I have recently done some work in a Clinic that has 20 minute appointments only and on my arrival I discovered the first three patients were New patient Bios...
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Now I usually allow 40mins for a Bio, I have been practising for 5years and feel this is about right...can any more experienced Bio practitioners or sports injury specialists advise me on how they would perform a 20 minute bio and what to include as standard??
Thanks
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The Effects of Rearfoot Position on Lower Limb Kinematics during Bilateral Squatting in Asymptomatic
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Orthotics with first ray cut out
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A detailed assessment in this time frame is impossible in my opinion. Taking a good history can take 20 minutes alone. My advice would be to tell the clinic to change the appointment times.
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NB, Just re-read your post. I`m not an `experienced Bio practitioner or sports injury specialist`, just a lowly podiatrist.-
Disagree x 1 - List
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Not that I'm telling you anything you don't already know, or probably agree with, but for me an initial assessment in the private setting should be very different from the NHS. It is more than just quickly assessing and coming to a diagnosis. It is about building a rapport with the patient (which in turn leads to trust and ultimately compliance one hopes). It is about conveying the fact that you have the time to sit there and listen to them. It is about not rushing a history taking. It is about performing the appropriate tests to confirm/refute your provisional thoughts and theories. It may be about performing more specialist tests (video gait analysis/pressure plate analysis) to both solidify your thought process and also use as a priceless educational tool for the patient. It is about fully explaining your proposed management plan and the rationale behind it (and ensuring the patient understands this and is on board). It is about having time at the end to ask "any questions?" instead of them feeling they are being ushered out of the door. It is about taking them along the corridor to meet the Physio/Osteo/Sports Physician who you are referring them to and introducing them to them with a short handover. It is about them paying the receptionist on the way out and thinking "that was one of the best investments I may have made with regards to getting on top of this chronic problem once and for all".
So yeah probably 25 mins would do it ;) -
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Which brings us back to the original post and a question for Blue - why is a private clinic only offering 20 minute initial consultations?? -
Common as muck, me. -
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None taken.
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Takes me 5 minutes to get them in the chair! .... and then 5 minutes the other way
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Most physicians and specialists I know and work with would laugh that it takes a "foot expert" more than 20mins to do a history and physical assessment of (just) the lower limbs, and develop a treatment plan.
The physicians I have spent time with will do a history and physical assessment of multiple systems, organise referrals, write prescriptions, write notes and do half of their dictation in this time.
Sometimes you need to see the forest for the trees....
LL -
The length of the exam needed generally depends greatly on practitioner experience. Depending on the patient, I already have decided what the treatment plan is for the patient within 1-2 minutes, but I will generally spend a longer amount of time letting the patient tell me all their "important information" for another 2-3 minutes to make them feel they are getting their money's worth. Of course, I've been doing this podiatry thing for nearly 30 years so I've already seen hundreds, if not thousands, of cases of most foot pathologies before. Clinical experience, good observational skills and good clinical skills are the key to this.
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30 minutes for me. This includes explaining to the patient what I believe is wrong, and how we may help to put it right - so they understand.
If I can't do it in 30 minutes I organise another appointment for them. That is a very infrequent occurrence. -
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I would recommend all podiatrists do rotations with experienced physicians and surgeons to see how comprehensive and efficient health care is delivered in arguably more complex areas than the foot and lower limb. I'm not talking '6 minute' medicine for a moment either...
LL -
In any case we are a little far removed from where we started here - we are taking about a biomechanical analysis performed in the private setting in the UK. -
Thanks Ian, yes in my opinion in a private setting charging £45-£65 for Biomechanical assessments I would feel a little short changed with a 20 minute appointment. This is the point but if this is the protocol (that needs changing) then I believe even an experienced practitioner would struggle to please a private customer...my question was what assessments are vital and which can be omitted from the standard functional assessment?
Granted, 'if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck'..very clever thats an ideal world but what if it doesnt? Can you still spend 2-3 minutes coming up with a plan because I cant? -
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Finally, I don't worry about the cost vs time too much. If you are good at what you do and get results, patients won't mind paying the money and will keep coming back. It's all about perceived worth of your service. I currently have a three week wait to get a new patient appointment with me, so I guess my patients don't mind how little time (or how much time) I spend with them.:cool: -
- Obtain area of pain.
- How long has it been there?
- What event they feel caused it.
- Previous injury history.
- Look at their lower limb posture standing (i.e. contours of lower limb & foot).
- Then ask them to walk; then if required, ask then to run.
- With the above in mind, then assess non-weight bearing structure/alignment.
- Link your findings to their pain & inform the patient of this.
- Discuss what's needed to resolve the pain i.e. lifestyle changes, exercises (strengthening &/or stretching), footwear, strapping (which can take me at least 5 min. alone), external support/guidance (i.e. via orthotic therapy).
- If needed, do what is required to obtain sufficient model of foot for custom device (some may disagree here), if not using “off-shelf device”. I know there are some who allocate this last point to another appointment.
Now, the above should be adequate - some no doubt may have different views. Yet, I suppose it is possible to do the above in 20 min. but it will be a push with some (if not many) patients (whilst at the same time instilling trust & confidence in you, as well as value for money).
BTW, I allocate an hour for my Bio. assessments (in appointment book)... & sometimes I need the whole hour. I just like to get everything addressed in the one appointment (& treatment to start as soon as they leave the consult) than have to reschedule someone to come back to effectively finish the process (but that's just me).
Have you considered discussing with your employer that 30 min. would be more appropriate... & that this form of assessment takes longer than a G.T (of cutting nails & calluses)? -
So, now you know, I keep a sneaky eye on the arena despite not posting regularly - this one I could not resist.
I have 20 min slots in the NHS and 30 min slots privately. My case load is generally surgery and MSK.
The direct question was what to do for the bio in a 20 min appointment - not sure it made it clear whether this was a new patient or referred for just bio assessment. Mine are new pt.s
I will take a full history, exam the foot / ankle etc. for provisional diagnosis and perform a bio exam. the extent of the exam is, to an extent dependant upon the nature of the problem.
However, for a more complex MSK or sports patient I would assess:
Hip rotation
Hamstrings / calves
rearfoot motion, forefoot alignment
1st ray position / MTPJ function
Standing relaxed and corrected positions, pelvic alignment
Visual walking gait.
I would stimate that I can do up to walking in 2-3 minutes if necessary, and more if I quantify LLD. 1-2 mins max walking.
If neuro problems then I will slump etc.
1st case to-day was hip / glutal pain with core stability issues, increased left pronation and forefoot equinus. Had orthoses so explained why they were a problem, needed shoe advice and management plan.
If patient needs x-ray, requested and they come back and we discuss.
Do I run over time at times, sure, part of the swings and roundabouts of a balanced practice. Do I do detailed notes, definately, often done at end of clinic.
Not a lot differently privately, just allow slightly longer.
if patients require gait analysis (video / pressure analysis), this is booked seperately - many do not need it so not booked as standard. If they need custom devices, booked appointment.
The main difference NHS - private is my private sec can brief the patients well and schedule a range of options at one hit. We (that is us collectively) cannot afford the cost to provide this on the NHS when it is more difficult to justify given the diverse nature of the presenting conditions and the relative cost / benefit analysis.
I work closely with colleagues who provide orthotics services etc. and I always allow myself a rue smile at the length of time allowed to assess patients on the NHS.
Hope all of you I know are well.
Trev -
Just thought id put my Tuppence in as the NHS is taking a bit of a hammering here. I agree Private practice is more about the specialist treatments and investigations such as the scans and also about the customer service/ rapport gained with patients.
Bio clinics in South Beds NHS is a 40 minute assessment with 20 minute review or follow ups which i thought was standard as this was the same with Bio clinics I seen in Glasgow
Regards,
Alan Kennedy -
This discussion has reminded me of an interesting chat I had with a colleague of mine after she had attended a presentation given by Beverley Bolton [Physiotherapist] on communication skills. This may even be worthy of a thread of its own but it kinda fits with the way this conversation here has gone.
Whether you are in the NHS or private, newly qualified or 25 years qualified, offer 20 minute or 60 minute consults; I think there is something here for everyone. [N.B references to follow]
- Good communication has been shown to improve patient understanding, recall and satisfaction
- The average number of concerns a patient presents with is 1.2 - 3.9
- The order of presentation of these problems may not be related to their order of importance
- The earlier the patient is interrupted, the less likely it is that they will reveal all concerns [patients opening statements take on average 60-150 seconds / clinicians interrupt on average at 18 seconds]
- History taking is likely to become dysfunctional if the main reason for the patients attendance is not discovered
- Use of jargon acts as a barrier; only 15% of patients will admit they do not understand
- Anxiety affects how the patient understands information
- Only 50-60% of information given is recalled later
- When giving patients information asking them to recall this information in their own words improves retention by 30%
- Other helpful tips include use of diagrams, written info, repetition and giving summaries
- Patient satisfaction is directly related to the amount of information they perceive they have received [Tailor your explanation to fit with their perspective]
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I would say as a rule of thumb that if you take 20 mins or less to do a Bmech assess then you haven't done it properly. :eek:
On the other hand I've had people come into my clinic, without an appointment, in a rush and a tizz because they have excruciating foot pain and they've gone out 10 minutes later pretty much pain free. E.G. they have PTTD and a max pronated foot, I nip out to the workshop, grab an old orthotic with a medial skive that's about the right size, try it out for comfort, maybe add a soft top cover to smooth out the fact that it wasn't made for their foot and Robert's your mother's brother.
So horses for courses
Dave
<
The Effects of Rearfoot Position on Lower Limb Kinematics during Bilateral Squatting in Asymptomatic
|
Orthotics with first ray cut out
>
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