A Clinical Perspective on the Value of Reducing Physical and Occupational Therapy Co-Treatment in Acute Care Hospitals

Background: Co-treatment (CoTx) is defined as when 2 or more providers choose to combine services and provide a single evaluation or treatment session simultaneously. This is most commonly seen in acute care hospital rehabilitation as physical and occupational therapists working with a single patient concurrently. Purpose: This clinical perspective critically examines the practice of CoTx, including drivers of CoTx in the acute care hospital setting, perspectives on why reducing CoTx usage will lead to improved care, and opportunities for creating a decrease in CoTx volume in clinical practice. Conclusion: Reducing the volume of CoTx is necessary to facilitate the shift toward high-value care, improving both the real and perceived value of physical and occupational therapies in acute care hospitals. The acute care hospital rehabilitation community is encouraged to act now to create this change through education, training, and removing barriers to best practice.