PHYSIOTHERAPIST-LED CARE FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL CONDITIONS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT Model of care study reduces time in ED when receiving standard care, earlier treatment and other outcomes
With
Associate Professor Gustavo Machado
University of Sydney &
NHMRC Principal Research Fellow,
Institute for Musculoskeletal Health
SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | October 2026
Associate Professor Gustavo Machado is a leading physiotherapist, health services researcher, and advocate for evidence-based reform in musculoskeletal and emergency care. He holds prestigious fellowships from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC EL2 Investigator) and The University of Sydney (Robinson Fellow). Based at the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, he leads an innovative research program transforming how back pain and musculoskeletal conditions are managed across emergency, hospital and virtual care settings.
RESHAP-ED trialled new ways to reduce crowding across busy emergency departments (EDs), by testing whether physiotherapists could provide care for people with muscle, joint and bone conditions in the ED, while also ensuring safe and effective treatment.
RESHAP-ED included 1,475 patients across five EDs in NSW. Patients received care from a physiotherapist or conventional doctor- or nurse-led care. Patients treated by physiotherapists spent an average of 2.4 hours in the ED compared with 3.4 hours for those receiving standard care. They were seen and treated sooner, were three times more likely to receive care within recommended triage timeframes, and 90% went home within four hours. Patients were more satisfied with their care, while pain levels, quality of life and safety outcomes were similar between both groups. The model also reduced healthcare costs by $35 per patient.
Study collaboration partners included Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, Sydney Local Health District, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney Health Partners and Australian Physiotherapy Association
If scaled across NSW, this approach could save an estimated $19 million each year and free up more than 540,000 hours in EDs, while maintaining safe, high-quality patient care.
The study has been published in Lancet https://doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(26)01327-9,
Sigera C, Campos T, Coombs D et al.
Physiotherapist-led care for musculoskeletal conditions in the emergency department (RESHAP-ED): a randomised controlled trial with economic evaluation
The Lancet, 2026; 408, 1326-1336
Source: From University of Sydney biography & 2026 NSW Health Awards Finalist description for Health Research Award
-
Message from former Australian Health Minister Hon Greg Hunt
The Honourable Greg Hunt served in the Australian Government as Minster for Health and Aged Care from 2017, previously as Industry, Innovation and Science Minister and before that the Environment Minister.
Elected as the Member for Flinders in 2001, Greg announced his retirement from politics late 2021 and in 2022, ahead of the Federal Election, having completed 20 years as a public servant.
Australian Health Journal recently caught up with Greg in a relaxed interview at his home in the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria to hear how a 9 month sabbatical has allowed him to focus on family, fitness and future. This has even included some “brutal spin cycle classes!”.
-
Making clinical trials participant friendly
Clinical trials are essential in developing new, improved, and more effective treatments and interventions. Without trials, researchers and professionals in the field cannot properly determine whether these new treatments and interventions are safe and effective.
The Clinials platform is geared towards patient centric trials and reducing site burden. The aim is to accelerate lifesaving medicines coming to market by connecting participants and researchers. The platform allows participants to come to researchers with their eligibility in hand among other capabilities.
-
Addressing Wound Management
The cost of chronic wounds in Australia is estimated to be $3 Billion per year, impacting 420,000 Australians. Not only is this a national economic concern, but more importantly, is the suffering the person may be going through.
Australian Health Journal met with Hayley Ryan, Board Director and Chair at Wounds Australia and Director at WoundRescue to hear her work in chronic wound management, palliative wounds and pressure injury prevention to comfort those living with a wound.
