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#Post#: 282--------------------------------------------------
Reduce admission by using self-referral musculoskeletal physioth
erapy service
By: Annabeli5 Date: May 28, 2015, 2:50 am
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How to reduce cost and provide better care for patients by using
self-referral musculoskeletal physiotherapy service?
#Post#: 288--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reduce admission by using self-referral musculoskeletal phys
iotherapy service
By: admini5 Date: May 28, 2015, 3:10 am
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Prompt treatment by a physiotherapist in the early phase of an
injury can improve recovery; enabling a person to return to
their 'normal life' as soon as possible. The self-referral
pilots (see Contacts and resources) have shown that people who
self-refer to physiotherapy take fewer days off work, and are
half as likely to be off work for longer than a month, when
compared with people who have been referred using more
conventional routes.
Self-referral fits with the NHS choice and personal control
agenda by encouraging personal responsibility for health-focused
behaviour and providing convenient, responsive services
(Department of health 2006, 2008a).
The initiative means that people can refer themselves directly
to their local NHS physiotherapy practice, as long as they are
16 years or over and they do not have neurological, breathing or
gynaecological problems. A person wanting physiotherapy
completes a self-referral form (on paper, online or by
telephone), which includes answering red flag symptom questions
that may indicate a more serious underlying health condition
requiring referral to a medical specialist. A physiotherapist
assesses the form and, based on pre-determined clinical
criteria, identifies whether the referral is classed as urgent,
routine, or one requiring signposting to another service. Self
referral is a 'step change' and could be included in all
musculoskeletal physiotherapy services.
There is concern that introducing self-referral will increase
demand for physiotherapy services beyond current capacities.
However, it has been shown that provided the service is not
historically under-referred to (referral rate of less than 50
per 1000), introducing self-referral does not lead to increased
long term demand (Department of Health 2008b). During the first
three months there may be some increase in demand as patients
access the service more quickly, but levels revert to normal
within this timeframe. Such observations have been seen in both
studies (Holdsworth 2007, Department of Health 2008b) and from
pilot services which have implemented self-referral.
For further information, go to :
HTML https://arms.evidence.nhs.uk/resources/qipp/29492/attachment
HTML https://arms.evidence.nhs.uk/resources/qipp/29492/attachment
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