Piers Truter

Senior Lecturer
M.Clin Phty, GCUT, B. Phty (Hons and University Medal), B, Arts (Comms)

  • Biography

    Piers is a clinical academic who teaches in the School of Health Sciences, works in advanced scope of practice roles in Orthopaedics and the Emergency Department and is working as a health service innovator. He completed his original physiotherapy degree in Brisbane and after working in rural and remote Queensland, moved to Perth to complete his master’s degree in Clinical Physiotherapy at Curtin University. He is currently completing his PhD, investigating the contemporary conservative management of fractures. His research interests include; TeleHealth, Fracture Care, Emergency Department musculoskeletal care and Health Service Improvement.

    As a physiotherapist, Piers has experience working in Private Practice, various hospital in-patient settings, Indigenous clinical settings, TeleHealth, Emergency Department, Aged Care and with Sports Teams. He has worked as an Advanced Scope Physiotherapist in the Emergency Department setting since 2014, at Fiona Stanley, SJOG Midland (Clinical Lead), Gold Coast University and Rockingham Hospitals.

    Piers is a health service innovator who developed and launched a physiotherapy led ‘Virtual Fracture Clinic’ (orthopaedic fracture care TeleHealth) at Fiona Stanley Hospital (2020) and the Rockingham Hospital ED Musculoskeletal diversion pathway (2022). In 2023, Piers was awarded a FHRI Research and Innovation Fellowship to support developing the ED Diversion pathway program.

  • Teaching Areas

    • Research & Evidence-Based Physiotherapy
    • Anatomy & Physiology of the Neuromuscular System
    • Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy

  • Research Expertise and Supervision

    Research Supervision

    • Diversion of Paediatric patients with musculoskeletal injuries from the emergency department. Anthony Johnstone, Honours Student, Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Curtin University of Technology 2023
    • Managing non-traumatic musculoskeletal conditions presenting to emergency departments: Do patient profiles vary between a physiotherapy-led 'Diversion' pathway and routine care? Jessica Lai, Mathew McLaughlin, Reuben Holt, Sarah King, Masters Students, Master of Clinical Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology 2022
    • Attitudes and beliefs to low back pain from Emergency Department Clinicians. Lydia Attwooll, Honours Student, Bachelor of Physiotherapy at University of Notre Dame Australia 2022
    • The affect of early ambulation on lower limb functional outcomes in adult burns patients. Claudia Tatlow, Masters Student, Masters of Burns and Trauma Rehabilitation at University of Notre Dame Australia 2021
    • Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department musculoskeletal presentations. Madison Davies, Honours Student, Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Curtin University of Technology 2021
    • Emergency Department management of constipation – a patient’s perspective. Emily Smith, Honours Student, Bachelor of Physiotherapy at University of Notre Dame Australia 2021
    • “I’m not in GP pain, I’m in hospital pain”. Decision making factors to present to the emergency department with non-specific low back pain. Annabel Saggers. Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours); The University of Notre Dame Australia 2019

  • Journals Articles and Proceedings

    • Response to “Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Guidance of Closed Reduction of Fifth Metacarpal Neck (Boxer's) Fracture”. Truter, P., Lawson-Smith, M., & Edgar, D. (2023).  J Emerg Med, 65(5), e473-e474. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2023.07.011
    • Comparing multi-disciplinary low back pain care in the ED to the Australian clinical care standard: The possible influence of profession, experience and back pain beliefs. Truter, P., Attwooll, L., Flanagan, P., McGinty, C., Taylor, R., Hince, D., & Wand, B. M. (2023). Int Emerg Nurs, 71, 101351. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2023.101351
    • Adult patients with constipation presenting to the emergency department: Can care be improved? Bunting, C., Smith, E., Dunham, F., Simpson, S., & Truter, P. Emergency Medicine Australasia, early access DOI:10.1111/1742-6723.14278
    • ‘I'm not in GP pain, I'm in hospital pain’: Qualitative study regarding patient decision-making factors in seeking care in the emergency department with non-specific low back pain. Saggers, A., Wand, B. M., Bulsara, C., & Truter, P. Emergency Medicine Australasia, Emergency Medicine Australasia, 33, 1013-1020, DOI:10.1111/1742-6723.13792
    • Response to: Two telemedicine consultants miss foot drop: when to see patients in person. Richardson, B., Truter, P., & Russell, T. (2021). Surg Neurol Int(12:26). DOI:10.25259/SNI_911_2020
    • Virtual Fracture Clinic pilot in an orthopaedic tertiary hospital setting: patient characteristics, clinical contact metrics and operational challenges. Truter P, Shales S, Evans R, Giglia-Smith L, O'Hanlon S, Yates PJ. Tasman Medical Journal. 2021;3(1):30-6.
    • An emergency department optimized protocol for qualitative research to investigate care seeking by patients with non-urgent conditions. Truter P, Edgar D, Mountain D, Bulsara C. (2021) Nursing Open, 8(2), 628-635. DOI: 10.1002/nop2.667
    • Physiotherapy assessment and diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders of the knee via telerehabilitation. Richardson, B. R., Truter, P., Blumke, R., & Russell, T. G. (2016). Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. DOI:10.1177/1357633x15627237
    • The Validity of Physical Therapy Assessment of Low Back Pain via Telerehabilitation in a Clinical Setting. Truter, P., Russell, T., & Fary, R. (2013). Telemedicine Journal and eHealth, DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2013.0088
    • The Diagnostic Accuracy of Telerehabilitation for Nonarticular Lower-Limb Musculoskeletal Disorders. Trevor Russell, Piers Truter, Robert Blumke, Bradley Richardson. Telemedicine and e-Health, June 2010, 16(5): 585-594. DOI:10.1089/tmj.2009.0163.
    • Telerehabilitation mediated physiotherapy assessment of ankle disorders. Trevor G. Russell, Robert Blumke, Bradley Richardson, Piers Truter. Physiotherapy Research International, September 2010 15(3): 167-175, DOI: 10.1002/pri.471

  • Conference Papers

    • Diverting MSK patients from the ED to outpatients Piers Truter, Health Round Table, Allied Health Innovation Session, Webinar, September 2 2023
    • A novel model of advanced scope physiotherapy practice: Diverting patients from the ED directly to an outpatient clinic Piers Truter, Pippa Flanagan, Luke Bongiascia National Allied Health Conference, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Perth, Australia, 8-9 August 2023
    • The art of balancing basics and innovation in the healthcare environment to ensure patient safety, Panel discussion, Tony Dolan, Audrey Koay, Dominic Mallon, David Raw, Anne Watts, Piers Truter, Fiona Stanley IMPROVE Conference 2023, Perth Australia, March 23 2023.
    • Optimising simple fracture care to unburden Tertiary Hospital Emergency Department and Orthopaedic services Piers Truter SMHS Research Showcase, Grand Round, 9 November 2022
    • Virtual (Muculoskeletal &) Fracture Clinic for Orthopaedics and the Emergency Department Piers Truter, Hazel Hudson, Pippa Flanagan Australian College of Health Service Management Congress, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Perth, Australia, 22 September 2022
    • Virtual Fracture Clinic: Excellence in telehealth orthopaedics for city and country? Piers Truter, Louise Giglia-Smith, Pippa Flanagan National Rural Health Conference, Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre, Brisbane, Australia, 2 August 2022
    • Where does TeleHealth fit in the management of uncomplicated hand injuries? Piers Truter, Tristan Wuu, Sandeep Bhogesha Invited speaker – Australian Hand Therapists Association National Conference, Parmelia Hilton Hotel, Perth Australia, 29 August 2021
    • I punched a wall and I can’t miss work: TeleHealth management of boxer’s fractures is safe, cost-effective and good for patients Piers Truter, Tristan Wuu, Sandeep Bhogesha National Allied Health Conference, Online due to COVID restrictions,  11 August 2021
    • Physiotherapist lead TeleHealth fracture care: Understanding an Australian model for the Virtual Fracture Clinic Piers Truter, Louise Giglia-Smith, Simon Rosser, Pippa Flanagan National Allied Health Conference, Online due to COVID restrictions,  11 August 2021
    • Patient centred fracture care: moving to a zero-appointment model of virtual care Piers Truter  Health Round Table, Allied Health Improvement Group 2020, Webinar, 16 September 2020
    • Management of acute low back pain in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Western Australia. Piers Truter, Pippa Flanagan & Ashley Smith. Queensland Emergency Department Physiotherapy Network Biennial conference 2018, Gold Coast University Hospital, November 9 2018.
    • The validity of assessment of low back pain via telerehabilitation in a clinical setting Piers Truter, Trevor Russell, Robyn Fary. Australian Physiotherapy Association Conference 2013, Melbourne Australia, Oct 17-20 2013.

  • Professional Affiliation

    • Australian Physiotherapy Association
    • Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia
    • APA Emergency Department professional network
    • Certified Associate, Blackboard Learning Management Systems

  • Awards

    • FHRI Innovation Fellowship 2023
    • Margaret Nicholl Memorial Prize for Clinical Practice
    • Head of Physiotherapy Division award for student contribution to Bachelor of Physiotherapy program (University of Queensland)
    • Rob Hancock Award for Contribution to Disc Sports in Australia
    • Australian Flying Disc Association Life Member