Thursday, September 21, 2017

Outpatient PT is the Engine That Drives Rehabilitation


Today, physical therapy is a $29 billion industry and has a projected annual growth rate of five percent or higher over the next several years. As the Baby Boomer generation ages and is staying more active than their parents, physical therapy services are in high demand.  Also, more young adults are engaged in physical activities resulting in injuries that may require PT services.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the physical therapy profession is not only growing but is among the job leaders with physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and physical therapy aides in their list as the top 10 strong growers over the next eight years.  Luckily, the numbers of PTs are also expected to grow from 192,000 licensed PTs in 2014 to somewhere between 203,000 and 234,000 by 2020.

The profession provides services to people of all ages and is used to treat a large range of medical problems. Some of the most common reasons people get physical therapy are for neck or back pain, shoulder and rotator-cuff injuries, and other types of sprains and strains.  Injuries treated by physical therapy can be a result of a car accident, sport’s injury, or a repetitive-stress injury often associated with work-related tasks.

The effectiveness of physical therapy has been proven in a study published in March of 2013 by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). They report that for some injuries, “physical therapy is just as effective as surgery in patients with meniscal tears and arthritis of the knee.” Furthermore, the study found there was no “significant differences in functional improvement after 6 months between patients who underwent surgery with postoperative physical therapy and those who received standardized physical therapy alone.”

While the growth of the PT industry is evident in the upcoming years, the success of individual private practice owners is unknown due to a highly competitive marketplace. Practice owners who recognize the importance of branding their business, delivering outstanding patient experiences, and expanding their services will thrive in this growing industry.  
  
Alliance Physical Therapy Partners was built on the idea that when practices have the capital, support and talent they need to grow - the sky is the limit for success.  By offering unlimited tools and resources, we allow you to focus on patient care while experts help you manage your marketing, billing, human resources and software.  Join our network and start building an Alliance today!

Source: apta.org/Media/Release/Consumer/2013/3/21/

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