[Implementation of a new referral model for the musculoskeletal care pathway: Does it improve healthcare outcomes?]

To evaluate the impact of an organisational change in the musculoskeletal referral pathway in our health management area (HMA) by identifying changes in the ability to improve healthcare outcomes by facilitating referral to the most suitable specialty.

This prospective descriptive study aimed to evaluate referral trends from primary care services (PCS) and hospital care (PHS) to musculoskeletal services from 2012 to 2018.

We included all patients who were referred to any of the 3 musculoskeletal services from our HMA catchment area, without specifying sample size. The variables studied were PCS, PHS, service of origin and destination. We used the SPSS programme for the statistical analysis and obtained absolute frequency data.

The total number of referrals from PCS increased from 25,575 in 2012 to 24,871 in 2018. PHS referrals decreased from 17,207 in 2012 to 9,803 in 2018. With regards to PCS referrals, the service most increasing the number of referrals to the musculoskeletal team was the Rehabilitation Service, from 8.2% in 2012 to 47% in 2018. Regarding PHSs referrals by specialty, the service that most reduced the number of referrals to the musculoskeletal team was the Traumatology Service, from 10,587 in 2012 to 3,911 in 2018.

The redesign of the musculoskeletal referral pathway improved healthcare outcomes by improving the quality of the referral process. In this organisational change, the Rehabilitation Service took the leadership from the point of view of healthcare and management of the musculoskeletal process, collaborating in the improvement of the healthcare outcomes of these processes.