Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/11434/1141
Title: Evaluation of a novel and innovative physiotherapy service in the Emergency Department at Epworth Richmond.
Epworth Authors: de Zoete, Ben
Sultana, Ron
Nimorakiotakis, Bill
Ferguson, Claire
Black, Felicity
Keywords: Physiotherapy
Dedicated Physiotherapy Service
Pilot Physiotherapy Service
Emergency Department
ED
Patient Care
Comprehensive Care
Service Evaluation
Musculoskeletal Injuries
Falls
Epworth Medical Foundation Scholarship
Rehabilitation
Patient Satisfaction
Staff Satisfaction
Referrals
Rehabilitation Referral Patterns
Service Analysis
Clinical Coverage
Proactive Discharge Planning
Clinical Demand
Epworth Emergency Department, Epworth Hospital, Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
Critical Care Clinical Institute, Epworth HealthCare, Victoria, Australia
Physiotherapy Department, Epworth Healthcare, Melbourne, Australia
Issue Date: Jun-2017
Citation: Epworth Research Institute Research Week 2017; Poster 8: pp 31
Conference Name: Epworth Research Institute Research Week 2017
Conference Location: Epworth Research Institute, Victoria, Australia
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: This project is a descriptive evaluation of a pilot physiotherapy service in the Emergency Department (ED) at Epworth Richmond. BACKGROUND: With patient care in the Richmond ED largely provided by medical and nursing staff, the opportunity was identified for more comprehensive care of patients presenting with falls and/or musculoskeletal injuries in-line with best available evidence. Based on external benchmarking and extensive modelling, a pilot of the first known dedicated physiotherapy service in a private ED in Victoria commenced in April 2016 at Epworth Richmond. METHOD: Support by an Epworth Medical Foundation Scholarship, this service evaluation is based upon the provision of the Richmond ED physiotherapy service on 20th April 2016 until 27th December 2016. Evaluation included patient satisfaction surveys, staff (nursing and medical) satisfaction surveys, analysis of referrals from ED medical staff (e.g. number, presentation type, time seen & clinical coverage) and service analysis (e.g. physiotherapy modalities used and rehabilitation referral patterns). RESULTS: This review of the ED physiotherapy service has demonstrated outstanding feedback on both patient (99%, n=25) and staff (99%, n=23) satisfaction surveys; clinical coverage (% referrals attended) of 99%; growing numbers of referrals overall (average 4.2/shift); reasonable spread of referrals with greatest numbers on weekends and Mondays; good distribution of referrals across working hours and proactive discharge planning. CONCLUSION: Since its commencement in April 2016, the Richmond ED physiotherapy service has established itself as a significant enhancement to the care of patients presenting with musculoskeletal injuries and falls. This evaluation has clearly demonstrated a sustained and growing clinical demand for the service, the added values of a range of modalities provided by a dedicated physiotherapy service and high levels of satisfaction from patients, nurses and doctors. The pilot service has now evolved to a permanent weekday service, with a future goal to include permanent weekday and public holidays.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11434/1141
Type: Conference Poster
Type of Clinical Study or Trial: Descriptive Study
Appears in Collections:Emergency Care
Rehabilitation
Research Week

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