AI by industry · Physical therapy practices
Patient follow-up for physical therapy using AI
To reduce drop-off in physical therapy, follow up the same day a visit is missed, remind patients of the next scheduled visit, and check in on their home program between sessions. AI can send these messages in your clinic’s voice. A therapist decides what to say about anything clinical.
Talk through your clinic with the person who builds it
A free 30-minute call. You leave knowing which part of your physical therapy practice to hand to AI first, what we would build, and roughly how long it takes.
The plan of care only works if they come
A patient who feels better after a few weeks may stop, even though the plan called for more. A good follow-up gently explains why the remaining visits matter, in language you approved.
Do the same after the evaluation. Booking the next visit before leaving the building helps patients stay on the plan, so a nudge that same day is worth sending.
Between visits too
Home exercise programs are easy to forget. A short reminder two days after a visit, with a link to the exercises your therapist assigned, keeps patients on track.
Messages should not include health details. Keep them about the visit or the link.
Picture this
Examples of what it can look like. Illustrations, not clients.
A patient no-shows Tuesday. A message goes out that afternoon asking if they want to rebook.
Two days after a visit, a reminder links to the exercise sheet the therapist gave them.
Six months after discharge, a former patient gets a check-in in case an old injury is flaring up.
The rules that apply, in their own words
“A covered entity or business associate may not use or disclose protected health information, except as permitted or required by this subpart”
“header information that is materially false or materially misleading.”
Sources
- 15 U.S.C. § 7704 (CAN-SPAM Act): Rules for commercial email: honest headers, opt-out, address.
- 45 CFR § 164.502 (HIPAA Privacy Rule): When patient information may be used or shared, including by vendors.
- NIST AI Risk Management Framework: The U.S. standards body’s framework for using AI responsibly.
- 15 U.S.C. § 45 (FTC Act, Section 5): The federal ban on unfair or deceptive business practices, ads included.
Talk through your clinic with the person who builds it
A free 30-minute call. You leave knowing which part of your physical therapy practice to hand to AI first, what we would build, and roughly how long it takes.
Questions
Can AI tell patients what exercises to do?
It should only point to what your therapist assigned. It should not create a new program.
What if a patient replies that they are in pain?
The reply should go to a staff member quickly, not be answered by the AI.
What about patients who are discharged early by choice?
A kind message that leaves the door open respects their decision and keeps you in mind if the problem returns.
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