Enhanced Role of Physiotherapists Leads to Improved and Accelerated Patient Care

In Quebec, health care providers are increasingly integrating physiotherapists into the early stages of patient treatment, a development that experts believe enhances the quality and speed of care. Traditionally, physiotherapists have been involved after physicians' initial assessments, but now their role is expanding to include first-contact care in various settings, such as emergency departments and family medicine clinics. This approach, known as advanced practice physiotherapy, allows physiotherapists to participate more actively in care management and clinical decision-making, similar to the roles played by specialized nurse practitioners.

One notable benefit of this expanded role is observed in pain clinics, where long waiting times often hinder timely treatment. The Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal's chronic pain management clinic exemplifies this progress. Facing resource limitations and lengthy waiting lists, the clinic adopted an advanced-practice physiotherapy model to improve patient care, a development detailed in a recent study published in "Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics".

Prior to this change, physiotherapists at the clinic only saw patients after a doctor had completed their assessment. Now, physiotherapists assess patients at the outset, providing faster initial care and reducing overall wait times. Between November 2018 and 2020, a study followed 65 new patients, evaluating their progress and satisfaction at three months. Despite the COVID-19 disruptions preventing longer-term follow-up, results indicated meaningful improvements.

The findings showed that patients' wait times for specialist care decreased by approximately two months—from an average of 230 days to 170 days—simply by having physiotherapists conduct early assessments. Patients reported modest but significant improvements in their conditions, which is particularly noteworthy given the degenerative nature of chronic pain conditions like osteoarthritis. High levels of patient satisfaction with this approach further support its effectiveness.

The care model emphasizes interdisciplinary teamwork, education, and non-drug pain management strategies, empowering patients to regain control over their lives. Early involvement of physiotherapists also enabled patients to participate in group education programs sooner, providing timely information on pain neuroscience and management strategies.

This model aims to optimize the use of healthcare resources by reducing unnecessary physician consultations, which in turn allows doctors to focus on complex or urgent cases, including those involving opioid dependence. Politically and clinically, extending physiotherapists' roles could significantly impact healthcare delivery, making care more efficient and patient-centered.

The ongoing use of advanced practice physiotherapy at the clinic suggests promising results, highlighting the importance of integrating physiotherapists early in the care pathway. As healthcare systems seek to improve efficiency and patient outcomes, expanding physiotherapists' roles appears to be a valuable strategy, with potential benefits extending across various medical domains.

Source: medicalxpress.com