Evaluation of introducing the team approach to the care of the amputee: the Dulwich study

The effects of introducing the Team Approach to the management of the lower limb amputee has been assessed in a consecutive series of 233 patients over a five year period. During the first year, baseline data was collected and during the subsequent yearly phases the effects of introducing a physiotherapist co-ordinator, visiting prosthetist and medical officer from the local Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre (ALAC), and finally trained surgeons were studied. During the final phases of the study, the effects of changing team staff were monitored. The results have shown that only when the full Team Approach is adopted are the best results achieved, but that, once this approach is established, staff changes can be made without serious reductions in effectiveness. The study has shown that the team can reduce in-patient stay by 20 days; reduce the need for post-discharge physiotherapy by 94%; increase the proportion of patients discharged with a prosthesis more than fivefold and increase the effectiveness of long term rehabilitation threefold.