Physiotherapy by telephone is an equally effective approach to care as face-to-face encounters, according to a study published this week in BMJ. U.K. researchers from the University of Bristol found that when a musculoskeletal patient calls the physiotherapist for an initial assessment and advice, he or she doesn't have to wait for a face-to-face appointment. Those telephone patients had fewer face-to-face appointments than those in usual care, fewer physiotherapy consultations, shorter waits for physiotherapy treatment (seven days versus 34 days) and were less likely to miss appointments. However, patient satisfaction was slightly lower after six months. Announcement