Comparison of emergency physiotherapy practitioner prescribers versus existing emergency department prescribers for musculoskeletal injuries

Objective The scope of selected emergency physiotherapy practitioners (EPP) in this Australian non‐tertiary ED has recently extended to include the prescription of a limited drug formulary, including paracetamol, some NSAIDs and opioids, an anti‐emetic, a benzodiazepine and nitrous oxide. Although there are large‐scale studies investigating prescription errors made by doctors, there is a lack of data on prescribing practices of physiotherapists in the ED setting. The aim of present study is to compare the prescribing practices of EPP to their medical and nursing colleagues within the setting of treating musculoskeletal injuries in the ED. Methods One hundred retrospective National Inpatient Medication Chart (NIMC) audits of adult patients presenting primarily with musculoskeletal complaints were undertaken using the standardised NIMC audit tool, with patient demographics, and NIMC audit results compared between groups. Results Fifty medication charts were audited for each group, with a total of 212 drug orders. EPP demonstrated higher completion rates for patient identification, patient weight and medication history compared to medical and nursing staff. Legibility of drug names and route of administration appeared equivalent, whereas EPP had higher completion rates for legible drug doses and signatures compared to medical and nursing staff. Conclusion In the management of ED patients with musculoskeletal complaints, prescription‐trained EPP appear to perform similarly if not better than their medical and nursing colleagues with regards to NIMC audit tool results.