Inpatient services - emergency department service
Advanced musculoskeletal physiotherapists working in the emergency department (ED) are highly qualified and trained in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions. They see patients with peripheral fractures and dislocations, sprains, strains, sporting injuries, back pain and a variety of other muscular and or joint problems.
In the urgent care centre, the advanced musculoskeletal physiotherapists work in a primary contact capacity seeing patients directly from triage. They perform independent patient assessments, diagnosis, order x-rays, liaise with the emergency department doctors regarding medications and the patient’s presentation, contact specialist medical teams for consults, provide treatment, prescribe and apply splints/braces/mobility aids, and organise discharge follow up. They also have the capacity to issue a sickness certificate where appropriate for the patient’s condition.
The emergency department physiotherapists also take referrals from all emergency department areas (urgent care centre, early treatment zone, acute and emergency short stay unit) for musculoskeletal conditions, complex mobility assessments, difficult casts/braces and acute respiratory conditions.