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.

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.

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.

• “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)

• 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

• 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

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

Welcome to a special solo episode of In the ED Now. Today, I’m speaking directly to the new graduates—the DPT and PTA Class of 2025. Whether you’re celebrating with cap and gown or stepping into your first job full of nerves and hope, this episode is for you.

This isn’t just a congratulations. It’s a call to action—a love letter to your potential.

In this episode, I explore:

• 🔬 The shifting landscape of healthcare and what it means for your role
• 💡 Why innovation isn’t optional—it’s the future of patient care
• ❤️ How compassion remains our most powerful clinical skill
• 📣 What it looks like to advocate for patients, our profession, and each other
• 🏔 Why top of scope isn’t just where we should practice—it’s where we belong

You’re not just joining a profession—you’re inheriting a legacy. And more importantly, you’re being invited to reimagine it.

Let this be your reminder: You are the ones we’ve been waiting for. Go forward boldly.

• Follow @theeddpt on Instagram
• Interested in continuing education? Check out our upcoming courses here

Have a question, idea, or want to share your grad story? Tag @theeddpt and use #TopOfScope so we can celebrate you!

Did you miss journal club? No worries. Listen to the recording in podcast format. Article citation below.

Good D. M. (2021). Emergency department physical therapy: An important tool for emergency physicians. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, 28(8), 936–937. https://doi.org/10.1111/acem.14300