Physiotherapists should be placed on the front line in emergencies to reduce waiting times, the Council for the protection of patients in the face of overflowing emergencies estimated on Thursday.

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“It is necessary to have the relevant resources to take charge of the condition in its entirety. Physiotherapy professionals are the resource of choice for a large number of musculoskeletal conditions and better access to their expertise would help reduce waiting times in the emergency room, ”said the Council for the Protection of the Sick (CPM) in a press release.

The latter joined his voice to that of the Quebec Association of Physiotherapy (AQP) to ask for the establishment of physiotherapists on the front line in emergencies and in groups of family doctors.

Because according to them, nearly 30% of consultations in the emergency room or with a family doctor are of musculoskeletal origin.

"According to a recent study [...] by the CHU de Québec-Université Laval, this would allow a reduction in the waiting time before treatment [...] a reduction in the rate of new consultations in the emergency room for the same condition and a reduction in the prescription of medication, imaging tests and referrals to specialists, ”we can read in the press release.

As a parallel solution, the two organizations believe that the Guichet d'accès à la première ligne – which allows people without a doctor to obtain a medical appointment – ​​should also be implemented throughout the province, in order to better direct patients. to the right resource.