Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH) have released a report revealing that surgery could be avoided if patients with diabetes, stroke, and osteoarthritis were seen by multidisciplinary teams of health professionals.

Allied health professionals can provide effective treatment that improves outcomes and reduces costs for patients with diabetes, stroke, and osteoarthritis, thus no longer require surgery and prevent hospital admissions.

Podiatrists

• Implementing the Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) in diabetic foot management
• Enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of diabetes foot care by screening orthopaedic patients

Dietitians

• Working with physiotherapists and exercise physiologists to deliver exercise and diet interventions to prevent diabetes
• Controlling and help manage diabetic patients’ weight and blood sugar levels

Physiotherapists

• Providing therapeutic treatment to reduce pain in patients with osteoarthritis
• Improving function of patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis

Occupational Therapists

• Assisting osteoarthritis patients with their activities of daily living
• Particularly effective in the treatment of hand osteoarthritis

Speech Pathologists

• Managing early interventions in dysphagia treatment for patients who have suffered from stroke
• Assisting patients to improve swallowing function and reduce dependency

Image: Stuart Miles – freedigitalphotos.net