For physical therapists, occupational therapists, and athletic trainers, Industrial Therapy can open the door to an entirely new way of utilizing your clinical expertise. Instead of limiting your practice to the traditional clinic setting, you can build relationships with local Employers and become a valuable resource for improving job readiness, reducing lost workdays, and helping Employees safely return to work.

The need is significant. According to 2024 National Safety Council data:

• There were approximately 54 million injuries and 102 million days of work lost 
• Of those lost days, 69 million were associated with injuries occurring in 2024
• 33 million were related to injuries from prior years
• The impact of 2024 injuries is expected to continue, with an estimated 54 million additional lost workdays in future years

For Employers, every lost day means increased costs, staffing challenges, reduced productivity, and pressure on other Employees.

That creates an opportunity for therapists who know how to connect clinical care with the demands of the workplace.

Start Where You Already Have a Relationship

One of the easiest ways to begin developing Industrial Therapy relationships is to visit the worksites where your patients are employed.

Ask your patients what they do, where they work, what physical demands their jobs involve, and what challenges they encounter during a typical workday. Grab that opportunity to visit the worksite .. legitimately get a better understanding for your clinical thinking, but also START THAT EMPLOYER PARTNERING RELATIONSHIP! 

Importantly, this does not have to be a Workers’ Compensation case or even a work-related injury.

You wouldn’t treat an athlete without finding out what sport they play. In the same way, understanding a patient’s workplace can help you design a more effective treatment program. Seeing the environment firsthand also creates an opportunity to meet the Employer, learn about the company’s workforce, and begin a professional relationship.

KEY Functional Assessments Network is your answer with the tools for opening that ‘relationship door’ with Employers.  Connect in at www.keymethod.com or Glenda Key at gkey@keymethod.com.