New recommendations to improve Rehabilitation Medicine

To deliver better care for those undergoing rehabilitation treatment, the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (AFRM), in partnership with the RACP, has released a series of new recommendations to help avoid low-value and potentially harmful tests and treatments.

Recommendations include:

1. Do not discharge patients with osteoporotic fractures without an assessment and/or treatment for osteoporosis.
2. Do not prescribe spinal orthotics or bed rest for patients with non-specific low back pain.
3. Do not use Mini Mental State Examination as the only tool to assess cognitive deficit in acquired brain injury.
4. Do not routinely use splinting for prevention and/or management of contractures after stroke.
5. Do not use imaging for diagnosing non-specific acute low back pain in the absence of red flags.

These recommendations are part of Evolve, a physician-led initiative, which encourages each medical specialty to identify practices that may be over-used, inappropriate or of limited value, and consider appropriate evidence-based alternatives.

By encouraging clinical conversations between colleagues across specialties, and with patients and their carers​. Evolve aims to drive high-value, safe and quality care to improve patient health outcomes.

RACP has published 18 Evolve lists, with a further 14 in development. To view ​the latest AFRM list and those from other physician specialties​ visit: www.evolve.edu.au

Read the 'New recommendations to improve Rehabilitation Medicine' media release.