%0 Journal Article
%T Primary contact physiotherapy for patients with suggested vestibulopathy for an Australian ENT clinic: a retrospective cohort study.
%A Mead C
%A Kuthubutheen J
%A van den Berg M
%A Petta A
%J J Laryngol Otol
%V 138
%N 0
%D 2024 Jun
%M 38779895
%F 2.187
%R 10.1017/S0022215123002074
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To examine the newly established role of a primary contact physiotherapist in an ENT clinic, in an Australian cohort and context, over two phases of development.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A retrospective cohort study was conducted with data collected from a medical record audit. Over the study duration, the primary contact physiotherapist completed initial appointments with patients; follow-up appointments were subsequently conducted by medical staff.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>There was a 46 per cent reduction in patients with suggested vestibulopathy requiring an ENT medical review. This reduction could hypothetically increase to 71 per cent with follow-up primary contact physiotherapist appointments. Improvements in the service delivery model and a primary contact physiotherapist arranging diagnostic assessments could improve waitlist times and facilitate better utilisation of medical staff time.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The primary contact physiotherapist can help in the management of patients with suspected vestibulopathy on an ENT waitlist. This is achieved through: a reduction of patients requiring ENT review, improvements to waitlist time and improved utilisation of medical specialists' time.