PT as the First Stop for MSK Care: What Must Change in Policy, Practice, and Workflow
From The Practice Experience Podcast by WebPT
March 11, 2026 · 27 min · Season 2 · Episode 30
About this episode
The episode discusses the necessary changes in policy, practice, and workflow to establish physical therapy as the first stop for musculoskeletal care.
In this episode, host Susan Lofton (WebPT) sits down with guests Stephen Hunter (Intermountain Healthcare) and Alice Bell (American Physical Therapy Association) to explore what it will take to make PT a true first stop for musculoskeletal care. Listen in as they discuss the differences between direct access, PT-first, and primary care physical therapy and share real-world examples of PT-first models, from ED-based care to PTs embedded in primary care clinics. They also discuss the cultural and operational shifts needed to move PT upstream, including consumer education, institutional referral barriers, and training that strengthens screening and referral decision-making. Plus, they examine how hybrid care and AI can expand access while keeping quality and safety front and center. You won't want to miss this one! Learn more: https://intermountainhealthcare.org/ https://www.apta.org/ https://www.webpt.com/podcast
People in this episode
Host: Susan Lofton
Guests: Stephen Hunter, Alice Bell
Topics covered
- musculoskeletal care
- physical therapy
- healthcare policy
- direct access
- consumer education
- hybrid care
- AI in healthcare
Keywords
- PT-first
- primary care physical therapy
- ED-based care
- screening
- referral decision-making
- institutional referral barriers
- access to care
- quality and safety
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Intermountain Healthcare, American Physical Therapy Association, WebPT
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