Acute Care

 

Physiotherapy plays a critical role in primary care, public hospitals, and in prevention and rehabilitation.

In acute settings, physiotherapy is integral to our hospital system. While there is variability between the states, Australian physiotherapists work as part of a multidisciplinary team and are uniquely qualified to provide complex advanced care for adults and children in critical care areas, including in emergency, intensive care, and rehabilitation wards. Physiotherapy care also extends to respiratory conditions, general surgical, neurology, orthopaedic surgery and obstetrics.

Many people attend EDs with musculoskeletal (MSK) issues that can be diagnosed and even treated immediately by a qualified physiotherapist. It is estimated that around 15-20 per cent of GP visits relate to MSK issues. Physiotherapy offers a viable solution to diverting non-life threatening emergencies from EDs. Physiotherapy will provide better and faster access to diagnosis, treatment, and care of MSK pain and conditions.

Our advocacy efforts are focused on:

  • Hospital physiotherapy – Creating a more efficient hospital system by utilising the skills of Advanced Practice physiotherapists.
  • Connecting Acute and Primary Care – We must strengthen care at the primary and acute care interface through physiotherapy in urgent care and multidisciplinary rapid response teams.

Below outlines our targeted advocacy across these areas.