Don’t let up: implementing and sustaining change in a new post-licensure education model for developing extended role practitioners involved in arthritis care

Figures & data

Table 1 ACPAC program-trained Extended Role Practitioner (ERP) profile

1. ACPAC program-trained ERPs have been prepared to work in settings for ongoing management and triage, two identified requirements to establish new interprofessional models of care.

2. These practitioners, who are physical therapists, occupational therapists, or nurses with expertise in the musculoskeletal field, have expanded and advanced knowledge, clinical skills, and attitudes related to arthritis care obtained through additional training and formal evaluation with measured competencies.

3. ERP roles can be autonomous or require additional performance expectations of authorized activities which are currently achieved through delegation or medical directives*

Notes:

* Medical directives are defined as “indirect physician orders, used to expedite patient care by competent health professionals”.²³

Abbreviation: ACPAC, Advanced Clinician Practitioner in Arthritis Care.

Table 2 Arthritis burden

1. 4.6 million Canadians live with arthritis and MSK disorders. Arthritis and MSK conditions are a leading cause of morbidity, disability, and health care utilization.

2. 4.4 million Canadians live with OA. This will double to 9 million in the next 20 years.

3. More than 272,000 Canadians live with RA (0.9% of Canadian adult population) → in the next 30 years this will increase to 1.3%.

4. The number of Canadians with untreated RA is expected to increase from 117,000 to 230,000 in the next 30 years.

Note: Data from Bombardier et al.²⁰

Abbreviations: MSK, musculoskeletal; OA, osteoarthritis; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.

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