Page 36 - HA Convention 2016 [Abstracts (Day 2)]

HOSPITAL AUTHORITY CONVENTION 2016 Special Topics

T18.5 Collaborative Service Programmes in Allied Health 14:30 Room 423 & 424

Timely and Appropriate Physiotherapy Service in Accident and Emergency Department, Prince of Wales Hospital
Tsui AYC , Phang YW, Wong I, Lee WY
Department of Physiotherapy, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong

Introduction

With increasing demand for Accident and Emergency service in the Hospital Authority, long waiting time for non-complicated
musculoskeletal conditions requiring consultations and treatment is common.

Objective

To provide early physiotherapy intervention in order to facilitate early discharge, minimise hospitalisation and improve patient
accessibility for physiotherapy outpatient service.

Methodology

A service review was performed between October and December in 2015. To facilitate patient flow, a dedicated physiotherapy
clinic was set up in the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) and on-call physiotherapy system was developed.
Physiotherapy interventions included pain relief, mobility training and strengthening exercises. Besides, timely physiotherapy
outpatient service for early discharged cases would be provided as indicated. Patient satisfaction survey was also conducted.

Results

From October to December 2015, 264 AED cases were referred for physiotherapy management. The most common
presentations seen by the service were musculoskeletal in origins (93%, n=245). The results showed that a total of 240
patients (91%) were seen within 60 minutes. Besides, 59 patients (22%) could directly be discharged after physiotherapy
intervention without hospital admission. Among these 59 cases, more than 95% of patients (n=57) were arranged outpatient
physiotherapy within two weeks for further management.

Patient satisfaction survey indicated a high level of satisfaction on the service. More than 91% of patients (n=240) agreed that
AED physiotherapy service could provide a prompt assessment and treatment for them, while more than 93% (n=245) were
satisfied with the assessment and treatment provided by the physiotherapists.

Wednesday, 4 May Conclusion

The survey result has demonstrated that quick access of physiotherapy service in AED is effective. AED physiotherapy
service can provide a timely appropriate level of care for musculoskeletal cases and facilitate patient flow by hastening
early discharge and reducing AED overcrowding. The improved patient flow is also achieved with very high level of patient
satisfaction. We recommend that such service model can be extended to other hospitals so as to enhance the quality service
in AED setting.

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