Major new research from the University of Sydney has found that physiotherapist-led care significantly reduced emergency department waiting and treatment times for people with back pain, fractures, dislocations and other musculoskeletal conditions. The randomized controlled trial recruited 1,491 patients who presented to five emergency departments in NSW between November 2023 and March 2025. The findings are published in the journal BMJ Open.
Chief Investigator, Associate Professor Gustavo Machado from the University's Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, said, "In Australia, more than 1.3 million emergency department visits annually are due to musculoskeletal conditions, including back pain, fractures, dislocations and joint injuries, placing considerable demand on already crowded hospitals.
"The trial showed that changing who provides the initial care from doctors and nurses to physiotherapists improved patient satisfaction, reduced the time patients spent in the emergency department and saved hospitals money.
"With emergency department crowding one of the greatest pressures facing the health system, this trial offers a promising way to create capacity without compromising patient safety or clinical outcomes."
