By Dr. Rebekah Griffith, the ED DPT & ChatGPT
I spend so much of my time explaining why PTs are critical in the ED. We’re often the right provider at the right time. PTs in the ED have been shown to save costs, improve patient and provider satisfaction, expedite operations, and even decrease opioid use. So, why wouldn’t you want a PT in the ED?
I asked ChatGPT to see what it had to say on the matter. I’ve included the responses and my thoughts to each point below.
“Emergency PTs Not Ideal”
While physical therapists (PTs) play a crucial role in rehabilitation and improving functional abilities, there are certain situations in the emergency department where their immediate involvement may not be ideal. Here are some reasons why PTs might not be the primary healthcare professionals in an emergency department:
- Urgent and Critical Care Needs: In emergency situations, patients often require immediate and critical medical attention. PTs are not trained to handle acute medical emergencies, such as trauma, cardiac events, or respiratory distress, where rapid medical interventions are necessary.
This is an excellent point. We are not the optimal providers for life threatening emergencies. But I would argue this is a great reason to be in the ED. So that we can help manage the patients in our scope and free up the emergency medicine providers to do just that. Stabilize emergencies.
- Limited Scope of Practice: The scope of practice for PTs is generally focused on rehabilitation and musculoskeletal conditions. They may not have the expertise or training to address the broad range of medical issues that present in an emergency department.
Also true! This scope also varies from state to state based on individual practice acts. But the benefits of an PT practicing within the ED with their expertise in rehabilitation and musculoskeletal conditions can be invaluable.
- Time Sensitivity: Emergency departments prioritize time-sensitive care. While PTs play a vital role in long-term recovery, their interventions are often more time-consuming and require ongoing sessions. In an emergency, quick assessments and interventions are crucial.
While the traditional time based interventions of a PT might cause some increase in time, we can save time by providing education, a comprehensive plan of care, evaluations that can streamline care, and prevent bounce back to the department saving time overall. We can also help save unnecessary resources and reallocate staff, imaging, and space to other patients.
- Team Approach: Emergency departments operate on a team-based model involving various healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, paramedics, and specialists. Each member of the team has a specific role, and the immediate needs of the patient are typically addressed by those with emergency medical training.
“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” The argument here is obviously not that a physical therapist should replace someone with emergency medical training but supplement them to add to the expertise and provision of care. Adding a PT to your ED team will enhance the team and care plan for appropriate patients.
- Resource Allocation: Emergency departments may have limited resources, and it’s essential to allocate these resources efficiently. PTs may not be the most appropriate resource in the acute setting, where other healthcare professionals are better equipped to manage immediate concerns.
Or, PTs might be a very cost effective resource to leverage instead actually improving the ED’s ability to leverage and allocate resources. If having a PT manage a patient can reduce the workload of PA/NP/MD that may result in cost savings and more efficient care. If a PT in the ED can reduce imaging, those resources are available. If an orthopedist is not necessary to see a patient being managed by a PT they can direct their attention to patients who do require their care. If a patient is unsafe to discharge home, a PT can create a plan of care and make discharge recommendations to safeguard hospital and patient resources. There are so many ways a PT can actually enhance resource allocation in the ED!
- It’s important to note that while PTs may not be the primary caregivers in emergency departments, their expertise is invaluable in the broader healthcare system for rehabilitation and managing chronic conditions. Healthcare professionals collaborate to provide comprehensive and coordinated care to patients, with each discipline contributing to the overall well-being of individuals.
I mean, I can’t argue with any of that. 😉 Thanks ChatGPT.
