Summary
Rehabilitation and Performance Institute (RPI), an outpatient physical therapy organization operating 14 clinics across Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky, wanted to integrate remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) in a way that aligned with its high-touch, one-on-one care model.
Rather than treating RTM as a billing add-on, RPI viewed it as an opportunity to extend the therapeutic relationship beyond clinic walls and make it a part of their standard care delivery. Using Medbridge, RPI built a clinician-led RTM program that supports digital patient engagement and communication between visits. The program has doubled clinician adoption year-over-year, generates over $20,000 in incremental RTM revenue, and supports a care completion rate 153% greater than the national average.
The program has also improved clinician retention and salary growth, and helped position RPI as a more competitive partner for direct-to-employer contracts.
Results at a glance
85%
Of patients reach 2+ days of engagement within the first 30 days
76%
Of RTM patients complete their care plans
$20,000
In incremental RTM revenue per month
The Challenge
Improving continuity of care without increasing clinician burden
When RTM billing codes first became available, RPI leadership was hesitant to adopt them. The program initially appeared to increase administrative complexity within an already challenging reimbursement environment, and clinicians questioned whether remote monitoring added value to a practice already known for deep patient relationships.
At the same time, RPI was facing several growing pressures. As a premium one-on-one physical therapy practice, the organization needed new ways to raise the ceiling on clinician compensation without simply increasing visit volume. Leadership also recognized that patient drop-off driven by disengagement between appointments was one of the greatest risks to patient outcomes and continuity of care.
RPI wanted a way to strengthen communication between visits, improve patient retention, and support future growth opportunities such as direct-to-employer partnerships without adding unnecessary burden for clinicians.
The Solution
Making RTM a natural extension of patient care
RPI partnered with Medbridge to build a clinician-led RTM program that extended communication and engagement beyond in-person visits while fitting naturally into existing clinical workflows.
Because clinicians were already using Medbridge Home Exercise Program (HEP), the transition to RTM was incremental rather than disruptive. Clinicians began assigning exercises and education digitally during visits and used the Medbridge platform as the primary communication channel for questions, follow-up, and patient engagement between appointments.
Patient response was consistently positive, particularly from patients who previously felt uncomfortable contacting clinicians directly by phone. The structured app experience gave patients permission to reach out anytime and stay engaged between visits. "Patients tell me, 'I'm not going to bother you.' But once it's the app, they'll message me at 2 a.m. when they think of something. It gave them permission,” said RPI Clinic Director Suzanne Leach, PT, DPT, OCS.
To encourage long-term adoption, RPI also streamlined payer workflows, implemented upfront cost transparency for patients, and incorporated digital engagement into both traditional care delivery and direct-to-employer offerings. This approach helped strengthen therapeutic relationships while making RTM easier for clinicians and patients to adopt as part of the standard care experience.
”
“RTM gives us leverage to extend our care and our relationships with patients beyond our clinic walls, without overextending our team.”
Craig Phifer, PT, MHA
CEO & Co-Founder, Rehabilitation and Performance Institute
The Results
Driving stronger patient engagement, retention, and revenue
RPI’s clinician-led RTM program has delivered measurable operational, financial, and patient engagement outcomes while helping strengthen the organization’s long-term growth strategy.
Increased Clinician Adoption
RPI’s RTM program has expanded well beyond its initial pilot phase, with clinician adoption roughly doubling year over year from approximately 15 active RTM clinicians in early 2025 to 31 clinicians in April 2026.
Higher Revenue
RPI’s RTM program now generates more than $20,000 in incremental monthly revenue, approximately doubling RTM revenue compared to 2025 levels. The organization also saw an all-in $3.35 increase in revenue per visit, helping support continued investment in its one-on-one care model.
Strong Patient Engagement and Retention
As adoption has grown, patient engagement has remained strong across the organization with results including:
- 84 percent of activated patients reaching 2+ days of engagement
- 8 average active engagement days per patient each month
RPI has also maintained strong patient retention metrics, including 92 percent retention at visit four and 76 percent overall completion of care, 2.5 times higher than the industry average. RTM is a critical component to help bridge this relationship with patients. RPI team members have seen firsthand how communication between visits through RTM has helped strengthen patient relationships and reduce drop-off.
Powering Long-Term Strategic Growth
Beyond financial and operational improvements, RTM has become an important differentiator in RPI’s direct-to-employer conversations. By offering structured digital engagement between visits, RPI can better demonstrate access, communication, and continuity of care beyond the clinic walls.
”
“RTM means nothing to clinicians or patients. It is just the term we use industry-wide. The thing that matters is access, communication, and connection.”
Craig Phifer, PT, MHA
CEO & Co-Founder, Rehabilitation and Performance Institute
