Expanding Integrated Physiatric Care: A Method to Building Capacity in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Siloed and episodic care delivery is often not equitable, high-quality, or sustainable. Transitioning from separate care settings, with potentially divergent care models, to an integrated care model is not always straightforward. Some experiences in expanding collaborative care between physiatrists and other healthcare providers for a variety of patient populations and care settings within a university physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM discussed integrated care models at every divisional retreat; reached out to clinicians in other specialties to collaboratively explore expansion; developed a "one-pager" on what physiatrists do; and invited collaborative specialists from integrated clinics to PM scholarly evaluation of integrated care models; expansion of academic activity resulting from integration; and advocacy to healthcare providers, hospital administrators, and health system funders about the potential value of care integration in improving rehabilitation outcomes.