Co-Design of the VIRtual physiotherapist-led Triage of referrals to shoUlder surgEons (VIRTUE) model of care: a study protocol

Background: Rotator cuff-related shoulder pain accounts for up to 85% of shoulder pain. Guidelines recommend 6 months of non-surgical care before considering surgery, yet many are referred to a surgeon before trying it. High referral rates to public hospital shoulder surgery clinics in Australia mean many patients wait 1-2 years to see a surgeon, during which symptoms may become more complex and costly to manage. A promising solution is the VIRtual physiotherapist-led Triage of referrals to shoUlder surgEons (VIRTUE) model of care, in which physiotherapists screen new referrals and determine s

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