Health professionals' perceptions of the allied health role in the acute setting following hip and knee joint replacement surgery: a qualitative study.

CONCLUSION: Prioritising allied health intervention to low functioning and complex patients could be a more efficient use of allied health expertise in patients following lower limb replacement surgery than current practice in this setting that prioritises discharge. Implications for Rehabilitation Allied health service delivery in the acute phase following hip and knee joint replacement needs to balance the needs of the health service with those of the patients. Prioritising allied health intervention to low functioning and complex patients could be a more efficient use of allied health expertise in this population than current practice, which is to prioritise discharge. There may be more scope for nurses to be involved in promoting early postoperative mobilisation following joint replacement surgery, especially in uncomplicated cases.
PMID: 30183431 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Disability and Rehabilitation - September 5, 2018 Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Haas R, O'Brien L, Bowles KA, Haines T Tags: Disabil Rehabil Source Type: research