Hospitals across the country are feeling the same pressure: fewer therapists at the bedside, rising turnover, widening coverage gaps, and increasing administrative workload. When rehab departments are stretched thin, it doesn’t just impact operations - patients feel it. Slower evaluations, inconsistent weekend coverage, delays in mobility, longer lengths of stay… it all adds up.
And while every hospital’s challenges look a little different, what they all have in common is this: the therapy team plays a major role in patient flow, safety, and overall experience.
At PRN, we’ve spent more than 35 years building, improving, and managing therapy programs across outpatient, inpatient, and employer health settings. We’ve supported major health system partners like HCA, MemorialCare, Medical City Healthcare, Adventist Health, and others—each with unique environments, expectations, and care demands.
The case study below highlights exactly how the right PT partner can change the trajectory of a hospital’s performance.
The Challenge: A Rehab Department Under Strain
A 159-bed community hospital in the Seattle region was struggling with a set of issues that are becoming increasingly common in acute care:
Staffing Instability
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Therapist turnover at 26% annually
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Inconsistent weekend and holiday coverage (only 65%)
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Reliance on per-diem or agency support just to keep schedules afloat
Delayed Evaluations = Bottlenecked Care
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Time-to-evaluation stretched 30–36 hours
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Patients waiting to mobilize, delaying discharge plans
Length of Stay Trending Too High
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Average LOS at 5.7 days, above the 5.3-day national benchmark
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Readmissions sitting at 15.1%
Administrative Burden on HR and Nursing Leadership
Recruiting, scheduling, training, coverage planning, compliance tracking—too much of the hospital’s time was tied up in managing a rehab department rather than leading one.
The hospital needed a partner—not just coverage. A partner who could elevate performance, stabilize staffing, and bring systems, training, and accountability.
PRN’s Solution: A Fully Supported, High-Performance Therapy Model
The hospital entrusted PRN to manage the full continuum of inpatient therapy services—PT and OT—introducing a structured, data-powered model that focused on consistency, coordination, and outcomes.
Here’s what PRN put in place:
1. 7-day Therapy Coverage
A dedicated on-site PRN team guaranteed 100% weekend and holiday coverage, ensuring no patient waited unnecessarily for mobility or evaluation.
2. Recruitment, Training & Retention—Handled by PRN
PRN fully assumed:
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Hiring
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Coverage planning
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Compliance oversight
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Ongoing professional development
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Retention strategy
Result? Turnover dropped from 26% to 9%.
3. Evidence-Based Clinical Pathways
Protocols tailored for orthopedic, neurological, cardiopulmonary, and post-acute needs—ensuring fast, appropriate treatment that aligns with best practices.
4. Transparent Performance Dashboards
Leadership gained access to real-time metrics:
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Length of stay
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Readmissions
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Functional outcomes
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Time-to-evaluation
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Throughput
Data became a tool—not an afterthought.
The Results: Year One Delivered Transformational Gains
Within the first year of the partnership, clinical and operational improvements were visible across every measure.
Faster Evaluations, Better Patient Flow
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Time-to-evaluation improved from 30–36 hours → 12–18 hours
A 50% reduction in delays.
Lower Length of Stay
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LOS dropped from 5.7 days → 5.2 days
Bringing the hospital ahead of national benchmarks.
Fewer Readmissions
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30-day readmissions decreased from 15.1% → 13.4%
Workforce Stability & Team Consistency
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Weekend coverage improved from 65% → 100%
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Turnover dropped from 26% → 9%
Financial Impact: Nearly $1M in Annual Savings
The hospital realized approximately $950,000 in annual financial benefit, driven by:
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Lower LOS
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Reduced readmissions
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Predictable fixed-rate therapy costs
Improved Patient Experience
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10% increase in HCAHPS mobility scores
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Smoother, more coordinated discharge planning reported by nursing
These improvements helped the hospital earn recognition as a Stroke Center of Excellence, supported by higher-quality therapy outcomes and seamless care coordination.
Why Hospitals Turn to PRN
This case study is one example of what an experienced therapy partner can bring to an acute care environment. But it’s part of a much larger story.
With more than 270 clinics across 16 states and over three decades of expertise, PRN has earned its reputation as a trusted therapy partner to leading health systems navigating:
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Staffing shortages
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Turnover management
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Burdened HR teams
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Quality and compliance expectations
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Pressures to reduce LOS and improve patient flow
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Demands for better data, accountability, and performance insights
What we bring is simple but powerful:
A fully supported therapy team that accelerates recovery, improves patient satisfaction, and creates operational and financial stability.
The Bottom Line
When hospitals partner with PRN, they gain more than coverage—they gain a high-performing therapy service that moves patients faster, safer, and more efficiently through the care continuum.
Whether it’s outpatient, inpatient, employer health, or integrated partnerships, PRN delivers a proven model built on consistency, transparency, and measurable outcomes.
If your organization is exploring ways to strengthen therapy performance, reduce administrative strain, or stabilize staffing, we’re ready to help.