Episode 26: The PT Identity Project | The Problems Causing PTs Patients, Pay, and Progress

We are tackling physical therapy's brand crisis head-on. From pop culture portrayals (yes, we're talking about that "Land Man" stripper scene) to CMS policy that treats PT as "substitute spend" for MSK digital health solutions, the evidence is clear: we have a public perception problem.

We explore why professional identity matters, how specialization creates internal dissonance, and why evidence-based practice sometimes conflicts with how we want to be perceived. We talk about the importance of communicating our actual skill set, and why we need to stop being terrible at telling people what we do and why it matters.

Why this matters right now:

Value-based care and episode/bundled payment models are framed as the future: fewer visits, higher impact per encounter. But remaining the PT who serves as the primary provider for managing their patients' longitudinal spend. In those models, PTs “win” by preventing downstream costs (imaging, opioids, injections, surgery, prolonged disability). But that only works if we can show it.

Key topics: professional branding, healthcare policy, payment models, public perception, advocacy, and the path forward for elevating the profession.

Mentioned in the episode:

Nassim Taleb | "Skin in the Game" Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life

Episode Quality Improvement Plan (EQIP)

ACCESS Model

ACCESS Technical FAQs