Department directors, clinic directors, and practice owners across the country report four major challenges that are becoming increasingly difficult to overcome.

The first is staffing. Recruiting and retaining qualified PTs, PTAs, OTs, OTAs, and ATs has become increasingly difficult with many professionals pursuing higher-paying opportunities outside of traditional outpatient care.

Second, patient demand continues to grow. Overly-packed schedules often translate into clinician burnout rather than increased profitability.

Third, reimbursement continues to tighten. Payment per visit/per episode continues to shrink, forcing clinics to work harder on less revenue.

Finally, administrative burdens consume valuable time. Prior authorizations, claim denials, appeals, and payer requirements require significant staff effort resulting in diversion of resources from patient care and struggle to maintain the practice’s bottom line.

Any one of these issues would be manageable on its own. Together, they create a ‘perfect storm’ that affects profitability, capacity, staff satisfaction, and long-term growth.

Meanwhile, another opportunity exists that many clinics have not fully explored.

Employers across the country are facing enormous musculoskeletal challenges:

According to the National Safety Council, there were 54 million injuries reported in 2024, resulting in approximately 102 million lost workdays.
Employers spend an estimated $420 billion annually on musculoskeletal healthcare.
Yet only about 6 to 10 percent of people with identified musculoskeletal conditions ever receive physical therapy.
That says … 90% of individuals who could benefit from therapy never make it into a therapy clinic.

This gap represents more than an unmet healthcare need. It represents an opportunity for therapists — that means YOU — to expand beyond traditional referral pathways.

Industrial Therapy allows therapists to work directly with Employers to improve workplace safety, cut injuries, and help keep Employees healthy and productive. Rather than waiting for patients to arrive, therapists become proactive partners in workforce health.

In Part Two, we’ll explore how Industrial Therapy creates new revenue opportunities while helping practices reduce their dependence on shrinking reimbursement models.

If you’re ready to discover how Industrial Therapy can provide greater freedom and long-term stability for your practice, contact KEY now! We’ll show you how to successfully transition into this growing area of care.