Our Musculoskeletal Research in Practice Network (RiPN) was established in 2020 to build a supportive research environment that would enable physiotherapists in Newcastle to become research active.
By the end of 2022, RiPN had 51 members working in private physiotherapy clinics, hospital physiotherapy departments, health insurance, and workers compensation.
Fast forward three years and RiPN has 450 members from 161 different workplaces. Membership has expanded to include orthopaedic surgeons, sports physicians, exercise physiologists, podiatrists and general practitioners, as well as nurse practitioners, dieticians, radiologists and psychologists.
RiPN hosts regular musculoskeletal insight sessions, case presentation evenings and multidisciplinary panel presentations. From these events they have developed an Achilles Tendon Rupture Problem mapping and care pathway and an infographic to guide the management of Hip Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI). This ensures the lessons learned are shared widely. In developing these events and resources, RiPN partners with high profile clinician researchers to ensure clinically relevant research that makes a meaningful difference to patients.
In addition to these events, RiPN is progressing a long-term research project exploring patients’ perspectives of value in musculoskeletal care and supervising physiotherapy honours students.
Attendance and interest continue to grow, showing the importance of such a network for a profession with few local professional development opportunities.
NSW Regional Health Partners has been delighted to sponsor this network from its inception and acknowledges the leadership, passion and commitment of RiPN’s Steering Committee, and their desire to make a real difference in musculoskeletal care.
