SMART PHYSIO INITIATIVE IMPROVES WAITING LISTS
Published Friday, 14 September, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
A State Government initiative to reduce outpatient waiting lists has proved so successful in six public hospitals it will be expanded to another nine throughout Queensland, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.
Mr Robertson said $4.3 million would be provided to expand the Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Screening Clinics and Services to Toowoomba, Cairns, Redcliffe, Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay and the Mater Adult’s and Children’s Hospitals.
The clinics will continue at the Princess Alexandra, Royal Brisbane and Women’s, QEII, Southport, Ipswich and Townsville hospitals.
“These clinics have been a great success in the past three years, reducing waiting lists and times for people referred to an orthopaedic specialist for assessment,” Mr Robertson said.
“More than 1,500 patients have been effectively and efficiently managed through these clinics and through their physio treatment, many of them haven’t needed to see a specialist about their condition.
“I expect at least 5,000 more people to get faster treatment over the next three years when this program is rolled out.”
Mr Robertson said in the 18 months to February this year, the RBWH reduced its waiting list for Category Three orthopaedic outpatients from nearly 1,700 to 740 and reduced average waiting times by more than 200 days.
“At Ipswich in the nine months to February, waiting lists dropped from more than 800 to 435 and Category Three patient waiting times nearly halved from 262 days to 146.
“And at the P.A. in the 12 months to February, waiting times for Category Three orthopaedic spinal referrals dropped from nearly two years to a little over 9 months. Other hospitals in the trials have reported similar results.
“They are remarkable achievements and I expect them to be replicated many times over as this service starts to expand to nine more hospitals from November.”
Mr Robertson said the service mostly benefited patients with degenerative joint disease who did not require immediate or urgent surgery.
“As few as one out of every four patients referred to an orthopaedic specialist proceed to surgery and for spinal cases, only one in 10,” he said.
“It makes good sense then for a health professional such as a physio to engage in non-operative treatment of their condition in clinically appropriate circumstances.
“No-one under this program would see a physio without an orthopaedic specialist first agreeing that it was the best way of managing their case.
“The physio clinic may negate the need to see a specialist.”
Mr Robertson said many non-urgent patients who could expect a wait of at least 18 months to see an orthopaedic specialist might only need to wait less than three months for physio treatment.
“This is a smarter, quicker, more efficient way of delivering health care by better utilising our allied health workforce with real benefits for patients,” he said.
“And orthopaedic surgeons benefit because a greater percentage of patients referred to them will have legitimate surgical needs and those not needing surgery will be dealt with by other highly skilled professionals at these clinics.
“This service has met with exceptionally high levels of satisfaction from patients, enabling many of them to confidently and actively resume work, home and community life.
“It also provides greater development opportunities for the state’s public sector allied health professionals.”
Mr Robertson said the initiative had attracted considerable interest from interstate and overseas health authorities looking to adopt the model to improve their outpatient services.
14 September, 2007
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185
Mr Robertson said $4.3 million would be provided to expand the Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Screening Clinics and Services to Toowoomba, Cairns, Redcliffe, Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay and the Mater Adult’s and Children’s Hospitals.
The clinics will continue at the Princess Alexandra, Royal Brisbane and Women’s, QEII, Southport, Ipswich and Townsville hospitals.
“These clinics have been a great success in the past three years, reducing waiting lists and times for people referred to an orthopaedic specialist for assessment,” Mr Robertson said.
“More than 1,500 patients have been effectively and efficiently managed through these clinics and through their physio treatment, many of them haven’t needed to see a specialist about their condition.
“I expect at least 5,000 more people to get faster treatment over the next three years when this program is rolled out.”
Mr Robertson said in the 18 months to February this year, the RBWH reduced its waiting list for Category Three orthopaedic outpatients from nearly 1,700 to 740 and reduced average waiting times by more than 200 days.
“At Ipswich in the nine months to February, waiting lists dropped from more than 800 to 435 and Category Three patient waiting times nearly halved from 262 days to 146.
“And at the P.A. in the 12 months to February, waiting times for Category Three orthopaedic spinal referrals dropped from nearly two years to a little over 9 months. Other hospitals in the trials have reported similar results.
“They are remarkable achievements and I expect them to be replicated many times over as this service starts to expand to nine more hospitals from November.”
Mr Robertson said the service mostly benefited patients with degenerative joint disease who did not require immediate or urgent surgery.
“As few as one out of every four patients referred to an orthopaedic specialist proceed to surgery and for spinal cases, only one in 10,” he said.
“It makes good sense then for a health professional such as a physio to engage in non-operative treatment of their condition in clinically appropriate circumstances.
“No-one under this program would see a physio without an orthopaedic specialist first agreeing that it was the best way of managing their case.
“The physio clinic may negate the need to see a specialist.”
Mr Robertson said many non-urgent patients who could expect a wait of at least 18 months to see an orthopaedic specialist might only need to wait less than three months for physio treatment.
“This is a smarter, quicker, more efficient way of delivering health care by better utilising our allied health workforce with real benefits for patients,” he said.
“And orthopaedic surgeons benefit because a greater percentage of patients referred to them will have legitimate surgical needs and those not needing surgery will be dealt with by other highly skilled professionals at these clinics.
“This service has met with exceptionally high levels of satisfaction from patients, enabling many of them to confidently and actively resume work, home and community life.
“It also provides greater development opportunities for the state’s public sector allied health professionals.”
Mr Robertson said the initiative had attracted considerable interest from interstate and overseas health authorities looking to adopt the model to improve their outpatient services.
14 September, 2007
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185