Just Accepted
This article has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. It is in production and has not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.
Evaluating the outcomes of Australia's first all age public hospital Sport and Exercise Medicine Outpatient Clinic: A retrospective cross-sectional study
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of Australia's first public hospital all-age Sport and Exercise Medicine Outpatient Clinic (SEMOC). Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of patients referred to, and reviewed in the SEMOC, during a study period from March to October, 2023. Outcomes were the number of appointments, number of patients reviewed, proportion reviewed within Queensland Health recommended timeframes, patient satisfaction, proportion of First Nations patients, and the rurality of the patients based on the Modified Monash Model (MMM) of remoteness. Results: There were 29 clinics, 472 allocated appointments, and 270 new patients referred to the SEMOC (1.7 appointments per patient). Almost a quarter (23.7%) of patients identified as First Nations and a third (31.9%) were from rural or remote regions. Most (88.7%) patients referred during the study period were seen within the Queensland Health recommended timeframes, and almost all patients referred on for Orthopaedic review were booked for surgery (93.6%). Over 90% of patients were satisfied with the quality of treatment they received and rated the overall service as good to excellent. Conclusion: A SEMOC public hospital model may be feasible for providing care to patients with musculoskeletal conditions, reaching patients who face barriers to healthcare, reducing wait times and improving referral for surgery. The model may assist in meeting Australia’s growing demand for orthopaedic and musculoskeletal medicine, and expanded within Australia’s public hospital system to become a nationally accepted practice.
AH24245 Accepted 05 December 2024
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