Demographics and scope of Australian emergency department physiotherapists
Dublin Core
Title
Demographics and scope of Australian emergency department physiotherapists
Subject
Physiotherapy, Emergency department, Emergency physiotherapist
Description
Abstract
Questions To provide workforce data on the status of Australian Emergency Department (ED) physiotherapy
practice, including physiotherapist demographic data, staffing levels and funding sources. Evaluate the scope of
practice currently undertaken by ED physiotherapists and alignment of ED physiotherapy service provision with
demand levels.
Design Cross sectional survey.
Participants Australian physiotherapists working within an Australian ED.
Outcome measures Workforce data, scope of practice and alignment of physiotherapy service provision to ED
presentations and demand.
Results 94 Australian ED physiotherapists completed the survey, 76.9% were working as primary contact clinicians.
They had a diverse scope of practice, 100% perform mobility assessments, 89.9% provide care for paediatric patients
and 10.1% were involved in administration of medications. 86.2% of participants (75/87) reported working within a
service model that provided seven-day per week physiotherapy coverage to ED.
Conclusion The sample of ED physiotherapists were found to be experienced and highly trained clinicians with a
diverse scope of practice, who are well placed to meet the unpredictable and highly variable patient caseload of
Australian EDs.
Significance
What this study adds This study expands on current literature which suggests a much narrower scope of Australian
ED physiotherapists. The study demonstrates the full capabilities and scope of ED physiotherapists, and potentially
lead to a better understanding amongst the wider healthcare population and greater utilisation of physiotherapists in
ED.
Keywords Physiotherapy, Emergency department, Emergency physiotherapist
Questions To provide workforce data on the status of Australian Emergency Department (ED) physiotherapy
practice, including physiotherapist demographic data, staffing levels and funding sources. Evaluate the scope of
practice currently undertaken by ED physiotherapists and alignment of ED physiotherapy service provision with
demand levels.
Design Cross sectional survey.
Participants Australian physiotherapists working within an Australian ED.
Outcome measures Workforce data, scope of practice and alignment of physiotherapy service provision to ED
presentations and demand.
Results 94 Australian ED physiotherapists completed the survey, 76.9% were working as primary contact clinicians.
They had a diverse scope of practice, 100% perform mobility assessments, 89.9% provide care for paediatric patients
and 10.1% were involved in administration of medications. 86.2% of participants (75/87) reported working within a
service model that provided seven-day per week physiotherapy coverage to ED.
Conclusion The sample of ED physiotherapists were found to be experienced and highly trained clinicians with a
diverse scope of practice, who are well placed to meet the unpredictable and highly variable patient caseload of
Australian EDs.
Significance
What this study adds This study expands on current literature which suggests a much narrower scope of Australian
ED physiotherapists. The study demonstrates the full capabilities and scope of ED physiotherapists, and potentially
lead to a better understanding amongst the wider healthcare population and greater utilisation of physiotherapists in
ED.
Keywords Physiotherapy, Emergency department, Emergency physiotherapist
Creator
Tina Vickery1*, Lindsey Brett2
and Taryn Jones3
and Taryn Jones3
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00719-w
Date
2024
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Tina Vickery1*, Lindsey Brett2
and Taryn Jones3, “Demographics and scope of Australian emergency department physiotherapists,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 25, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12444.