1609 - Improving Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Family Medicine Residents’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding PM&R

Thursday, February 19, 2026

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM AST

Presenting Author(s)

EW

Evan Wright, DO

Resident Physician
Texas Rehabilitation Hospital Fort Worth
FORT WORTH, Texas, United States

Co-Author(s)

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Atif Ahmed, DO

Resident Physician
Texas Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Worth's PM&R Residency Program
Carrollton, Texas, United States

Corresponding Author(s)

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Camelia Mitchell Rigsby, MD

Medical Director/APD
Texas Rehabilitation Hospital Residency
Arlington, Texas, United States

Submitter(s)

EW

Evan Wright, DO

Texas Rehabilitation Hospital Fort Worth
FORT WORTH, Texas, United States

Objectives: Family Medicine (FM) physicians are often the first point of contact in healthcare and play a key role in coordinating longitudinal care. Despite this, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) is under-recognized in primary care. Limited awareness of PM&R’s scope can delay referrals, fragment care, and reduce opportunities to optimize patient function and quality of life. This project assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of FM residents at John Peter Smith Hospital (JPS) regarding PM&R and explored strategies to enhance FM–PM&R collaboration in system-based care.

Design: A structured survey assessing baseline KAP regarding PM&R scope, attitudes, and referral practices was distributed to FM residents. Residents then participated in an educational session covering PM&R services, including acute consultative care, musculoskeletal and neurologic management, and interdisciplinary coordination, followed by a Q&A with PM&R residents and an attending physician. A post-intervention survey evaluated changes in KAP.

Results: Preliminary analysis revealed limited baseline knowledge, particularly regarding acute care consultation and musculoskeletal management. Post-intervention responses demonstrated increased awareness of PM&R contributions across inpatient and outpatient care, with greater confidence in identifying patients appropriate for physiatry involvement. Residents reported learning that early PM&R consultation in acute trauma patients can reduce hospital length of stay, a key factor in improving both patient outcomes and system efficiency. Full statistical analysis of pre- and post-survey data is ongoing.

Conclusions: Targeted educational interventions can significantly improve FM residents’ KAP regarding PM&R. Early integration of PM&R education into residency training may enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, encourage timely referrals, and optimize patient outcomes. Recognition of PM&R’s role in reducing length of stay highlights its dual impact on patient recovery and healthcare system efficiency. Strengthening FM–PM&R collaboration promotes a holistic, function-centered approach to care delivery.