Future-Proof PT

Dana Strauss, PT, DPT and Alex Bendersky, PT, DPT
  • 5.0 (6)
  • BUSINESS

Want to stay ahead of the curve in physical therapy? Future Proof PT brings you straight-talking, no-nonsense conversations about what really matters in healthcare today. From dissecting policy risks and opportunities to exploring innovative practice and payment models to practical ways to accelerate your career growth, we're your go-to source for understanding the forces reshaping our profession and the healthcare industry at large. Through candid dialogue and real-world perspectives, we're building a community of forward-thinking professionals working both in and out of direct patient care. They aren't just adapting to change – they're shaping it. Whether you're looking to understand market dynamics or seeking professional growth, each episode delivers actionable insights that will transform how you view the future of healthcare. Come join the conversation!

  1. 5D AGO

    Episode 23: The Alchemist and Healthcare | Why Your Journey is the Treasure

    Check out the You Tube version of the podcast here. In this episode, Dana and Alex review the research articles Alex shared with Future Proof PT newsletter subscribers on January 4th, 2025, exploring what these studies reveal about healthcare transformation and what PTs can learn from them. They dive into the 4% screening tool study that dramatically improved outcomes by simply asking patients about their needs—a small intervention that created massive value. This leads to a bigger discussion: why are PTs starving on a shrinking fee-for-service diet when alternative models exist? The answer isn't that value-based care doesn't work—it's that most clinicians haven't tested it yet. We explore Richard Feynman's principles of honest self-evaluation and scientific integrity, applying them to healthcare's reluctance to experiment. Alex shares that he recently reread The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and that the story's message resonated with him differently this time around. He focuses on a key moment in the book where the shepherd's father gives him money to pursue his journey—not because the father expects his son to find treasure, but because the father himself never took that journey and wants something better for his son. Alex connects this to his own mindset as a parent: he wants his children to have opportunities and experiences he didn't have. This parallels the healthcare discussion because leaders and early adopters in value-based care are essentially doing the same thing—investing in a journey they may not fully benefit from themselves, but paving the way for the next generation of clinicians. The core insight Alex draws is that the treasure in The Alchemist wasn't the gold the shepherd was seeking, but the transformation and self-discovery he experienced along the way. Similarly, PTs who experiment with value-based care aren't just chasing financial models—they're undergoing professional transformation that makes them more valuable, regardless of whether any single model succeeds. This reframing positions the journey itself as the reward, and encourages clinicians to stop waiting for value-based care to be "proven" before they engage. Like the shepherd's father investing in his son's journey, today's leaders are investing in the profession's future. Other key points include: why you need a lottery ticket to win (you have to participate to benefit), how to A-B test your way into value-based care leadership, why leadership starts with one person taking action, and how systems thinking can help PTs break free from fee-for-service heuristics. Stop waiting for permission. Start leading from your clinic. The R&D phase of healthcare needs you. Key Topics in Episode 23: Reviewing research articles from Future Proof PT newsletter (Jan 4, 2025)The 4% screening tool study and its implications for value creationWhy "it doesn't work" is invalid if you never tested itThe sheep analogy: surviving vs. thriving in healthcareRichard Feynman's lesson on honest self-evaluation and scientific integrityA-B testing your way into value-based care leadershipWhy small experiments and lottery tickets matter in healthcare transformationHow the journey of experimentation IS the treasure (lessons from The Alchemist)Systems thinking and recognizing our own fallibility in healthcare decision-making "The Alchemist"* "Thinking Fast and Slow"* "The Almanac of Naval Ravikant"* Alex's summary and takeaways of the five research articles we discuss on the episode. Accountable Health Communities Model Findings at a Glance *affiliate link

    34 min

  2. 12/29/2025

    Episode 22: Redefining Our Worth | How Physical Therapy Professionals Fit Into the Future of Value-Based Care

    Fee-for-service PT reimbursement isn't viable. It's just math. In this episode, we bring our second physician guest to the Future Proof PT studio to explain. For Episode 22, we are joined by sports medicine surgeon and Protera Health co-founder Dr. Eric Makhni, MD, MBA, who also explains what physical therapists can do about our "math problem." We explore the economics of MSK care, who actually bears financial risk in healthcare, why your clinical reasoning matters more than your manual therapy skills, and how digital health (when done right) can extend your reach without replacing your value. Eric shares stories from 20 years studying and practicing value-based care in orthopedics, including how patient-reported outcome measures changed a surgical decision in real-time and why the 2020 telehealth pivot separated true clinical experts from customer service providers. We hope this conversation challenges how you think about your career, your compensation, and your profession's future. Key Topics: PTs' effectiveness in treating MSK conditionsThe "Healthcare Factory" metaphor for fee-for-service physical therapyUsing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) as a clinical GPS tool for shared decision-making, not just complianceThe 2020 telehealth pivot that separated clinical experts from customer service providers in digital healthThe difference between tech companies and true clinical integration in digital MSK care platformsThe shift from "hands to brains" - why clinical reasoning and movement expertise is more valuable than manual techniquesUnderstanding who bears financial risk in healthcare and why PTs should align with and target employers directlyHow to pitch directly to employers instead of chasing insurance panelsPatient case study as an example of a functional use of PROMs: How patient-reported outcomes changed a surgical decision and prevented an unnecessary procedure More about our guest, Dr. Eric Mahkni, MD, MBA: Dr. Eric Makhni is a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon and Associate Professor at Henry Ford Health, with nearly 20 years experience in value-based orthopedic care. He has taken that experience and co-founded Protera Health, which helps health plans improve quality and costs of MSK care for their populations. He is also the team physician for the Detroit Lions. We asked him what PTs, and other healthcare professionals need to hear. Here's what he shared: "Lot of organizations doing MSK VBC that are welcoming PT's with open arms. Really great opportunity to shift gears from the clinic grind to thinking - and practicing - more holistically!" Here's why he thinks this episode is important to tune into: "Digital MSK is one of the hottest spaces for health tech. With so many players in the space, it's important to learn how to untangle the web and see how each solution fits in the spectrum of delivery options." Here's a "hot take" from Dr. Makhni: "Health plan leaders have very little to lose by trying out new innovation solutions, provided these solutions use high quality clinical delivery models and pass the "sniff test." There is much more to gain by trying to improve quality of care as opposed to being scared that it might not work out." Resources: Protera Health - proterahealth.com Henry Ford Health - henryford.com Dr. Eric Makhni on LinkedIn Please subscribe to the Future Proof PT podcast and share it with a friend! Here's the YouTube version of Episode 22

    52 min

  3. 11/30/2025

    Episode 21: What's In It For Me Right Now?

    How to Benefit from Value-Based Care Strategies While Treating in Fee-For-Service "Why should I care about value-based care TODAY?" If you're not in a risk contract and your clinic runs on fee-for-service, this question probably hits home. The answer? You don't need a value-based contract to win with value-based thinking. Alex and Dana welcome Cody Lee and Jonathan Smith, two physical therapists who've turned podcast concepts into practice - building provider relationships, growing referrals, and demonstrating value before entering any formal risk arrangements. They share the "Accept, Change, or Leave" decision framework that ended their career stagnation, how understanding ACO language became their referral secret weapon, and why the lack of a playbook is actually your competitive advantage. This is the bridge between healthcare theory and clinic reality - no jargon, no fluff, just practitioners sharing what actually works when you're trying to build something better than the status quo. For clinic owners frustrated with traditional practice models, new grads looking for alternative paths, and any PT or OT who's ever thought "there has to be a better way" - this conversation delivers immediate, actionable insights you can use Monday morning. Key Takeaways: Start without a playbook. There's no perfect formula, so learn from others, be curious, and experiment with applying conceptsSpeak the same language. Understand the goals of ACOs or other VBC models and the participating providers' needs to help you become their trusted partnerShort-term benefits. Even without the VBC payment model in place for a therapy department or practice, you can increase fee-for-service revenue by becoming the preferred referral destination because you create value through trust, access, consistency, and strong communication and collaborationSales is not a dirty word. Build relationships directly rather than relying only on salespeople. Authentic connections drive referral behavior change. Successful salespeople are masterful at authentic relationship-buildingUpstream PT and OT care reduces downstream costs. More PT and primary care engagement with patients naturally reduces the use of ERs, unnecessary imaging, and specialist utilizationGrowth enables opportunity. Increased volume allows you to hire team members you want to work with and create more positionsChange is curvilinear. Success won't be immediate or linear. Persistence leads to exponential growth over time. Subscribe to the Future Proof PT newsletter and receive exclusive resources that grow with every episode! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Subscribe to Timeless Autonomy for health policy news and insights distilled for industry professionals. Written by Dana Strauss, PT, DPT

    52 min

  4. 11/12/2025

    Episode 20: Expertise, Delegating, and Team-Based Care in Physical Therapy

    Alex and Dana met on LinkedIn, started a podcast, and only met in person in October of 2025. They use their milestone 20th episode to issue an urgent call: 270,000 physical therapists must each become agents of change, starting today. They cover these topics and more: -The economic reality is unsustainable. Therapists graduate with up to $200K debt (three-quarters of medical school) to earn a $120K salary ceiling. Compare that to nurse practitioners makin $150K with two years of training. -The fee-for-service model traps therapy professionals. Many now leave between years 3-5, before their investment even pays off. But everything needed to transform exists right now. -Physical therapists aren't physician extenders—they're doctoring professionals with their own licensed and supportive extenders (PTAs, health coaches, PT aides, etc.). The solution mirrors how surgeons often collaborate with physician associates: PTs should evaluate, plan care, and intervene when expertise is required, while delegating execution to skilled and/or trained team members. -Time directly providing one-on-one patient care doesn't equal quality. -High-quality clinicians redirect inappropriate referrals instead of accepting them like "manna from heaven." -Setting realistic patient expectations based on prognosis and comorbidities IS the professional expertise that defines doctoring professionals. Yet the profession never fully claimed the direct access promise. -Alex's recent experience with his father's hospitalization exposed for him healthcare's fractured reality: disciplines that don't communicate, 10+ daily errors, and systems where only patients with physician quarterbacks receive optimal care. Despite seamless technology enabling collaboration, hospitals remain unsafe places. -Fee-for-service creates no incentive for safety or communication—but value-based models like TEAM (hitting 25% of hospitals in January) are shifting the landscape by making hospitals accountable for 30-day spending and outcomes. Therapists--this creates massive opportunity. For example, therapists can help ensure anyone who may be able to return directly home actually CAN go home, and can advocate for that on behalf of patients in collaborating with the multidisciplinary team. -Complaints aren't actionable—they're just "the what." Action emerges when individuals realize they can move the needle in their own clinical settings, with their own patients, and with their own teams. -Value-based care is the path to sustainable, higher PT and OT incomes in clinical roles. -What Alex is excited about for the APTA PPS event this week! And more! Join them for Episode 20. Like it? Please give them a thumbs up and subscribe! Subscribe to the Future Proof PT newsletter and receive exclusive resources that grow with every episode! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

    43 min

  5. 10/26/2025

    PT as Quarterback, with Dr. Marc Gruner, DO, MBA, RMSK

    Why your best play is calling the shots, not running them all Alex and I recently talked about the physical therapist income floor and ceiling. And in this episode, we talk with Dr. Marc Gruner, who offers a framework for a solution to that seemingly impenetrable ceiling. Here's the punchline. The income ceiling in PT isn't about reimbursement rates. It's about your practice model. Dr. Gruner created the RTM codes, which are the first new codes for PT in 20 years. Now we can absolutely make the strong argument that the PT billing codes don't adequately reimburse therapists for the value we create, and that the income ceiling should not be tens of thousands below providers who don't have doctoral degrees as the required minimum educational level. But in this episode, Dr. Gruner explains why team-based care and value-based arrangements are the only path to sustainable income growth while providing access to care to our communities. We talk about RTM in this episode, and about how RTM wasn't designed as simply another billing code. It's infrastructure for the glide path to value-based care for physical therapists. So tune in to hear much more from Dr. Gruner, a true physician champion for the physical therapy profession. Learn how to stop top playing every position and start calling the plays. RTM Strategic Deep Dive: Subscribe below for the full article on how remote therapeutic monitoring serves as a facilitator for value-based success, and why we make the argument that it is crucial for therapists to think of it that way. When you subscribe, you have access to the full archive of newsletter articles and to exclusive access to a supplemental set of resources that will hit your inbox after you subscribe (for free!). Subscribe to the Future Proof PT newsletter and receive exclusive resources that grow with every episode! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

    45 min

  6. 10/07/2025

    Episode 18: The PT Education ROI Crisis with Jon Lee, PT, DPT, MBA

    Drowning in student debt? Feeling undervalued as a PT? Here's why: You're trapped between an artificial floor and a glass ceiling. The floor? PT school costs more than an MBA at MIT—that's your barrier to entry. The ceiling? The AMA's physician-dominated board literally decides what you're worth. And between those two forces, you're stuck. Today we break down the economic trap keeping PTs fragmented, underpaid, and powerless—and what you can actually do about it. You're not alone, and the problem runs way deeper than you may think. What You'll Learn: Why PTs earn less than other providers for the same skills - Discover how the American Medical Association controls your reimbursement rates The hidden economic barriers keeping PTs fragmented - Learn why our 400,000-strong profession has less influence than professionals with a smaller number of providersWhy your PT school education failed you - The critical finance and regulatory knowledge gaps that leave new grads unprepared (and how to fix them yourself)The private practice opportunity - Understanding debt structures, consulting fees, and why smaller clinics actually have MORE freedom to innovateYour path out of fee-for-service dependence - Practical strategies for recouping your investment beyond insurance reimbursementWhy certifications actually DO matter (despite what cynical colleagues say) - How specialization opens doors beyond your clinic job Our guest today is Jon Lee, PT, DPT, MBA, the co-founder of Pickle, former pro sports PT, and someone who's navigated from clinical practice to Oxford MBA to vaccine development to healthcare tech It's a conversation about the structural economic problems facing PTs—and actionable knowledge you won't get in school. You will enjoy how the three of us challenge each other throughout this hour-long conversation. We keep it real and it's ultimately optimistic. This episode is great for new grads struggling with debt, mid-career PTs feeling stuck, clinic owners questioning their business model, and anyone wondering if they made a mistake choosing their healthcare profession. Subscribe to the Future Proof PT newsletter and receive exclusive resources that grow with every episode! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

    55 min

  7. 09/06/2025

    Episode 17: PT Without Walls | A Conversation with Dr. Drew Contreras, PT, DPT, SCS

    What happens when the only physical therapist to serve two U.S. Presidents shares his unfiltered blueprint for transforming PT into a primary care powerhouse? Dr. Drew Contreras, PT, DPT, SCS—Lieutenant Colonel (retired), former White House Medical Unit PT to Presidents Obama and Biden, and current APTA Vice President of Strategic Affairs—delivers a masterclass in professional evolution that will fundamentally shift how you view your career trajectory. This is surgical precision strategy from someone who's operated at the highest levels of American healthcare. Dr. Contreras dismantles the "comfort crisis" plaguing PT, where professionals complain about constraints while avoiding the uncomfortable work of actual transformation. His brings up a great point, too: venture capitalists are flooding PT because they see massive opportunity that many therapists are too comfortable to seize. The Analogy-Based Insights You'll Gain: The Tree-Cutting Analogy: How value-based care mirrors service industries you already understand—and why PTs must stop being "branch pickers" and become strategic plannersThe Netflix Model of Healthcare: Why flexible, on-demand PT delivery (including treating astronauts in space) represents the future of patient engagementFrom Skilled Laborer to Expert Consultant: The mindset shift from counting clamshells to providing high-level clinical consultation that commands premium pricingThe Spider-Man Principle: Why ordering imaging and labs comes with great responsibility—and how embracing this elevates PT to true doctoring status Strategic Intelligence from the Inside: Contreras reveals how political and healthcare leadership actually views PT's potential, sharing insights from Pentagon health clinics to White House medical operations. His perspective on "old guard versus new guard" leadership offers a roadmap for navigating professional transition without burning bridges. The Uncomfortable Truth: Healthcare's shift is here and we already risk being late to the game. PTs equipped with "coloring-book anatomy knowledge" (it will make sense when you listen to the episode) successfully operated in primary care roles decades ago. Today's DPT graduates possess exponentially superior tools and knowledge, yet many lack the courage to step into their full scope of practice. And the "old guard" has to step up and embrace this too, even if it means adding to your knowledge base. This episode will arm you with the strategic framework to thrive in healthcare's inevitable transformation. For therapists ready to evolve beyond traditional treatment rooms into primary care leadership roles, this conversation provides the roadmap. For those comfortable with the status quo, it serves as a wake-up call to the professional reckoning already underway. Read Dr. Contreras' bio here Subscribe to the Future Proof PT newsletter and receive exclusive resources that grow with every episode! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

    1h 1m

  8. 08/24/2025

    Episode 16: The PT Explorer's Mindset | Bridging Research, Disruption, and Innovation

    Explorers, Innovators, and the Future of Therapy Practice What distinguishes an explorer from a maintainer in the therapy profession? Why are outside disruptors capturing market share while traditional practices struggle? How can clinicians leverage cutting-edge research on mitochondrial DNA and movement disorders to revolutionize treatment approaches? We tackle these questions and more in a dialogue that bridges clinical excellence with business innovation. Alex offers a provocative parable about buying lottery tickets that perfectly captures our profession's hesitation to proactively engage with healthcare transformation. "We're losing workforce," he warns, "but we're still failing to see that we need to go out and look into these risk-based contracts, at least explore, at least understand what they are and how to operationalize them." We examine the stark contrast between traditional care models and patient-centered approaches that leverage technology. Is it better to "hold a patient's hand" through dozens of visits, or transition to guided self-management after fewer sessions? This question gets to the heart of therapy's value proposition in an evolving healthcare ecosystem. The irony doesn't escape us: therapists expertly help patients recognize and build upon their strengths, yet we collectively struggle to do the same for our profession. The gap between the actual value therapists provide and our ability to communicate that value creates the perfect opportunity for disruption – either from outside forces or, ideally, from innovative thinkers within. External disruptors aren't succeeding because they provide better clinical care. They're succeeding because they've packaged therapy expertise in ways that solve specific problems for stakeholders, speaking the language of value, efficiency, and outcomes that resonates with payers and health systems. This conversation isn't meant to be comfortable – it's meant to be catalyzing. The explorer's mindset we advocate requires questioning established practices, reimagining care delivery, and having the courage to venture into unfamiliar territory. As Alex puts it: "I'm optimistic because I think the better days are ahead, because that's my nature, but I'm also realistic that it may take a catastrophe for those models to be absorbed. We just want to be on a good hill when the catastrophe hits." Are you ready to climb that hill? To join us as explorers charting new territories in healthcare transformation? To balance rigorous clinical standards with business innovation? Listen now to discover how adopting an explorer's mindset could transform your practice and ensure our profession remains central to healthcare's future. Because the future of therapy will be written by those willing to explore it – and we believe you have an important chapter to contribute. Takeaways The explorer's mindset encourages seeking new horizons in therapy.Therapists must adapt to changing healthcare delivery models.Curiosity and innovation are essential for professional growth.Understanding value-based care is crucial for therapists.Therapists need to articulate their value to stakeholders.Research consumption strategies can enhance clinical reasoning.Collaboration with other healthcare providers is vital.Growth can be achieved through efficiency and subtraction.Therapists should prepare for risk-based contracts.The future of therapy depends on adaptability and exploration. #TherapyLeadership #HealthcareInnovation #PhysicalTherapy #ValueBasedCare #PracticeManagement Link to the transcript here. Subscribe to the Future Proof PT newsletter and receive exclusive resources that grow with every episode! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Check out our friend and colleague's *course on AI for PTs (and so many others!) by Cody Lee, PT, DPT *affiliate link

    56 min
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About

Want to stay ahead of the curve in physical therapy? Future Proof PT brings you straight-talking, no-nonsense conversations about what really matters in healthcare today. From dissecting policy risks and opportunities to exploring innovative practice and payment models to practical ways to accelerate your career growth, we're your go-to source for understanding the forces reshaping our profession and the healthcare industry at large. Through candid dialogue and real-world perspectives, we're building a community of forward-thinking professionals working both in and out of direct patient care. They aren't just adapting to change – they're shaping it. Whether you're looking to understand market dynamics or seeking professional growth, each episode delivers actionable insights that will transform how you view the future of healthcare. Come join the conversation!

Information

  • Creator
    Dana Strauss, PT, DPT and Alex Bendersky, PT, DPT
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Dana Strauss, PT, DPT and Alex Bendersky, PT, DPT
  • Show Website
    Future-Proof PT