The effectiveness of physiotherapist-led arthroplasty follow-up clinics.
BACKGROUND
The conventional job descriptions of professionals within the NHS need to evolve in order to meet increasingly stringent targets and demands. One innovation is the introduction of a physiotherapist-led arthroplasty follow-up clinic. We present an audit of 1000 appointments to this clinic.


METHODS
A total of 865 patients were seen with 933 arthroplasties over an 8-month period; 135 appointments were not attended. Prospective data were collected at each attendance.


RESULTS
Less than 7.5% of patients required re-referral to an orthopaedic consultant, of which 36% were for consideration for further joint replacement. The cost of a physiotherapy appointment was pound4.97 compared to pound5.04 for a traditional orthopaedic assessment. By reducing the number of follow-up patients seen in orthopaedic clinics, we estimate that each consultant would be able to see two additional new patients per week.


CONCLUSIONS
Assessment of arthroplasty follow-up outside of the traditional orthopaedic clinic setting is a time-effective alternative; however, the cost-benefit and educational impact is less clear.
Walton
M J
MJ
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK. mikewalton@doctors.org.uk
Walton
J C
JC
Bell
M
M
Scammell
B E
BE
D001178:Arthroplasty; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D009985:Orthopedics; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013222:State Medicine