In this compelling second part of my conversation with Dr. Rebekah Griffith, we dive deeper into the evolving landscape of physical therapy and its role in transforming patient care. Building on the themes from Part 1, Dr. Griffith and I discuss the concept of "top of scope" practice—redefining how physical therapy is delivered and challenging the traditional settings where it’s provided.

Dr. Griffith explores the urgent need to shift from reactive to proactive care. She critiques the current system where physical therapists often operate in silos, waiting for referrals rather than reaching out to patients in need. This episode addresses the gaps in our approach, highlighting how the profession can move upstream to prevent complex health issues from arising in the first place.

She highlights the real-world challenges faced by manual laborers, like HVAC technicians, who are at risk of losing their jobs due to health issues such as dizziness. Dr. Griffith argues for a transformation in how we address such problems, advocating for direct engagement with employers to provide preventative care and comprehensive management solutions that can keep skilled workers employed and functional. 

She emphasizes the need for physical therapists to take a leadership role in care coordination, moving beyond traditional clinic settings to offer services that include managing insurance, accompanying patients to appointments, and integrating with community wellness programs. By building and monetizing communities, PTs can proactively address health issues before they escalate, ultimately reducing downstream costs and improving patient outcomes. 

This episode challenges healthcare professionals to expand their mindset and skill set, encouraging them to adopt innovative approaches and educational reforms to practice at the top of their scope.

If you'd like to learn more about Strata EMR & RCM and achieving a 99.99% reimbursement rate for your PT, OT, or SLP Clinic head over to stratapt.com and book a demo with their team!