Multidisciplinary teams and better health outcomes

A report conducted for Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH) has revealed that Australians with stroke, diabetes and osteoarthritis could avoid surgery or recover more quickly if they had access to multidisciplinary teams of health professionals.

Investigating the Efficacy of Allied Health: Reducing Costs and Improving Outcomes in the Treatment of Diabetes, Osteoarthritis and Stroke found that common surgeries including hip and knee replacements and diabetic limb amputations could be avoided if patients were seen by allied health providers including physiotherapists, dietitians and podiatrists.