Summary
Value-based care is often associated with primary care, chronic disease management, and payment reform, but what happens when an overlooked specialty has the potential to improve outcomes, reduce unnecessary utilization, and enhance quality of life?
In this episode of the Value-Based Care Corner, John P. Carter sits down with Laura Bunso, Founder and CEO of Smart Body Physical Therapy, to explore the role pelvic floor physical therapy can play across the value-based care continuum.
Laura shares how her practice has built an entire care model around treating pelvic floor dysfunction, helping patients avoid unnecessary testing, emergency department visits, and invasive procedures through earlier intervention and specialized rehabilitation.
The conversation highlights how better screening, earlier referrals, and stronger collaboration between physicians and physical therapists can improve patient outcomes while reducing avoidable healthcare costs, demonstrating that delivering value often means recognizing opportunities that have historically been overlooked.
Key Takeaways
- Pelvic floor physical therapy can help prevent unnecessary diagnostic testing and costly medical interventions.
- Earlier identification and referral can improve outcomes while reducing emergency department utilization.
- Behavioral modification and patient education play a significant role in long-term success.
- Better collaboration across specialties creates opportunities to improve quality while lowering costs.
- Value-based care depends on recognizing every member of the care team—including specialists that are often overlooked.
What You’ll Learn
00:39 – Why Smart Body Physical Therapy built an entire practice around pelvic floor rehabilitation
04:33 – Why pelvic floor therapy represents an opportunity within value-based care and how it can prevent costly interventions
07:17 – The role biofeedback and rehabilitation play in restoring function and improving quality of life
10:50 – Why pelvic floor therapy represents an overlooked opportunity within value-based care
11:59 – Screening questions clinicians can ask to identify patients earlier
15:14 – How earlier referrals can reduce unnecessary testing, specialty care, and overall healthcare costs
17:19 – Why improving value requires every provider across the care continuum to work together
