The value of a consultant physiotherapist within a primary care musculoskeletal interface service: part of the spinal multidisciplinary team

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Michelle L Angus ◽  
Victoria Dickens ◽  
Naveed Yasin ◽  
James Greenwood ◽  
Irfan Siddique

Background/aims The national low back pain pathway in the UK suggests practitioners managing patients with spinal pathology should be specifically trained to do so and have the ability to link with tertiary spinal services when required. The aim of this study was to ensure referrals through to a tertiary spinal surgical centre are appropriate and patients get the correct advice early in their management pathway. Methods A retrospective review of 700 cases were discussed at a spinal case-based discussion meeting in a primary care interface service, compared to services without this model. A convenience sample of cases were analysed with the consultant physiotherapist and those referred from other allied health professionals into the tertiary spinal surgical centre. Case-based team discussion took place before every referral into the tertiary spinal service, with spinal surgical discussion where required. Results Patients referred from other interface services were more likely to require further work-up such as investigations, or be discharged from clinic on their first attendance than those who had been through the case-based discussion. Conclusions A consultant physiotherapist working as part of the spinal team of a tertiary referral centre can help advanced practitioners with their clinical decision making to help prevent unnecessary referrals to spinal surgical services.

BMJ Open ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. e000414 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Balla ◽  
Carl Heneghan ◽  
Matthew Thompson ◽  
Margaret Balla

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e050679
Author(s):  
Lisa Newington ◽  
Caroline M Alexander ◽  
Mary Wells

ObjectivesTo explore the perceived impacts of clinical academic activity among the professions outside medicine.DesignQualitative semistructured interviews.Setting and participantsThere were two groups of interviewees: Research-active nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, psychologists and pharmacists (NMAHPPs) and managers of these professions. All participants were employed in a single, multisite healthcare organisation in the UK.AnalysisInterview transcripts were analysed using the framework method to identify key themes, subthemes and areas of divergence.ResultsFour themes were identified. The first, cultural shifts, described the perceived improvements in the approach to patient care and research culture that were associated with clinical academic activity. The second theme explored visibility and included the positive reputation that clinical academics were identified as bringing to the organisation in contrast with perceived levels of invisibility and inaccessibility of these roles. The third theme identified the impacts of the clinical academic pathways, including the precarity of these roles. The final theme explored making impact tangible, and described interviewees’ suggestions of possible methods to record and demonstrate impact.ConclusionsPerceived positive impacts of NMAHPP clinical academic activity focused on interlinked positive changes for patients and clinical teams. This included delivery of evidence-based healthcare, patient involvement in clinical decision making and improved staff recruitment and retention. However, the positive impacts of clinical academic activity often centred around individual clinicians and did not necessarily translate throughout the organisation. The current clinical academic pathway was identified as causing tension between the perceived value of clinical academic activity and the need to find sufficient staffing to cover clinical services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Zhou ◽  
Dongmei Yu ◽  
Jeremiah M. Scharf ◽  
Carol A. Mathews ◽  
Lauren McGrath ◽  
...  

AbstractStudies of the genetic basis of complex traits have demonstrated a substantial role for common, small-effect variant polygenic burden (PB) as well as large-effect variants (LEV, primarily rare). We identify sufficient conditions in which GWAS-derived PB may be used for well-powered rare pathogenic variant discovery or as a sample prioritization tool for whole-genome or exome sequencing. Through extensive simulations of genetic architectures and generative models of disease liability with parameters informed by empirical data, we quantify the power to detect, among cases, a lower PB in LEV carriers than in non-carriers. Furthermore, we uncover clinically useful conditions wherein the risk derived from the PB is comparable to the LEV-derived risk. The resulting summary-statistics-based methodology (with publicly available software, PB-LEV-SCAN) makes predictions on PB-based LEV screening for 36 complex traits, which we confirm in several disease datasets with available LEV information in the UK Biobank, with important implications on clinical decision-making.


2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Schreiber Neumann ◽  
Kartheek Yalamanchili ◽  
Justin Brink ◽  
Joon S Lee

Background: Knowledge of transtibial residual limb force and moment loading during gait can be clinically useful. The research question was whether a transducer attached between the socket and pylon can be used to detect differences in loading patterns created by prosthetic feet of different design and different walking activities in real-world environments outside the gait lab. Objectives: To develop methods for obtaining, processing, analyzing and interpreting transducer measurements and examining their clinical usefulness. Study Design: Case series design. Methods: A convenience sample of four K3-K4 transtibial amputees and a wireless tri-axial transducer mounted distal to the socket. Activities included self-selected comfortable speed walking, and ascending and descending ramps and steps. Measurements taken about three orthogonal axes were processed to produce plots of normalized resultant force versus normalized resultant moment. Within-subject differences in peak resultant forces and moments were tested. Results: Loading patterns between feet and subjects and among the activities were distinctly different. Optimal loading of peak resultant forces tentatively might occur around 25% and 69% to73% of stance during self-selected comfortable walking. Ascending and descending ramps is useful for examining heel and forefoot response. Conclusions: Force-moment plots obtained from transducer data may assist clinical decision making. Clinical relevance A pylon-mounted transducer distal to the socket reveals the moments and forces transmitted to the residual limb and can be used to evaluate the loading patterns on the residual limb associated with different foot designs and different everyday activities outside the gait lab.


Author(s):  
Manoj Sivan ◽  
Margaret Phillips ◽  
Ian Baguley ◽  
Melissa Nott

The Global Burden of Disease study identified musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions as the largest single cause of years lived with disability. MSK medicine and rehabilitation services worldwide are heterogeneous in nature in terms of patient pathway and involvement of various healthcare professionals. The service can be led by consultants in different medical specialties; in primary care by General Practitioners with a special interest in MSK disorders and in secondary care by rheumatologists, orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, pain specialists, rehabilitation and MSK physicians. Allied health professionals such as physiotherapists and extended scope practitioners now have a far greater role in managing MSK conditions in some countries such as the UK.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. e039674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronique Verhoeven ◽  
Giannoula Tsakitzidis ◽  
Hilde Philips ◽  
Paul Van Royen

ObjectivesThe current COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the measures taken to control it, have a profound impact on healthcare. This study was set up to gain insights into the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak on the core competencies of general practice, as they are experienced by general practitioners (GPs) on the frontline.Design, setting, participantsWe performed a descriptive study using semistructured interviews with 132 GPs in Flanders, using a topic list based on the WONCA definition of core competencies in general practice. Data were analysed qualitatively using framework analysis.ResultsChanges in practice management and in consultation strategies were quickly adopted. There was a major switch towards telephone triage and consults, for covid-related as well as for non-covid related problems. Patient-centred care is still a major objective. Clinical decision-making is largely focused on respiratory assessment and triage, and GPs feel that acute care is compromised, both by their own changed focus and by the fact that patients consult less frequently for non-covid problems. Chronic care is mostly postponed, and this will have consequences that will extend and become visible after the corona crisis. Through the holistic eyes of primary care, the current outbreak—as well as the measures taken to control it—will have a profound impact on psychological and socioeconomic well-being. This impact is already visible in vulnerable people and will continue to become clear in the medium and long terms. GPs think that they are at high risk of getting infected. Dropping out and being unable to contribute their part or becoming virus transmitters are reported to be greater concerns than getting ill themselves.ConclusionsThe current times have a profound impact on the core competences of primary care. Although the vast increase in patients soliciting medical help and the necessary separate covid and non-covid flows have been dealt with, GPs are worried about the continuity of regular care and the consequences of the anticovid measures. These may become a threat for the general health of the population and for the provision of primary healthcare in the near and distant future.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-285
Author(s):  
Adam P. Schumaier ◽  
Yehia H. Bedeir ◽  
Joshua S. Dines ◽  
Keith Kenter ◽  
Lawrence V. Gulotta ◽  
...  

Hand Therapy ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 175899832097213
Author(s):  
Emily McMullen ◽  
Megan Robson ◽  
Mark Paul Brewin ◽  
Poonam Valand ◽  
Leela Sayed ◽  
...  

Introduction For many patients, audio-visual appointments have provided a timely and efficient way of seeking advice, assessment and treatment for their hand injuries during the NHS response to COVID-19. This study aimed to explore the experience of hand units across the UK in determining the safe and judicious use of audio-visual outpatient care for the management of acute upper limb trauma. Methods An online cross-sectional survey was sent to the therapy leads of hand units across the UK. Questions focused on the experience of using audio-visual technology in the management of upper limb trauma, and the relevant factors in determining its appropriate use. A deductive mixed methods analysis was used to identify both common themes and capture community experience and characteristics. Results A total of 51 out of 76 hand therapy units completed the survey; a response rate of 67%. Of these, 82% (42/51) reported using audio-visual technology to manage upper limb trauma during the UK COVID-19 lockdown. When determining patient suitability for audio-visual consultations, 73% (37/51) of respondents reported the use of COVID-19 guidelines, but only 35% (18/51) reported the use of a clinical decision-making tool. In agreement with our experience at Salisbury Hospital Foundation Trust, 92% (47/51) had concerns relating to the use of audio-visual care. Conclusion The choice of safely managed remote care or in-person consultation has, to date, largely relied on the discretion of the clinician. A carefully designed clinical decision-making tool for the management of upper limb trauma is needed for use both in clinical practice and in future service planning.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukhyun Ryu ◽  
Benjamin J Cowling ◽  
Peng Wu ◽  
Scott Olesen ◽  
Christophe Fraser ◽  
...  

Abstract Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is essential for clinical decision-making and for public health authorities to monitor patterns in resistance and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and control measures. Existing AMR surveillance is typically based on reports from hospital laboratories and public health laboratories, comprising reports of pathogen frequencies and resistance frequencies among each species detected. Here we propose an improved framework for AMR surveillance, in which the unit of surveillance is patients with specific conditions, rather than biological samples of a particular type. In this ‘case-based’ surveillance, denominators as well as numerators will be clearly defined with clinical relevance and more comparable at the local, national and international level. In locations with sufficient resources, individual-based data on patient characteristics and full antibiotic susceptibility profiles would provide high-quality evidence for monitoring resistant pathogens of clinical importance, clinical treatment of infections and public health responses to outbreaks of infections with resistant bacteria.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S765-S766
Author(s):  
Josea Kramer ◽  
Joe Douglas ◽  
Shawn Clarke ◽  
Luis Melendez

Abstract The VA has invested in developing the skills of its primary care workforce through the longitudinal Geriatric Scholars Program. The program consists of core components --- intensive course in geriatrics, intensive workshop in quality improvement (QI) and initiation of a micro QI projects in the Scholar’s clinic; electives allow learners to tailor the program to self-identified gaps in knowledge, skills and competencies. The program has demonstrated direct impacts of continuing education through a workforce development process that enhances skills and competencies at a pace and selection that meets clinicians’ self-identified gaps in training. Now in its 11th year, the program has been shown to increase career satisfaction and job retention, standardize provider behaviors, improve clinical decision-making and reduce dispensing of potentially inappropriate medications. This symposium further explores the impact of the program on individual clinicians and on clinical teams.


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