ACC GP MRI service training sessions

ProCare and Pinnacle are excited to announce new training sessions for the national roll out of the ACC GP MRI service. 

To gain accreditation to make MRI referrals, GPs must attend an in-person education session and complete online learning modules.

Our in-person session includes hands on learning of musculoskeletal assessments of the knee, cervical spine and lumbar spine, led by our clinical directors and expert physiotherapists.

PLEASE NOTE:

The session planned for Whitianga has been moved from 9 August to 16 August.

The session planned for Thames on 26 July 2022 has been postponed. We hope to reschedule for late August, and will share information here once details have been confirmed.

Background

The GP MRI service allows GPs to refer MRI scans with the support of clinical guidelines. This expedites clients getting the necessary and appropriate health intervention to recovery from musculoskeletal injuries as the ‘first specialist appointment’ is avoided and a proportion of clients are no longer referred to a specialist for further assessment after diagnosis. 

The pathways focus on patients with knee and back (cervical and lumbar spine) injuries. Historically GPs could only refer for a low-tech imaging x-ray or ultrasound, with all high-tech imaging restricted to specialist requests. This is no longer the case and therefore the time to definitive diagnosis for clients requiring MRI for knee or back injury reduces by an average of 16 working days. 

Benefits

These clinical pathways allow GPs to triage patients and ensures referrals to orthopaedic specialists are more informed and appropriate. This frees up specialist time to focus on those patients who are most in need. It strengthens relationships between primary care and specialists, integrating health providers to deliver the best outcome for patients. 

GPs are well placed to make the clinical decision on whether MRI is required. They can then determine treatment plans more efficiently, whether that be GP management, active rehabilitation through physiotherapy or referral to a specialist.

• 3 Continuing Medical Education points.
• Contribution towards MOPs programme.
• Upskill your musculoskeletal knowledge.