Physiotherapist-Led Care in Emergency Departments Reduces Wait Times for Musculoskeletal Patients

A landmark randomized controlled trial from the University of Sydney involving 1,491 patients across five emergency departments in New South Wales has demonstrated that physiotherapist-led care significantly reduces both waiting and treatment times for patients with musculoskeletal conditions including back pain, fractures, and dislocations. The study, conducted between November 2023 and March 2025, shows that integrating physiotherapists into emergency department workflows improves patient outcomes and department efficiency. This research, published in BMJ Open, suggests that expanding physiotherapist roles in emergency settings could enhance care quality while decreasing congestion. For patients in Puerto Rico, these findings support the potential implementation of similar models to improve access to prompt, specialized musculoskeletal care in emergency settings.