Abstract
Hospitals aim to deliver high-value care—achieving the best outcomes for patients while using resources wisely. Physical therapy in acute care settings is often delivered inconsistently, with no standard model guiding how therapists are assigned or how care is coordinated. This study explores whether organizing physical therapy around “Integrated Practice Units” (IPUs)—teams of providers working together on a single hospital unit—can improve patient outcomes and efficiency. We will develop a tool to measure how closely physical therapists follow IPU principles like teamwork, shared accountability, and patient-centered care. Then, we’ll examine whether higher adherence to these principles is linked to better outcomes, such as shorter hospital stays, improved function, and more patients returning home. Finally, we’ll explore how IPU-based care affects how therapy is delivered, including timing and efficiency. This is the first study to apply the IPU model to hospital-based physical therapy. Our findings could help hospitals organize therapy services in ways that better meet patient needs and support therapists in delivering coordinated, effective care.