Emergency department physical therapy jobs

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Please note that this page is about the roles and responsibilities of physiotherapists / physical therapists (PTs) in the emergency department, once the patient has been seen and admitted by triage.

For a look at the roles and responsibilities of PTs within the triage system, click here.

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Physiotherapy or physical therapy provision in the hospital emergency department (ED) is a growing area of practice. Physical therapists can help patients start on the road to recovery early in the injury process, facilitating the possibility to improve outcomes in certain injury types.[1]. Patients receiving emergency department physical therapy (ED PT) benefit from the physical therapist’s expertise in musculoskeletal, respiratory and vestibular conditions. This primary contact consultation can help to ease the burden of delay in treatment in the busy ED environment as well as decrease hospital length of stay and resources usage.

The emergency department physiotherapist would typically be assigned the following types of presentations from triage:[edit | edit source]

- soft tissue injuries (sprains and strains)

- simple fractures

- mobility assessment

- stable respiratory conditions or respiratory exacerbations

- vertigo

- secondary care following clinician assessment

The range of assessment that can be conducted by physiotherapists varies depending on the location and experience of the therapist. Some departments will allow physiotherapists to take over care of a patient directly from triage (primary contact) whereas other locations may require clinician assessment before treatment by physiotherapy (secondary contact via referral). In terms of requesting imaging or providing intervention, this can also vary greatly. In some locations in Australia, suitably qualified and competent ED PTs may request imaging and even prescribe medications whereas at other locations, the patient is to be handed back to the speciality clinician with findings to dictate the pathway of care.

Common interventions that are provided by physiotherapists in ED include:[edit | edit source]

1.      Patient education about their injury or illness and the trajectory of healing or condition management

2.      Instruction in bed mobility, transfers and walking

3.      Instruction in using assistive devices such as a walking stick, crutches or a walker

4.      Prescribe exercises to help treat conditions

5.      Provide pain relief such as ice or heat for injury and compression bandaging

6. Provide suitable immobilisation for fractures and ligamentous injury such as backslabs, moon boots and splints [2]

References[edit | edit source]

1. ↑ Very Well Health. Available from: http://www.verywellhealth.com/emergency-room-physical-therapy-4135939
2. ↑ Makal K & Alkhouri H. & McCarthy S. Do NSW Emergency Physiotherapy Practitioners have an impact on Emergency Department Care for Patients with Musculoskeletal Injuries?

Emergency department physical therapy – also referred to as “ED PT” – is expected to take off rapidly throughout the country and offer a wide range of benefits to both patients and medical facilities.

Recently, in the publication of the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, researchers announced reports of physical therapists collaborating to creating teams of specialists that may be used in the emergency department setting.

As a physical therapist, you have a large amount of knowledge on vestibular issues, musculoskeletal complications, and similar health-related complications. A large portion of emergency room visits pertain to that which you know. Your services would be very well accepted in the emergency department.

But what if you could do more.

Creating an emergency department physical therapy program can help your practice increase revenue, expand your client-base, and improve reputation.

Here are  3 simple steps that will help you succeed.

Step #1: Streamline the Physical Therapy Process in the Emergency Department

One of the most frustrating aspects to visiting an emergency room – according to patients – are lengthy wait times. In order to ensure that patients will request your assistance, you must streamline the process so that they are not burdened by even higher wait times.

Furthermore, once the patient is in the “bed”, you must ensure that you work quickly to get them out. The longer they spend in the bed/room, the more the emergency department will become backed up.

This increases wait times and leads to higher levels of dissatisfaction

By streamlining your process, opting for physical therapy will become a popular option among patients and will be promoted more highly by the medical professionals servicing those patients.

Step #2: Employ a Large Staff Dedicated to Emergency Department Physical Therapy

If you want to experience success with your emergency department team, you must employ or dedicate a large number of individuals to the task. Not only will this help in making the process much quicker, but, it will allow members of your staff to focus on that which they know best – which will increase patient satisfaction.

Step #3: Ensure Top-Rated Clinical Skills

While working in an emergency department, physical therapists must have top-rated clinical skills. This will allow them to approach each patient in a flexible manner. Furthermore, they will be able to be highly improvisational. Emergency departments have a variety of patients with a wide range of issues to contend with; therefore, enlisting those therapists with the most varied clinical skills is absolutely essential.

Final Thoughts

Having a physical therapy program that works in conjunction with an emergency department is critical for the overall success of your business. By following these simple steps, you will be able to easily transition your practice into this type of setting.

If you need additional tools, resources, and assistance to make this process easier, contact us here at Colorado Physical Therapy Network today:

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