All About ICPMSK
ICPMSK stands for Integrated Care Pathways Musculoskeletal and is a provider led service delivery model funded by ACC. The model gives health care providers the flexibility to design a fully funded, streamlined, multidisciplined, patient centred rehabilitation and treatment plan, to enable the patient to move seamlessly from injury to recovery.
This is an extension and rollout of the successful Escalated Care Pathway ECP pilot that Physiosouth has already been working under in recent years and we’ve been delighted to see significantly improved patient outcomes under this programme.
The goal of ICPMSK is simple: to help with smoother, simpler, and faster recovery from ACC injuries with a more patient-centred focus.
Goals of ICPMSK
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- Provide better access to care with more financial support
- Improve patient experience, shorten wait times and less contact with ACC
- Ensure every patient is on the pathway best suited for them
- Use only the best quality evidence-based approaches to treatment
- Decrease re-injury and re-operation rates
The ICPMSK team includes Physiotherapists, Surgeons, Sports Doctors and Occupational Therapists. This multidisciplinary team is responsible for assessing and developing an individualized patient-centred plan. The ICPMSK team supports patients with a package of services that best meets their needs, whether surgical or non-surgical. If accepted onto the pathway, services are fully subsidized by ACC and as such there is no direct cost to the patient!
The ICPMSK is a possible treatment plan for musculoskeletal injuries of the lower back, shoulder and knee, that may require surgery, including Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), Patella Dislocations (PD), multi-ligament trauma (MLT) and knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Physiosouth Roots
We are very humbled that the founder of Physiosouth, Graeme Nuttridge, had a major role in initiating the original ECP (Escalated Care Pathway). Graeme was a true leader and visionary with regard to injury prevention and treatment. He established a Physiosouth knee clinic with Mr. Andrew Vincent and through this collaborative approach, they realised the numerous benefits for the patient of working in a team.
Graeme and Andrew were keen to reduce the patient’s barriers to accessing good-quality rehabilitation. They both realized the importance of comprehensive rehabilitation to achieve a good surgical outcome.
They collaborated on a pilot study to assess the effects of rolling out a Preventive Exercise Programme (PEP) in reducing significant knee injuries. The results were impressive and contributed to the original knee ECP programme.
How do I know if I am Eligible??
ICPMSK is for patients who meet the following criteria:
- have suffered a musculoskeletal injury in the lower back, shoulder, and knee regions that may require surgery
- had the injury within the last 12 months at time of referral
- patient’s recovery requires interdisciplinary treatment
- accepted cover for an injury to a body site within the scope of ICPMSK
- intends to reside in Aotearoa New Zealand for the duration of the pathway.
If you meet the basic criteria, you can be referred into the ICPMSK service by your Physiotherapist, Specialist, GP, Rongoā Māori practitioner or Kaupapa Māori health provider who will send a referral letter to a Sports Physician on the ICPMSK team. The Sports Physician will do a thorough assessment and if you qualify to enter the programme, you will be allocated to either a ‘Surgical’ or ‘Non-Surgical’ pathway.
At Physiosouth, we will discuss this with you in-depth during the initial appointment and support you in answering any questions you may have.
What to expect if you have been referred to us under an ICPMSK Pathway
We are excited to begin this journey with you! We understand that being injured isn’t easy, especially when it takes you away from the activities you love most. However, we know from experience that this program only works if you are committed and ready to work for your results.
You will have an ICP Navigator assigned to help you through the pathway to help answer any questions you have about the service and understand your options. They can even help with booking appointments, organising transport and will advocate on your behalf and help you communicate with ACC. Your ICP Navigator is there to remove any barriers to your recovery including ensuring your cultural needs are met at every stage of your treatment and recovery.
Our highly skilled team of physiotherapists will support you with the following:
- Education on your ICPMSK service ‘bundle’ and what services you can access including gym facilities
- Pre and post operative physiotherapy treatment plans
- Individualized goal-setting to ensure your recovery experience is meaningful to you
- Physiotherapy techniques to improve the function of your injury site including manual therapy, soft tissue massage, exercise prescription, hydrotherapy etc.
- Working together with your vocational provider to ensure your return to work plans align with your recovery.
- Additional services may include access to social workers, psychologists, dieticians or cultural services based on your needs.
As a client you can always expect a high level of professional care from the Physiosouth team, regardless of your injury type or treatment plan. We want you to exceed the pre-surgical milestones so that you will be stronger and fitter at the time of your surgery, reducing your recovery time. With the support and guidance of the ICPMSK pathway, your physio will carefully construct a program that will keep you and your surgeon happy and get you back to enjoying all that life offers.
ICPMSK is an innovative and collaborative ACC project exploring new ways to improve your rehab outcomes. It strives to offer a patient-centred approach that will give New Zealanders access to the right treatment at the right time. This aligns with our company values of ‘Repair Perform Thrive’ and our team at Physiosouth is very proud to be a provider of this service.
For more information regarding ACC ICPMSK pathways, ask your Physiotherapist at one of our Physiosouth clinics, or GP or check the ACC website for up-to-date information
