportunity to contribute to research that has now demonstrated the benefits of physiotherapist-led models of care
Sharon Xu, Breanna Frendo and Patrick Law at Ryde Hospital
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NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 19| 4 OCTOBER 2024
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