We are excited to share that Episode Six of Future-Proof PT is published! More on that shortly.

First, here’s what’s new this week as we build it in public:

We added a few pictures to the middle of the YouTube video.

We added an intro and outro visual “like” and “subscribe” reminder. It’s a work in progress but fun to share!

And so excited that one of our past video shorts has over 400 views! 👇️ 

Here’s that “short” from Episode Two. If you like it, it would mean so much if you would share it!

Get ready to experience healthcare like you’ve never heard it before. In Episode 6 of Future Proof PT, we dive headfirst into the fascinating—and surprisingly practical—world of health metrics. Sounds dry? Trust me, it’s not. We're turning numbers into narratives that actually matter.

We break down how health is measured—not in a vague “how are you feeling today?” kind of way, but through metrics that track life’s wins and losses. From discovering how much life and health we gain with the right treatments, to spotting hidden productivity drains in workplaces, we unpack it all. And, spoiler alert: sometimes just showing up isn’t enough (looking at you, presenteeism!).

With a little humor and a lot of insight, we tackle the financial side of health too—what it costs, what it saves, and how smart decisions can change lives (and budgets).

This episode is engaging, eye-opening, and ready to shake up your perspective on healthcare. Listen now, share with your friends, and let’s start the conversation. Trust us—you’ll see things differently.

Here is a quick preview of Episode 6

Episode Six can now be found in full, including a link to the full transcript, on our Podcast page. For your convenience, it’s also linked here.

Extra Perk: Explaining VBC to a Fifth Grader

How To Explain VBC to a 5th Grader

Value-based care is a way of taking care of people where doctors and healthcare workers focus on making sure people get healthier and stay healthy, instead of just doing a lot of tests or treatments and getting paid for each one.

Imagine you have a coach who helps you get better at soccer. If they only get paid every time you fall and get hurt, they might not focus on teaching you how to avoid falling in the first place. But if they get paid more when you stay safe and get better at soccer, they’ll work hard to teach you good skills and keep you healthy.

In value-based care, hospitals and doctors try to prevent problems before they happen, and help people feel their best. When they do a good job of keeping people healthy, everyone wins!

So, if you can understand VBC as a 5th grader, you can explain it as a practicing clinician… but, just because, this is how I would explain VBC to a recent PT school graduate

Value-based care is a healthcare delivery model where providers, including doctors and physical therapists, are reimbursed based on patient health outcomes rather than the volume of services delivered. The goal is to improve quality of care, enhance patient experiences, and reduce overall healthcare costs.

Key Principles of Value-Based Care:

1. Patient-Centered Care:

   • Focuses on improving health outcomes that matter most to patients, such as functional improvement, pain reduction, and quality of life.

   • Encourages shared decision-making and personalized treatment plans.

2. Quality Over Quantity:

   • Providers are rewarded for achieving positive health outcomes, not just performing procedures or scheduling more visits.

   • Success is measured through metrics like patient satisfaction, reduced hospital readmissions, improved function, and adherence to evidence-based practices.

3. Preventative & Coordinated Care:

   • Emphasizes preventing disease or complications through early intervention and comprehensive care plans.

   • Promotes collaboration across interdisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated, efficient care.

4. Data-Driven Decision Making:

   • Utilizes patient data and outcome metrics to continually improve care delivery and refine treatment pathways.

   • Encourages the use of validated outcome measures to demonstrate effectiveness and drive clinical improvement.

5. Cost-Effectiveness:

   • Reduces unnecessary treatments and focuses on interventions proven to be effective.

   • Payment models like bundled payments or shared savings programs encourage efficient resource utilization.

Why This Matters for New Graduates:

As a new doctor or physical therapist, understanding value-based care is critical because:

• You’ll be expected to measure and report outcomes to demonstrate the effectiveness of your interventions.

• Collaborative care and patient engagement are essential, which requires strong communication skills and interdisciplinary teamwork.

• Your ability to improve patient outcomes directly influences reimbursement and overall practice sustainability.

Why is this important?

Fee-for-service and volume-based care remain important factors in musculoskeletal care. However, our profession and professionalism can only thrive through an expanded portfolio of products and services. The ability to participate in value-based care is becoming increasingly critical for maintaining relevance within the broader spectrum of clinical care. If you can explain value-based care like you're speaking to a fifth grader and understand it as a new graduate, you can gain agency and autonomy as a professional—and begin to effectively advocate for yourself.

Want to know what’s next?

We record tomorrow covering a couple of topics. One topic is the TEAM Model. Expect some shorts out in the middle of this week.

Want some background on TEAM? Start with the article Dana just sent from our sister newsletter, Timeless Autonomy. You can find it here.

Here’s where you can find and follow Alex on Linked In.

Here’s where you can find and follow Dana on Linked In.