Connecting and collaborating across paediatric rheumatology services in AUSTRALIA and New Zealand: Inaugural 2019 paediatric physiotherapy summit

Abstract

Aims: The inaugural Australian/New Zealand (ANZ) Paediatric Physiotherapy Summit took place alongside the Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group (APGR) Annual Spring Meeting in October 2019. The intention was to bring therapists working with children with JIA in tertiary/quaternary centres together to establish national guidelines, explore research ideas and develop better platforms of communication. Overarching aims from the summit centred on provision of high-quality care and equity of access. Methods: Funding was sourced from sponsorship money from AbbVie, Menarini and Pfizer for a travel bursary to bring one nurse and physiotherapist from each state in ANZ. The physiotherapy and nursing summits ran in parallel the day prior to the APRG Spring meeting, facilitating multidisciplinary attendance at the Spring Meeting this year. Results: In the three months since the meeting there's been significant progress in several areas, inclusive of:-Allied Health networking group with representatives from each tertiary centre across ANZ established. Group will meet quarterly (teleconference) to discuss ongoing research projects, streamlining clinical recommendations and creating national guidelines and standards of care-JIA Wikipedia update (multidisciplinary group formed as Wiki contributors AusNZrheumatology) in line with WORD day 2020-Allocation of staffing and resource to Paediatric Rheumatology services across all the major centres in Australia and NZ has been collected and benchmarked against tertiary paediatric centres around the UK, Europe and Canada.-Development of a research proposal investigating physical activity in JIA across ANZ to determine whether children meet national guideline recommendations Conclusion: Staffing allocation to physiotherapy is sparse in Australia compared to international paediatric Rheumatology centres. Given the minimal FTE within Rheumatology at single sites, it is imperative that physiotherapists from ANZ connect and collaborate as the collective FTE facilitates the ability to participate in research, service development and provide best practice to children with JIA.L6331570142020-10-26 <br />