Page 42 - MRS Abstracts March 2023

Improving pathways between Rheumatology and Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM)
Jean Wong, Patrick Wheeler, A Moorthy
Background:
Rheumatology and SEM have much to offer each other. There is a large amount of non- inflammatory musculoskeletal problems that present in the Rheumatology clinics, and similarly inflammatory conditions can masquerade as a musculoskeletal injury in SEM. The SEM and Rheumatology department are separate entities in the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL). Working collaboratively could increase the knowledge of healthcare practitioners in both specialities and ultimately improve patient care.
Method:
1. All referrals between Rheumatology and SEM from January 2022 – January 2023 were identified from the service evaluation form in SEM department at UHL
2. Patients’ clinical letters were analysed using the Notes Analysis Template (NAT) that was formulated.
3. The results from the NAT were populated into an Excel sheet and analysed.
Results:
Rheumatology to SEM
There were 10 referrals. Reason for referral for all of them were for treatment.
Presumed and final diagnosis: 90% were tendon related and 10% were mechanical dysfunction. The presumed diagnosis matched with the final diagnosis in all of them.
Outcome: 60% had treatment and a follow up appointment (FU), 30% had a PIFU and 10% were discharged from the first appointment
SEM to Rheumatology
There were 13 referrals. Reason of referral: 46.2% diagnostic uncertainty, 53.8% for treatment