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Final Program


Final Program

309 - Changes in rehabilitation medicine patient outcomes and clinic processes after implementation of a pro-bono physical therapy clinic.

Friday, February 28, 2025
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM MST

    Presenting Author(s)

  • GB

    Gwen Baraniecki-Zwil, MSc

    Medical Student
    Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Behnum A. Habibi, M.D.

    Vice Chair for Research, Residency Program Director
    Temple University Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Objectives: Physical therapy (PT) is a crucial component of chronic pain management to improve physical function and alleviate pain in patients with chronic. Common barriers to PT are fragmented care and cost. To increase participation in PT, randomized control studies have used technological interventions including smartphone applications and telephone coaching. However, telehealth PT can still be cost prohibitive to some patients and patients tend to prefer in-person care. To increase the equity of care for patients in chronic pain, we developed a referral process to a pro-bono PT clinic that was within two city blocks of a rehabilitation medicine clinic. The objective of this study is to evaluate changes in patient outcomes and clinical processes after implementation of a referral program to a pro-bono PT clinic.

Design: Patients treated at an outpatient rehabilitation medicine clinic were given contact information and hours of a pro-bono PT clinic. Retrospective analysis was completed on data from three months before and three months after implementation. The variables analyzed included the average number of patients seen per clinic session, percent of patients with documented participation in PT after PT prescription,  and average numerical pain rating score (NPRS).

Results:

The average number of patients per clinic session remained stable (pre=8.1±1.8;post=8.0±1.5). The percentage of patients participating in PT was not significantly different, but there was a trend towards improved engagement (pre=50%;post=57%). The average NPRS was not significantly different, but there was a trend indicating reduced pain levels (pre=5.3±2.0;post=3.7±2.9;p=0.09).

Conclusions: The findings suggest that while the implementation of a pro-bono PT clinic did not significantly alter the number of patients seen or the documented participation rates in physical therapy, there was a trend towards improved pain outcomes. This highlights the potential benefits of increased access to free PT services and the potential increase in equitable care.