What is the impact of including an allied health assistant (AHA) role on physiotherapy service delivery in an acute respiratory service? A pragmatic pre-post design study examined physiotherapy services across two 3-month periods: current service delivery [P1] and current service delivery plus AHA [P2]. Clinical and non-clinical activity quantified as number, type and duration (per day) of all staff activity categorised for skill level (AHA, junior, senior). Physiotherapy service delivery increased in P2 compared to P1 (n = 4730 vs n = 3048). Physiotherapists undertook fewer respiratory (p < 0.001) and exercise treatments (p < 0.001) but increased reviews for inpatients (p < 0.001) and at multidisciplinary clinics in P2 (56% vs 76%, p < 0.01). The AHA accounted for 20% of all service provision. AHA activity comprised mainly non-direct clinical care including oversight of respiratory equipment use (e.g. supply, set-up, cleaning, loan audits) and other patient-related administrative tasks associated with delegation handovers, supervision and clinical documentation (72%), delegated supervision of established respiratory (5%) and exercise treatments (10%) and delegated exercise tests (3%). The AHA completed most of the exercise tests (n = 25). AHA non-direct clinical tasks included departmental management activities (11%). No adverse events were reported. AHA inclusion in an acute respiratory care service changed physiotherapy service provision. The AHA completed delegated routine clinical and non-clinical tasks. Physiotherapists increased clinic activity and annual reviews. Including an AHA role offers sustainable options for enhancing physiotherapy service provision in acute respiratory care.

在急性呼吸系统中加入专职健康助理 (AHA) 对物理治疗服务提供有何影响？一项务实的前后设计研究检查了两个 3 个月期间的理疗服务：当前服务提供 [P1] 和当前服务提供加上 AHA [P2]。临床和非临床活动量化为按技能水平（AHA、初级、高级）分类的所有员工活动的数量、类型和持续时间（每天）。与 P1 相比，P2 的物理治疗服务提供增加（n = 4730 vs n = 3048）。物理治疗师进行的呼吸治疗（p < 0.001）和运动治疗（p < 0.001）较少，但增加了对住院患者（p < 0.001）和 P2 多学科诊所的审查（56% vs 76%，p < 0.01）。AHA 占所有服务提供的 20%。AHA 活动主要包括非直接临床护理，包括监督呼吸设备的使用（例如供应、设置、清洁、贷款审计）以及与授权移交、监督和临床文件相关的其他与患者相关的行政任务 (72%)，已授权监督已建立的呼吸系统 (5%) 和运动治疗 (10%) 以及委派的运动测试 (3%)。AHA 完成了大部分运动测试（n = 25）。AHA 非直接临床任务包括部门管理活动 (11%)。没有报告不良事件。AHA 纳入急性呼吸护理服务改变了理疗服务的提供。AHA 完成了委派的常规临床和非临床任务。物理治疗师增加了诊所活动和年度审查。