Development of a physiotherapy-led atraumatic back pain pathway: a novel initiative to improve the management of complex back pain in the emergency village. Issue 4 (13th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Angus, Michelle Louise; Martin, Bruce; Dickens, Victoria; Mohammad, Saeed; Siddique, Irfan
• Is Part Of: BMJ innovations. Volume 6:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 233
• Page End: 238
• Publication Date: 2020-07-13
• Subjects: musculoskeletal -- orthopaedics -- advanced practice -- service improvement -- spine; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; 610.72
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjinnov-2019-000366
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-8074

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To see if consultant physiotherapists could effectively manage spinal patients within the emergency village of a tertiary spinal referral centre. Design: A change was made to the traditional medical model for managing patients presenting to the emergency department with low back pain that could not be managed within the national 4-hour standard. Participants: A convenience sample of patients presenting to the emergency department of a tertiary spinal surgical centre who are unable to be managed in a timely manner by the clinicians in the emergency department. Intervention: Consultant physiotherapists took on autonomous ownership of this group of patients, including clinical assessment, management and appropriate follow-up often without the need for medical input. Outcomes: The new model showed a reduction in the number of admissions, a significant reduction in length of stay and an improvement in overall staff and patient satisfaction along with a reduction in patients returning to the emergency department. Conclusions: Consultant physiotherapists are in an ideal position to manage this cohort of patients autonomously in the emergency village allowing medics to be released to manage other patient groups.