New Research Reveals Evolving Attitudes in Rehab Therapy Toward AI, Burnout, and Reimbursement

Data from Net Health shows 63% of rehab therapy professionals under 35 say burnout remains a significant challenge, while most agree that advanced technology solutions will help combat it

PITTSBURGH, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Net Health, a trusted source for specialized software solutions that empower restorative care providers across the continuum of care, today released its Net Health Rehab Therapy Source Report, offering critical insights into how professionals across the industry are adapting to changing technologies, reimbursement challenges, and burnout concerns.

Based on a survey of 200 rehab therapy professionals and leaders across hospitals, outpatient settings, private practices, skilled nursing facilities, and assisted living facilities, the report indicated relative optimism among industry professionals around topics like AI adoption, investment in training and education, and advanced data analytics.

It also reveals generational and role-based differences in the perceived value of technology and reimbursement models, with younger professionals and decision-makers showing greater enthusiasm for AI adoption. Additionally, younger professionals are more likely to see technology that improves workflows and EHRs as a key solution to addressing burnout.

“Despite industry optimism, ongoing reimbursement pressures and regulatory complexity, particularly around MIPS, continue to challenge the day-to-day realities of care delivery,” said Francesca Vereb, Senior Vice President, Marketing at Net Health. “This is where AI has the potential to play a transformative role — streamlining compliance and documentation to ensure more accurate reimbursement, reducing administrative burden, and even preventing fraud. These findings highlight a clear opportunity for rehab therapy leaders to invest in specialty EHR solutions to strengthen outcomes and operations.”

Key Findings Include:

• Burnout Remains a Major Concern: Younger professionals are more likely to see burnout as a bigger issue, with 63% acknowledging its significance. Across all ages and roles, most say that burnout remains a problem.
• Technology as a Burnout Solution: Over a third of respondents cited technology solutions that address patient engagement, workflow, and communication as most helpful in reducing burnout.
• AI Adoption Varies by Age and Role: Most respondents are somewhat positive (38%) or neutral (27%) regarding AI use in their organization. That optimism grows with younger workers 18-35, with a third very positive (30%) and just 17% neutral.
• AI Scribes and Ambient Documentation Viewed Positively: 80% of rehab therapy workers other than clinicians, feel positive to very positive about AI/ambient documentation. Clinicians were also positive but a bit reserved.
• Decision-Makers and Clinicians Invest in the Future: Respondents are channeling their optimism into action with hiring, expanded services, and additional training. This includes education around new tech, like advanced data analytics, predictive insights, and AI adoption. Furthermore, 22% say they plan to invest in further developing data analytics capabilities.
• Reimbursement Takes its Toll: A strong majority (64%) of rehab therapy workers other than clinicians said that payer reimbursement issues had a significant to very significant impact over the last six months.
• Industry Optimism — with Reservations: While therapy professionals express general optimism, clinicians are more hesitant, with 71% feeling neutral to somewhat positive about the industry’s direction.
• Skepticism Around MIPS: 57% of clinicians are neutral to very negative about MIPS, with mixed feelings about administrative burden and unnecessary complexity.

Conducted in December 2024, this survey marks the first in an ongoing series examining key trends in rehab therapy and wound care. The research adheres to the Market Research Society (MRS) and ESOMAR principles.  

For a detailed look at the findings and actionable insights, access the full Net Health Rehab Therapy Source Report: Q1 2025 here.

About Net Health  
Net Health is a trusted source for more than 25,000 healthcare organizations across the continuum of care. Our specialized software solutions enable restorative care providers and their organizations to improve both patient outcomes and financial performance. Over 30 years of expertise in wound care and rehab therapy inform our electronic health record (EHR) software, patient engagement tools, and predictive analytics. Our technology platforms help administrators manage workflow, specialists engage with patients, and executives drive business growth. Net Health is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, Level Equity, and Silversmith Capital Partners. Learn more at www.nethealth.com.

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SOURCE Net Health Systems, Inc.