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🔹 Episode Summary
Emergency Department Physical Therapy is more than just mobility support — it’s a gateway to better outcomes, reduced admissions, enhanced patient experience, and system-wide cost savings. In this episode, Dr. Cassie Mountz explains why embedding PT at the “front porch” of care transforms the entire healthcare house.
🗣️ Featured Guest
Dr. Cassie Mountz, DPT, ED-PT leader and innovator. Dr. Mountz shares practical insights from her experience pioneering ED-based PT programs and advocates for expanding practice scope nationwide.
🧭 Key Takeaways
- The ED as Healthcare’s Front Porch
- Early PT involvement influences admission decisions and care pathways immediately upon patient arrival.
- Example scenarios where prompt PT action shifted the patient journey.
- Implementing ED‑PT in Real World Settings
- Effective strategies for training, staffing, and securing administrative support.
- Practical tips for building interprofessional collaboration in fast‑paced environments.
- Clinical Impacts of Embedded PT
- Improved pain management, reduced opioid use, fewer unnecessary admissions, and enhanced patient satisfaction.
- Highlighted metrics and case outcomes.
- Teamwork That Works
- Best practices for coordination between PTs, physicians, nurses, and case managers.
- Embedding PT workflows within existing ED processes.
- Advocacy & Vision for the Future
- Dr. Mountz’s goals for national recognition and standardized ED-PT protocols.
- Steps practitioners can take to champion change in their institutions.
💬 Noteworthy Quotes
- “We’re caring at the threshold — right where everything begins.” (~00:05:40)
- “Early mobilization isn’t just convenient — it prevents decline in complex patients.” (~00:13:25)
- “When PT is embedded in the ED team, positive ripple effects spread throughout the system.” (~00:22:10)
🔗 Links & Resources
- Dr. Mountz’s key publications on ED-based PT and service integration
- Case series and pilot studies showing admission rates and length-of-stay reductions
- Additional reading on interprofessional collaboration in acute care settings
👤 Why This Episode Matters
- Ideal listening for ED clinicians, physical therapists, hospital leaders, and health policy stakeholders
- Combines story-driven examples with system-level evidence and action steps
- A motivational roadmap for expanding PT scope and creating value at the point of entry
✅ Great For …
| Audience | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapists (PTs) | Understand how to start or scale ED-PT services |
| Clinic & Hospital Administrators | See cost and care benefits of early PT in ED |
| Interprofessional Clinicians | Learn strategies for seamless team integration |
| Policy & Advocacy Leaders | Get vision-aligned frameworks for role expansion |
🎧 Listen or watch now and discover how the ED “front porch” can become a powerful gateway to patient-centered, cost-effective care.
