MedExPRO….Do MET Clients Stay Clients Forever? Understanding Functional Maintenance
Welcome back to the MET 101 eBook series! In Tip 51, we address a very common and important question for Medical Exercise Professionals (MedExPROs): Do MET clients remain MET clients forever?
The short answer is no. Just as medical treatment eventually concludes, skilled MET services—which involve intensive one-on-one or group-based supervision—also reach a conclusion. At a certain point, a client achieves their optimal functional capacity and no longer needs primary MET services. When this happens, they transition into a critical phase known as Functional Maintenance.
The 4 Post-Rehab Client Classifications: To understand where Functional Maintenance fits in, it helps to understand the four primary classifications of clients you will see in your practice:
- The Post-Rehab Client: This client has sustained an injury, undergone surgery, or been diagnosed with a condition within the last year. They always require a medical referral before you begin working with them.
- The Medical Exercise Client: This client is more than a year out from their injury or surgery (e.g., a hip replacement performed three years ago). Based on your musculoskeletal screening and the presence of any red flags, you will determine if they need medical clearance.
- The Corrective Exercise Client: This client only has postural or muscular imbalances and no medical condition. If a medical condition is discovered, they must be reclassified as a post-rehab or medical exercise client.
- The Functional Maintenance Client: This client has reached their optimal level of function and simply needs an exercise program to maintain those gains and prevent regression.
The Power (and Future) of Functional Maintenance - In the physical therapy and occupational therapy world, "maintenance" can be considered a bad word because it is the point at which insurance carriers typically cut off coverage. However, for MedExPROs, Functional Maintenance offers an incredible opportunity.
As the Baby Boomer generation takes over our healthcare system, maintaining a senior client's level of function is vital for preserving their independence and dignity. If these clients regress, they risk losing their mobility, which can lead to costly hospitalizations or being placed in a skilled nursing facility.
Because preventing regression saves the healthcare system so much money, Dr. Mike predicts that over the next 20 years, insurance carriers may actually begin to recognize and pay for Functional Maintenance services provided by MedExPROs, provided you have a letter of medical necessity and a physician's diagnosis.
Embrace Functional Maintenance in your practice—it is the standard of the future and a necessary component of global health and wellness!
Ready to grow your practice? Download your free copy of the MET 101 eBook at www.met101ebook.com. If you have specific questions, you can email Dr. Mike at drmikepostrehab.com.
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