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Direct listing for total hip replacement (THR) by primary care physiotherapists

Nicola Parfitt (Physiotherapy Department, Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (incorporating community services in Exeter, East Devon and Mid Devon), Honiton Hospital, Honiton, UK)
Alison Smeatham (Hip Research Office, Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre (PEOC), Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK)
John Timperley (Hip Research Office, Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre (PEOC), Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK)
Matthew Hubble (Hip Research Office, Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre (PEOC), Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK)
Graham Gie (Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK)

Clinical Governance: An International Journal

ISSN: 1477-7274

Article publication date: 27 July 2012

419

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to show the results from a pioneering primary care‐based extended scope physiotherapist (ESP) led service, which placed patients directly onto the surgical waiting list of secondary care orthopaedic consultants over a two‐year period.

Design/methodology/approach

A retrospective data review was performed on all referrals from community‐based ESPs for direct listing at the secondary care hospital between 2 January 2008 and 31 December 2009.

Findings

A total of 130 referrals for direct listing were made by the ESP team during the two‐year period. Of these, 127 (98 per cent) went on to undergo a THR. Three patients (2 per cent) did not ultimately have a THR.

Research limitations/implications

This process has continued over the two years of the direct listing service, with ongoing evaluation and refinement of the pathway, so referral criteria and clinical/administrative pathways have been changed in the light of experience.

Practical implications

Patients who were directly listed did not require a hospital orthopaedic outpatient appointment until attendance at preoperative assessment clinic shortly before their surgery. In addition to the reduction in inconvenience and travelling costs incurred by patients, there was an approximate saving of £145 to the primary care trust per directly listed patient.

Originality/value

The authors believe that this service evaluation is the first publication to show that direct listing by primary care based ESPs is a safe and effective process for some patients requiring primary THR.

Keywords

Citation

Parfitt, N., Smeatham, A., Timperley, J., Hubble, M. and Gie, G. (2012), "Direct listing for total hip replacement (THR) by primary care physiotherapists", Clinical Governance: An International Journal, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 210-216. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777271211251327

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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