Perceived challenges and solutions to providing rural physical therapy services: A qualitative inquiry of provider experience

Participants identified inadequate staffing, reduced access to specialty services, and financial concerns as system-wide challenges. Personal considerations included professional isolation, expansive caseloads, and aversion to rural living as challenges, while community pride and responsibility were identified as personal benefits to providing rural healthcare. Proposed solutions included financial incentives for providers, physical therapy student exposure to rural settings, and use of telehealth services. Interactions between themes and subthemes emerged, highlighting potential factors contributing to difficulty adequately staffing rural physical therapists.