Unbroken continuity of patient care in shoulder pain. Same initial care in primary health services as in hospitals
Nowak, J.; Svensson, B.; Blondell, C.; Schröder-Winter, H.; Lind-Johansson, C.; Wänstrand, B.
Lakartidningen 98(20): 2452-2455
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-7205 PMID: 11433976 Document Number: 529756
Thirty percent of all patients that consult their primary care physicians for pain in their musculoskeletal systems have pain in the neck/shoulder region, while 23% have lower back pain. Of major concern in Sweden is a patient's lengthy waiting period before seeing a specialist, with a resultant delay in treatment. A multidisciplinary group of physicians and physical therapists has therefore been working on and refining a system of tools to provide an "unbroken chain of care" for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with shoulder pathology. An unbroken chain of care enables the clinician regardless of specialty to provide the highest level of care to all patients with the same initial diagnostic and treatment parameters. Axelina is the tool that provides all the standardized treatment algorithms, rehabilitation plans and detailed home exercises. Axelina also contains a two-day instructional package with case studies presented on video.