Physical therapy is an extremely important part of recovery and there is strong evidence of its effectiveness in treating conditions ranging from lower back pain to strokes. With hospital-based programs, patients gain access to physical therapy far earlier than if they were only referred to an off-site facility after discharge. This helps patients get moving and start to regain function in the critical early stages of recovery.
While hospital administrators rightfully understand the benefits of their physical therapy department, they are also commonly aware of the associated operating costs. Even compared to other service lines, physical therapy can be notoriously difficult to administer to patients on a cost-effective basis. What's more, it can be easy to label it as a nonessential service when it's time to take a hard look at operational budgets.
However, when properly managed, a physical therapy program not only contributes to a better patient experience, but it can also be a key source of revenue. By providing access to industry-specific knowledge and experience, a physical therapy consultant can help lower hospital operating costs and turn your physical therapy department into a positive contributor for your facility.
Streamlining operational costs while improving service levels
The goal of any physical therapy consultant is to help your hospital lower costs while actually improving the level of service that your patients receive. In fact, the two should go hand in hand. Many of the most detrimental elements to patient satisfaction come in the form of departmental inefficiencies that also contribute to excessive costs. An experienced physical therapy consultant can identify solutions for these common issues that drain patient experience and budgets alike:
- High staff turnover and lack of engagement
- Inefficient systems of work
- Compliance issues that lead to billing errors and even fines
- Outdated systems
- Inadequate service offerings
With the right team and operational systems in place, your physical therapy department can make better use of valuable time while reducing potentially costly errors and improving reimbursement rates.
Turn to the physical therapy consultants at Alliance
At Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, we put patients and partnerships above all else and we truly believe that lowering hospital operating costs is important to both. Our knowledgeable and experienced consultants have years of combined experience in identifying opportunities and providing workable solutions for hospitals across the United States.
Find out how we can help you by scheduling an in-depth assessment of your physical therapy program. Contact us today to learn more.