Providing physical therapy and rehabilitation services should be a core part of any hospital’s plan to achieve positive patient outcomes and high rates of patient satisfaction. For people recovering from surgery or other advanced treatments to people admitted for injuries and illnesses such as automobile accidents, stroke and diabetes, having onsite physical therapy and rehab can greatly aid the recovery process. This in turn can result in more satisfied patients and a lower likelihood of costly readmissions.
However, many hospitals, including smaller and/or remotely located facilities, struggle to provide these necessary rehab services on a cost-effective basis. If the budgetary requirements of a hospital outweigh the perceived benefits of a physical therapy unit, or it is deemed to be underperforming, it can be one of the first targets for downsizing.
A solution for many hospitals is to choose physical therapy outsourcing through a dedicated physical therapy service. This allows hospitals to benefit from the increased resources, expertise and personnel of a larger organization but at a lower cost and with less administrative burden.
If you’re a hospital leader or administrator trying to make this important decision, it can be helpful to have a deeper understanding of the reasons hospitals choose physical therapy outsourcing and the potential benefits it can provide.
