The physical therapy profession, encompassing both Physical Therapists (PTs) and Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs), is navigating through a period of unprecedented challenge. Recent data highlights concerning trends – not only did the sector see the departure of 15,000 PTs, or 11% of the existing workforce, between 2021 and 2022, but there has also been a consistent 5% annual decrease in applicants to PT programs over the last three to four years. These developments signal an urgent need for innovative and sustainable solutions. The factors contributing to this decline are complex, involving burnout, a desire for better work-life balance, and a shift towards careers that demand less physical and emotional strain. As we progress through 2024, the imperative to adapt and innovate within the sector, fully recognizing the contributions and needs of both PTs and PTAs, has never been more critical.
Addressing Burnout with Innovative Care Models
Burnout significantly contributes to the workforce challenge, with traditional care models demanding extensive in-person sessions that exacerbate stress and job dissatisfaction. It’s essential to look beyond merely increasing caseload efficiency. Transforming the care model to enhance PTs’ working conditions and job satisfaction is crucial, directly influencing patient care quality.
Introducing Hybrid Care Models
Hybrid care models represent a vital innovation, merging traditional in-person treatments with digital health solutions for a more flexible approach. This innovation aims to alleviate the pressures on PTs by:
- Reducing administrative burdens, freeing PTs to concentrate on patient care
- Supporting flexible work arrangements to improve work-life balance and combat burnout
- Enabling remote patient monitoring, optimizing patient outcomes while managing workloads effectively
Such models do not advocate for PTs to increase their patient numbers simultaneously but to manage them more effectively, especially those needing direct intervention. Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) emerges as a key player in this scenario. RTM bridges the gap between clinic and home, offering PTs detailed insights into patient progress. This facilitates timely interventions without expanding direct contact hours, potentially preventing PT burnout.
Advancements in Digital Health – Mobility as a Health Indicator
Crucially, digital health advancements now allow for the nuanced monitoring of mobility, providing insights into overall health well beyond basic activity tracking. Analyzing mobility under real-life conditions unveils subtle changes that can guide more personalized and proactive care strategies. This capability empowers PTs to act precisely when needed, enhancing outcomes and sustaining their workload.
Moreover, technology fosters a more engaging experience for patients. Engaged patients are more likely to adhere to their treatment plans, leading to better health outcomes and a more rewarding professional environment for PTs, who witness the tangible benefits of their work.
Economic Pressures and Technological Solutions
The healthcare sector, facing increasing economic pressures, finds a viable solution in technologies that enhance clinic operations and patient management. These technologies, especially with the advent of Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM), offer significant economic benefits. By allowing for the reimbursement of non-physiological data monitoring, RTM expands the scope of billable services beyond traditional physician-led care, directly impacting the financial well-being of healthcare providers. Adopting such innovations not only addresses operational efficiencies but also represents a strategic approach to navigating financial challenges, ultimately supporting the sustainability and growth of healthcare services.
Leveraging Data for Enhanced Patient Care
Employing technology to access real-time data on patient progress revolutionizes PT care delivery. Tools that offer insights into patients’ mobility and progress enable PTs to craft informed care plans, swiftly adjust interventions, and focus on those in immediate need. This approach not only boosts care delivery efficiency but also significantly improves patient outcomes.
Looking Towards a Sustainable Future
The future growth and sustainability of the physical therapy profession hinge on embracing change. By adopting technology-driven care models that streamline operations, enhance patient engagement, and deliver actionable insights, we can navigate the challenges of a diminishing workforce and therapist burnout.
A collaborative effort among healthcare providers, tech innovators, and educational bodies to reinvent PT service delivery is imperative. Such collective action promises to establish a healthcare ecosystem that supports the well-being of both patients and therapists alike, ensuring the enduring vitality of the physical therapy profession as an indispensable element of healthcare services.
About Patrick Tarnowski, PT, MBA, Chief Commercial Officer, OneStep
As Chief Commercial Officer at OneStep, Pat is accountable for the company’s US market entry through strategic provider partnerships. His deep healthcare experience as a leader in health plans, health systems, medical devices, startups and digital care delivery support and enable OneStep’s growth and scale. As an entrepreneur, Pat has successfully launched and scaled care delivery companies, digital solutions that focused on health and wellbeing, disease management and virtual care and worked with providers to achieve success in value-based payment models. He received his degree in physical therapy from Boston University and his master’s in business administration from the University of St. Thomas. A lifelong learner, Pat has also held several academic appointments and is a grant reviewer for the National Science Foundation’s SBIR seed fund and served as an Industry Mentor for their I-Corp Innovation program. He has been the principal investigator in numerous clinical studies and is the Vice President of Professional Practice of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association’s and the Minnesota Cancer Alliance Steering Committee.