By: Scott Jones MSPT, CSCS, MDT, CAFS
Current Challenges in Physical and Occupational Therapy
The world of Physical and Occupational Therapy is such an exciting place to be right now. Yes, we are currently facing many challenges that our marketplace has not endured to this degree previously, but Physical and Occupational Therapy is a market of opportunity and potential. Current challenges exist, including continued decline in insurance reimbursement, escalating expenses, and staffing shortages. Now more than ever, we as therapists need to unite and lobby for fair compensation for our services as we do have the ability to impact health care costs to a substantial degree. To do this, we need to collect meaningful clinical treatment data and demonstrate evidence to support the impact we make.
Partnering With Employers to Prevent Injuries and Improve Outcomes
Musculoskeletal injuries are the leading cause of pain, suffering, and disability in workplaces across our nation and they remain one of the main factors affecting total healthcare costs in America. Musculoskeletal injuries account for one-third of all workers compensation costs and Physical and Occupational therapists specialize in the prevention and treatment of these types of injuries.
We can partner with employers and workers compensation teams to mitigate costs on so many levels.
- Using tools and strategies, like thorough job analysis, clearly define the essential physical demands of the position.
- Onsite early intervention and treatment can prevent minor aches and pains from developing into significant and recordable injuries.
- Implementing post-offer employment testing results in screening and avoiding injuries prior to employment.
- Using tools such as work conditioning to better prepare and rehabilitate injured workers for return to physically demanding jobs and decreasing re-injury rates.
- Functional Capacity Evaluations can be used to determine the patient’s safe material handling abilities and most appropriate vocations to reenter the work force after serious injuries.
As therapists work personally with the patient several times a week throughout their recovery process, our ability to positively influence the outcome of the claim and deliver critical written and verbal communication to the rest of the workers compensation team is extremely valuable.
Innovative Tools and Technology Advancing Rehabilitation Services
There has been recent advancement in services and technology in the rehabilitation marketplace that creates excitement and promise. Services like dry needling and blood flow restriction, to name a few, have become valuable tools in the therapist’s toolbox that have enabled us to treat our patients more effectively. The addition of new technology including telehealth, remote therapeutic monitoring, and other digital platforms have given therapists the ability to expand the reach of our services and be more effective between therapy sessions.
Using Clinical Data to Drive Injury Prevention and Cost Savings
We have also been able to use meaningful clinical treatment data gathered from EMR systems to deliver guidance for employers to specifically mitigate work comp costs and better focus their efforts on injury prevention. This information is based on the employer’s actual injured workers data, not providers’ aggregate data or national averages.
Direct Access to Therapy Services Expands in Kansas and Missouri
There have also been changes in our region, and at ARC Physical Therapy+, specifically that create excitement and optimism for the future. Kansas has recently passed and implemented a bill that will allow patients direct access to occupational therapy services. The state of Missouri has passed a bill allowing patients direct access to physical therapy services.
ARC Physical Therapy+ Growth and Our Mission for the Future
ARC Physical Therapy+ continues to grow, adding 6 new clinics in the past year, allowing the delivery of excellent patient care into new communities. As a member of the physical therapy community and part of the ARC Physical Therapy+ team, I find it exciting and a privilege to have such an impact on the lives of our patients, our employer partners, and our communities. I look forward to continuing to spread the mission and values of ARC Physical Therapy+ to new communities and regions, to provide outstanding outpatient therapy services that are based on exceptional clinical skills, unparalleled customer service, and excellent communication with referral sources. I am excited to evolve and innovate with the ever-changing field of healthcare and rehabilitation services.
