NOV13Physiotherapy MISSION

Throughout the MISSION journey, Respiratory physiotherapy became firmly embedded in the MISSION model, and I was fortunate enough to be the physiotherapist involved in the project.

I have over 20 years’ experience treating respiratory patients in secondary care, and I have a special interest in treating patients with excessive sputum production such as COPD and bronchiectasis, along with breathing pattern disorders in asthma. It was a delight to be able to bring my skills to the treat patients in primary care, in their own GP practice in familiar surroundings.

The typical journey of a patient accessing respiratory physiotherapy services in the hospital secondary care setting takes many months, and the delay in intervention often causes decreased quality of life, increased symptoms and often increased emergency service use (e.g. ED visits). The MISSION model reduces this lengthy process, and respiratory physiotherapy intervention is given on the day of their MISSION appointment, alongside all of the other tests required to help establish a diagnosis and a clear management plan.

My respiratory physiotherapy assessment was an important part of the patient’s MISSION appointment, and the vast majority of patients had respiratory physiotherapy needs identified.

The MISSION clinic runs in a ‘carousel’ style clinic, where the patient sees each professional on the team in 20 minute time slots. I was typically the second professional the patient would encounter, after they had had carried out their lung function tests, and before their medical review. The assessment followed the respiratory physiotherapy section of the MISSION template that we as a team of multi-disciplinary professionals devised. (? get screen shot of this). They would then be treated according to their identified needs, and follow up arranged in the MISSION follow up clinics if required.

The clinic is fast paced and time can be of the essence, but the excellent outcome measure we achieved, along with the outstanding feedback from patients and their carers made the MISSION project extremely worthwhile.