Integrated Care Pathways Musculoskeletal

Learn more about our new provider-led service, Integrated Care Pathways Musculoskeletal.

On this page

    Integrated Care Pathways for Musculoskeletal injuries (ICPMSK) is the first standardised integrated care pathway service delivery model we’re introducing.

    Learn more about integrated care pathways

    What role can you play in this service

    Health professionals play different roles within ICPMSK. This could be as a referrer, an ICP navigator, or a health professional in the interdisciplinary team (IDT).

    Referrers

    To refer into the service you need to be an:

    • Allied Health practitioner
    • Specialist
    • GP, GP with special interests or GPMRI training
    • Nurse Practitioners
    • Registered nurse
    • Rongoā Māori practitioner
    • Kaupapa Māori health provider
    • Employer

    ICPMSK referral guide

    ICPMSK referral guide - employers only

    ICP navigator 

    The ICP Navigator is available for patients to ensure they’re fully supported and engaged in their treatment pathway.  They are responsible for coordinating the client's journey through the service, from point of entry to exit.

    Anyone in the ICPMSK interdisciplinary team (IDT) could take on this role or it could be a dedicated role within the IDT for someone with experience in case management or as a whānau ora navigator.

    The role of the ICP Navigator is generally someone who coordinates services around the patient, helps them with queries about their treatment and helps them to understand the options available to them. They can also assist with tasks like booking appointments, organising transport and advocate on behalf of the patient.

    This role is the key contact between the patient, the interdisciplinary team and ACC. For example, they can inform ACC of any supports such as weekly compensation to consider.

    They also play an important role to remove any barriers in a patient’s recovery, such as ensuring their cultural needs are met early during their treatment.

    Interdisciplinary team (IDT)

    The ICPMSK IDT is responsible for designing an integrated, coordinated and effective treatment plan, focused on enabling the patient to achieve their rehabilitation goals.

    The core IDT must include:

    • physiotherapists
    • surgical specialists
    • ICP Navigators
    • vocational rehabilitation capability

    The IDT could include, if clinically appropriate, health professionals who provide:

    • pain management services
    • psychology services
    • other specialist services, for example, musculoskeletal, sport

    The IDT will work together with the patient to create a treatment plan that puts the patient at the centre of their recovery. This plan would include a surgical or a non-surgical treatment pathway.

    Patient entry criteria

    ICPMSK is for patients who meet the following criteria:

    • have suffered a musculoskeletal injury in the lower back, shoulder, and knee regions that may require surgery
    • had the injury within the last 12 months at time of referral 
    • patient’s recovery requires interdisciplinary treatment
    • accepted cover for an injury to a body site within the scope of ICPMSK
    • intends to reside in Aotearoa New Zealand for the duration of the pathway

    Data and information sharing

    To give ICPMSK health professionals the space to develop and deliver a coordinated treatment and rehabilitation plan we need to be able to share meaningful data and information between us and ICP supplier’s quickly and easily.

    Software solutions have been developed for ICP suppliers to access through their practice management systems (PMS). For example, ICP suppliers can now notify us via their PMS when a client with accepted cover is entering their ICP service.

    Please speak to your PMS vendor to discuss access to the ICP software solutions. If they’re unaware of these solutions, please point them to our developer’s site below.

    Information on ICP software solutions

    How to apply for the service contract

    Visit our ICPMSK How to apply page to learn more about the application process and when to apply.

    Apply for the ICPMSK service contract

    More information

    If you have any further queries, get in touch.

    Email integratedcarepathways@acc.co.nz

    Last published: 4 April 2024