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🔹 Episode Summary

Emergency Department Physical Therapy is more than just mobility support — it’s a gateway to better outcomes, reduced admissions, enhanced patient experience, and system-wide cost savings. In this episode, Dr. Cassie Mountz explains why embedding PT at the “front porch” of care transforms the entire healthcare house.

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🗣️ Featured Guest

Dr. Cassie Mountz, DPT, ED-PT leader and innovator. Dr. Mountz shares practical insights from her experience pioneering ED-based PT programs and advocates for expanding practice scope nationwide.

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🧭 Key Takeaways

1. The ED as Healthcare’s Front Porch
   
   
   
   • Early PT involvement influences admission decisions and care pathways immediately upon patient arrival.
   
   
   • Example scenarios where prompt PT action shifted the patient journey.
   
   
   
   


2. Implementing ED‑PT in Real World Settings
   
   
   
   • Effective strategies for training, staffing, and securing administrative support.
   
   
   • Practical tips for building interprofessional collaboration in fast‑paced environments.
   
   
   
   


3. Clinical Impacts of Embedded PT
   
   
   
   • Improved pain management, reduced opioid use, fewer unnecessary admissions, and enhanced patient satisfaction.
   
   
   • Highlighted metrics and case outcomes.
   
   
   
   


4. Teamwork That Works
   
   
   
   • Best practices for coordination between PTs, physicians, nurses, and case managers.
   
   
   • Embedding PT workflows within existing ED processes.
   
   
   
   


5. Advocacy & Vision for the Future
   
   
   
   • Dr. Mountz’s goals for national recognition and standardized ED-PT protocols.
   
   
   • Steps practitioners can take to champion change in their institutions.
   
   
   
   

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💬 Noteworthy Quotes

• “We’re caring at the threshold — right where everything begins.” (~00:05:40 )


• “Early mobilization isn’t just convenient — it prevents decline in complex patients.” (~00:13:25 )


• “When PT is embedded in the ED team, positive ripple effects spread throughout the system.” (~00:22:10 )

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🔗 Links & Resources

• Dr. Mountz’s key publications on ED-based PT and service integration


• Case series and pilot studies showing admission rates and length-of-stay reductions


• Additional reading on interprofessional collaboration in acute care settings

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👤 Why This Episode Matters

• Ideal listening for ED clinicians, physical therapists, hospital leaders, and health policy stakeholders


• Combines story-driven examples with system-level evidence and action steps


• A motivational roadmap for expanding PT scope and creating value at the point of entry

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✅ Great For …

<figure class="wp-block-table">

Audience	Benefit
Physical Therapists (PTs)	Understand how to start or scale ED-PT services
Clinic & Hospital Administrators	See cost and care benefits of early PT in ED
Interprofessional Clinicians	Learn strategies for seamless team integration
Policy & Advocacy Leaders	Get vision-aligned frameworks for role expansion

</figure>

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🎧 Listen or watch now and discover how the ED “front porch” can become a powerful gateway to patient-centered, cost-effective care.