ATUAÇÃO FISIOTERAPÊUTICA NO AMBIENTE DE EMERGÊNCIA: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA

The increasing demand for emergency services represents a substantial challenge for health systems. In this context, a promising strategy to optimize patient flow in Emergency Departments is the integration of the physiotherapist as an active member of the multidisciplinary team. However, the role of the physiotherapist in emergency departments is a growing area of ​​research, still marked by significant gaps to be explored. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the evidence available in the literature on the role of the physiotherapist in the emergency setting. To this end, a survey of publications indexed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS, BVS and PEDro databases and gray literature was carried out, using the descriptors “Emergency Service, Hospital” and “Physical Therapy Modalities”. Primary studies that addressed the role of the physiotherapist in the emergency department, published in the last 10 years in scientific journals, in Portuguese, English or Spanish, were included. Of the 78 articles found, only 9 met the established methodological criteria. It was concluded that the role of physiotherapists in emergency situations is consolidated as a fundamental element for the quality and efficiency of hospital care. However, challenges persist, such as the need for greater professional recognition, expansion of specialized training and development of standardized protocols.