287 Profile of patients receiving physiotherapy within an Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons (ICPOP) service covering a large geographical area

Abstract

Abstract Background The Physiotherapist is a key member of the ICPOP team and the need for intervention is identified through Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) and interdisciplinary collaboration which includes effective communication with Primary Care to avoid duplication. Our aim was to: (1) Examine the profile of those who received Physiotherapy within ICPOP and (2) Identify those known to Primary Care (PC) Physiotherapy. Methods We conducted an audit of 85 patients who received ICPOP Physiotherapy from January 2023—April 2023. Key demographics were obtained along with Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) score, reason for referral to ICPOP and rationale for Physiotherapy intervention. Results Of this cohort 59% were Female (n = 50) with Median age of 83 years. One third were referred to ICPOP for evaluation of Falls, one third for Frailty, 21% for evaluation of cognition and the remainder were a combination of two or more of the above. Of those requiring Physiotherapy, 28% had a recent decline in mobility, 28% had overall deconditioning, 26% had falls, and the remainder had balance and pain issues. Median CFS score was 5. Timed Up and Go (TUG): median 19.85 s, median grip strength: 14 kg. Initial mobility assessment showed 65% requiring gait assistance. 76% of initial assessments took place in a domiciliary setting. 58% of people were previously known to PC Physiotherapy. Conclusion CGA can identify a need for Physiotherapy intervention for older adults not outlined as a concern at initial referral. We identified, an unmet need for patients with reversible frailty and the importance of a close working relationship with PC Physiotherapists to ensure timely and appropriate service provision to this cohort. This audit identified two main challenges-the large geographical area currently covered and the lack of dedicated ICPOP hubs for assessment and optimal intervention.