Red Flag Patients - Refer or Rehab?

from The New Grad Physio Podcast · host Andy Barker

You know how important your red flag questions are... But what do you actually do when a patient answers 'YES' to one of those questions? Beyond the most obvious, like a lower back pain patient with cauda equina symptoms or unexplained calf pain following a long haul flight (DVT)... 9/10 patients with red flags do NOT need an urgent onward referral to A&E! There is so much mixed evidence out there regrading red flags and how to manage patients reporting these 'sinister' symptoms... It can feel overwhelming and confusing about what to do next?  Do you refer on... Or do you acknowledge the symptoms, document your findings and start treating and rehabbing your patient? This can feel like a big decision and it is, and is one decision you do not want to get wrong. Here's some advice to help you make sense of red flag symptoms and give you the clarity you need to better manage patients such symptoms in this week's episode of the New Grad Physio podcast. Enjoy the show! PS. I'd love to hear what you think of the podcast. Please leave a review or even better, share the podcast with any physio you think it could help! PPS. As well as links to all my previous podcasts I have loads more FREE to access learning resources on my website. Head here to access them right now... www.newgradphysio.com

What this episode covers

You know how important your red flag questions are... But what do you actually do when a patient answers 'YES' to one of those questions? Beyond the most obvious, like a lower back pain patient with cauda equina symptoms or unexplained calf pain following a long haul flight (DVT)... 9/10 patients with red flags do NOT need an urgent onward referral to A&E! There is so much mixed evidence out there regrading red flags and how to manage patients reporting these 'sinister' symptoms... It can feel overwhelming and confusing about what to do next? Do you refer on... Or do you acknowledge the symptoms, document your findings and start treating and rehabbing your patient? This can feel like a big decision and it is, and is one decision you do not want to get wrong. Here's some advice to help you make sense of red flag symptoms and give you the clarity you need to better manage patients such symptoms in this week's episode of the New Grad Physio podcast. Enjoy the show! PS. I'd love to hear what you think of the podcast. Please leave a review or even better, share the podcast with any physio you think it could help! PPS. As well as links to all my previous podcasts I have loads more FREE to access learning resources on my website. Head here to access them right now... www.newgradphysio.com