At #CSM2011 I attended a fascinating lecture about Physical Therapists in the Emergency Department. Fast forward to #CSM2012, and a group from Washington University in St. Louis presented on their ED Practice which has been in operation for almost 6 years. In addition, they were enrolling patients into a randomized study investigating physical therapist involvement and treatment of low back pain in the ER.
My post from last year contains some great resources and links. The APTA has also released a Practitioners Toolkit for Incorporating Physical Therapist Services into the ED. Listen to the podcast and access other great information.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality provided an innovation profile on Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tucson, AZ. St. A physical therapist practices in the emergency department 7 days a week. Interestingly, the profile highlights how physical therapists function as valued consultants. The presenters read a quote from an observing physical therapy student that I thought was very insightful, and highlights one of the many potential patient centered gaps that can be expertly filled by physical therapists:
Patients (in the ED) are afraid to move…and that they will NEVER be pain free again.