Physical Therapy Improves Access and Keeps Patients in the System
Timely access to care is a top concern for health system leaders and physical therapy can help solve that. When PT is integrated into the care pathway, patients often get same day or next day appointments. That kind of quick access keeps patients from seeking care elsewhere and helps you retain them earlier in their care journey. Positioned well, PT also becomes a strategic advantage in musculoskeletal (MSK) care. It supports continuity, strengthens patient relationships, and improves outcomes across the system.
Physical Therapy Drives Revenue and Competitive Advantage
Physical therapy doesn't have to be a cost center—it can be a valuable growth engine.
When PT is strategically integrated, it helps reduce referral leakage, keeps more care in-network, and increases downstream revenue. It also supports scalable outpatient expansion and strengthens your market position. With the right billing practices and partnerships, PT becomes a sustainable, revenue-generating service line.
Physical Therapy Is Often Overlooked and It's Costing Health Systems
Despite its clinical and financial value, PT is often overlooked. Most health systems refer patients to multiple outside providers, creating fragmented care, inconsistent patient experiences, and wide variation in outcomes. Without strategic oversight or meaningful KPI tracking, PT remains disconnected from broader organizational planning. There's a clear opportunity to bring PT into focus and utilize the program more effectively.
Preparing for TEAM: Why Outpatient PT Is Key to Operational Success
The CMS Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) puts hospitals on the hook for managing both cost and quality across specific MSK surgical episodes making operational readiness essential. An integrated outpatient physical therapy program is a critical asset. Early and consistent PT supports faster recovery, reduces readmissions, and helps avoid unnecessary imaging, procedures, and opioid use.
It also ensures smoother transitions from hospital to home, strengthening care coordination, exactly what TEAM is designed to reward. By embedding PT into your care pathways and aligning it with surgical and post-acute workflows, your hospital can reduce variation, improve patient outcomes, and meet the financial and quality benchmarks set by TEAM.