Physiotherapy as part of primary health care, Italy La kinésithérapie comme élément constitutif des soins primaires en Italie La fisioterapia como parte de la atención primaria en Italia العلاج الطبيعي كجزء من الرعاية الصحية الأولية، إيطاليا 意大利：将物理治疗作为初级医疗护理的一部分 Физиотерапия как часть первичной медико-санитарной помощи, Италия

ABSTRACT

Objective To describe the Family and Community Physiotherapist model, which aims to incorporate rehabilitation services within primary health care in Tuscany, Italy. Methods The Department of Health Professions of the Central Tuscany local health authority designed the model during 2020–2021. We describe the four phases of the organizational case study implementation of the model, namely (i) analysis of the political and organizational framework, as well as determination of changing health-care needs;(ii) model co-design and training of multiprofessional health-care workers (local general practitioners, physiatrists and geriatricians);(iii) delivery and surveillance of rehabilitation services;and (iv) evaluation. Findings During the initial roll-out of the project in April–December 2021, general practitioners referred 165 patients with a mean age of 83.7 years (standard deviation 11.1) to the Family and Community Physiotherapist. Interventions were mainly activated for patients with comorbidities (64/165;38.8%), followed by those with long-term immobilization issues (36/165;21.8%). The most commonly provided intervention was counselling, contributing to the achievement of objectives for 127 patients (77.0%). A full rehabilitation path was proposed for only 10 patients (6.1%). No additional costs were incurred by the health authority during the implementation of the model. Conclusion Our model facilitated the provision of rehabilitative care in the community, preventing the exacerbation of chronic conditions and meeting the population health needs in non-hospital environments. The model overcame the typical lack of integration within health-care services with flexibility, promoting care proximity solutions to cope with health challenges such as an ageing population and the coronavirus disease.