Passalent Laura A, Kennedy Carol, Warmington Kelly, Soever Leslie J, Lundon Katie, Shupak Rachel, Lineker Sydney, Schneider Rayfel
Physiotherapist Practitioner, Toronto Western Hospital, Lecturer, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
Healthc Policy. 2013 May;8(4):56-70.
The Advanced Clinician Practitioner in Arthritis Care (ACPAC) program was developed in 2005 to prepare experienced physical and occupational therapists to function as extended role practitioners (ERPs) within models of arthritis care across Ontario, Canada.
To examine the system-level integration and clinical utilization of the ACPAC program-trained ERP.
A longitudinal survey was administered to all ACPAC graduates over a two-year period (n=30).
The majority of ERPs were physical therapists working in urban settings. Family physicians or physician specialists referred the majority of patients. The longest median wait time to access ERPs' services was 22 days. Half of the ERPs triaged patients, and most of those who did triage (75%) worked under medical directives. Approximately half (51.6%) of the patients seen had a diagnosis of osteoarthritis, followed by rheumatoid arthritis (14.7%).
Understanding the system-level impact of this unique human resource can help to shape healthcare planning and delivery of care.
关节炎护理高级临床从业者（ACPAC）项目于2005年启动，旨在使经验丰富的物理治疗师和职业治疗师能够在加拿大安大略省的关节炎护理模式中担任扩展角色从业者（ERP）。
研究经ACPAC项目培训的ERP在系统层面的整合情况及临床应用情况。
在两年时间内对所有ACPAC毕业生进行了纵向调查（n = 30）。
大多数ERP是在城市地区工作的物理治疗师。大多数患者由家庭医生或专科医生转诊。患者获得ERP服务的最长中位等待时间为22天。一半的ERP对患者进行分诊，且大多数进行分诊的人（75%）在医疗指导下工作。所诊治患者中约一半（51.6%）被诊断为骨关节炎，其次是类风湿关节炎（14.7%）。
了解这一独特人力资源在系统层面的影响有助于制定医疗保健规划和提供护理服务。
