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What will public physiotherapy services look like in 2025?

Physiotherapy

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) has released its InPublic 2025 report, providing a comprehensive outlook and vision for the future of public physiotherapy services in Australia. The InPublic 2025 report examines the long-term strategy of the public health sector, the role of physiotherapists within it, and how the environment will change over the next 10 years.

The report highlights eight strategic drivers that will shape the Service of the Future, as follows:

  1. Changing population health needs
  2. Heighten consumer expectations
  3. A changing workforce
  4. New models of care
  5. New service providers
  6. Health system reforms
  7. Limited system resources
  8. Advances in technology

The report identifies seven key features which will characterise the successful Service of the Future. These key features are:

  1. A patient-centred and value-driven approach
  2. Broader and deeper clinical expertise
  3. Integrated across health system
  4. Equipped with strong leaders and managers
  5. Digitally connected
  6. A transformed workforce
  7. Strength in learning and research

The important contribution of physiotherapy in the public health system has also been highlighted recently by new research from the Journal of Physiotherapy which found that physiotherapists have displayed a 0% misdiagnosis rate in emergency departments across Australia. They have therefore made a significant impact in mitigating misdiagnoses, reducing time spent in emergency departments and the subsequent need for further imaging procedures such as CT scans, X-rays and ultrasound.

CEO of the APA, Cris Massis, said that the fact that there were no misdiagnoses from physiotherapists in emergency departments is testament to the high level of skill, expertise and quality of care that physiotherapists can provide both on their own and as part of an integrated treatment plan with other health care professionals.

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Image: Stuart Miles – freedigitalphotos.net

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