Wisp, the US’s largest women’s telehealth company, is partnering with Origin, a national provider of women’s health and pelvic floor physical therapy, to give members access to pelvic physical therapy. Wisp provides sexual and reproductive health solutions to over 1.4 million patients. This partnership will allow these patients to access Origin’s services, which include postpartum healing, pre-pregnancy strengthening, pain improvement during sex, and chronic vaginal infection relief. The partnership aims to educate women about the commonality of pelvic symptoms and provide effective solutions.
In other news, the Soaring Eagles Healthcare Clinic at Husson University in Bangor is expanding its free physical therapy services. The clinic, run by students and professors, primarily serves uninsured or underinsured patients. This semester, they introduced a hand therapy program. The clinic also serves as a training ground for Husson students, providing tangible, hands-on experience.
Lastly, the global medical rehabilitation market is projected to reach USD 492.4 billion by 2034, up from USD 270.58 billion in 2024. The market is primarily driven by the rise in the elderly population amid an increased prevalence of chronic diseases. Secondly, the growth in digital health technology, including telehealth, is also aiding the market expansion. Rehabilitation can help the elderly improve their quality of life and physical ability. The demand for rehabilitation services is rising not only in developed nations but also in emerging economies such as China, Brazil, and India.
Digital musculoskeletal care platform, Hinge Health, has partnered with Amazon Health Services to provide musculoskeletal care, supported by orthopedic surgeons, health coaches, and physical therapists. Amazon users with back, joint, or muscle pain are able to check their eligibility for coverage through the Amazon Health website and then connect to the Hinge Health team. Rumours suggest that Hinge Health may go public in 2025, following significant funding investments.
A report published by the Peterson Health Technology Institute confirms that virtual health technologies guided by a physical therapist can deliver significant improvements in pain and functionality for patients with musculoskeletal conditions. The report suggests these benefits can be equivalent to in-person physical therapy. This demonstrates that early access to physical therapy is a cost-effective solution in healthcare, lowering costs and improving patient outcomes. It also confirms that solutions guided by a physical therapist are superior to those that do not employ a physical therapist, aligning with the APTA Digital Health Transparency Campaign.
Jointly issued by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), updated guidelines for the clinical practice in the treatment of lower limb amputations (LLA) have been released. This provides critical guidance for the rehabilitation of individuals with LLA using the most recent research and data obtained from providing treatment for more than 1,700 deployment-related amputations since 2001. This guidance will continue to evolve as further advancements are made in the science of LLA treatment. The use of this guidance will provide more accurate and effective care for patients with limb loss, focusing on the comprehensive treatment of these patients, and will help further research to tackle unanswered questions in LLA treatment.
The combination of digital and physical services in healthcare underlines the importance of technology in advancing patient care, particularly for patients with musculoskeletal conditions and limb loss. It provides patients with more accessible care, potentially improving health outcomes and reducing costs.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked the MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute among top rehabilitation hospitals in the country for its care of patients recovering from complex conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury.
Ranked 49th among 1,000 reviewed hospitals, MetroHealth is in the top 5% of rehabilitation centers nationwide. This recognition reflects the high-standard facilities and innovative treatments offered at the institute, as well as the dedication of specialists across all care levels.
Established in 1953, MetroHealth not only stands as one of the six original U.S. hospitals committed completely to rehabilitation but it is also one of 18 Spinal Cord Injury Model System Centers designated by the federal government.
Furthering their outreach, MetroHealth expanded its outpatient services in the community in June, with plans to offer outpatient physical therapy for both adults and children, in addition to occupational and speech therapy later in the year.
The accolades for the institute are numerous. Newsweek featured MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute as one of the nation’s best rehabilitation hospitals, particularly appreciating its Spinal Cord Injury Program. The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at Case Western Reserve University, based at the Institute, has consistently ranked among the top three PM&R departments for research funding received from the National Institutes of Health.
Moreover, the Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) recently accredited the institute for an additional three years, through March 2027, for its Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility and Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation services, making it the only CARF-accredited hospital-based program in the region.
