Community Orthopaedic Triage Services (COTS) Community Orthopaedic Triage Service (COTS) provides an assessment by an advanced physiotherapist that identifies the most appropriate care pathway to manage their musculoskeletal condition. This includes proactive rehabilitation pathways as well as any necessary onward referral for surgical opinion. Before Covid-19, COTS was being piloted with all the Te Puke and Papamoa General Practices. The initiative provided an alternative option for GPs to refer to for people with muscular and joint conditions. During Covid-19 level 4 and 3, measures were in place that suspended the COTS pilot. Now that we have moved into Level 2 we can; • Recommence providing the COTS within Te Puke/Papamoa area • For those practices involved in the existing COTS trial you can resume referring to COTS via BPAC e-referrals.
Covid-19 has also impacted existing patient waitlists for Orthopaedic First Specialised Assessments (FSAs). In order to improve and increase planned care across the system, the DHB has identified an additional number of patients; • Currently waiting to be seen by an orthopaedic specialist; • Who are deemed suitable to be seen by a COTS physiotherapist
We wish to inform you that we are making contact with those identified to offer them this alternative approach. Each individual will have the opportunity to decline COTS in which case they would remain on the waitlist to be seen by a specialist. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Sarah Nash – Project Manager on sarah.nash@bopdhb.govt.nz