RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Integrating Physical Therapists Into Primary Care Within A Large Health Care System
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 866
OP 870
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2021.04.200432
VO 34
IS 4
A1 Thomas Bodenheimer
A1 Joseph Kucksdorf
A1 Alyssa Torn
A1 James Jerzak
YR 2021
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/34/4/866.abstract
AB Background: Bellin Health in Wisconsin has pioneered the colocation and integration of physical therapists into primary care pods.Methods: This is an observational study based on one in-person visit and several interviews.Results: For patients with musculoskeletal complaints, providers make warm handoffs to the physical therapist, who is a few steps away. The physical therapist performs most of the visit, providing diagnosis, treatment, and patient education. Research studies show that—compared with physician management—appropriate patients managed by physical therapists have better outcomes, lower costs, and higher patient satisfaction. In a fee-for-service environment, the business case for this innovation requires an increased number of follow-up referrals to the physical therapy department. In the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era, physical therapists can provide video visits with equal quality compared with in-person visits.Conclusion: The Bellin Health program is a blueprint for other primary care practices to integrate physical therapists into primary care teams.