How method membership changed the way i practice
Dr. Rachael McGuinness on the blog today
Before coming to The METHOD, I thought I was a great PT. I stayed up-to-date on the latest research, customized treatments for each patient instead of relying on a cookie-cutter approach, and genuinely cared about the people I treated. But it wasn’t until I started working at The METHOD that I realized how much better I could be—not because my clinical skills changed, but because the practice model did.
In the traditional insurance-based PT model, a "great outcome" often meant getting a patient back to about 85-90% of their previous level. Insurance would typically cover care that helped someone return to basic daily activities, but it wouldn’t support long-term plans of care (especially those lasting over a year) or full return-to-sport goals. Even the best PTs had to discharge patients just as they were beginning higher-level activities, leaving them with a general plan to stay out of pain—but no way to fine-tune that plan as their needs evolved or their sport demands increased.
Here’s a common example:
A 32-year-old recreational tennis player comes in with 6/10 knee pain. It’s limiting his ability to run, play tennis, and even go down the stairs without discomfort.
In the insurance model, he’d be seen twice a week for 8–12 weeks. By the end of that period, he might be going down stairs pain-free and just starting to reintroduce running and tennis. But at that point, insurance would often require discharge—just as things are ramping up. There’d be no support through the increasing intensity of sport, and no long-term prevention plan to keep the injury from returning.
Maybe everything would go fine. But maybe, three weeks later, he tweaks his knee again or strains his calf from pushing too hard, too soon. To get help, he’d have to start all over: go back to the doctor, get a new referral, and get on a new waitlist—delaying care by months and increasing the risk of chronic issues.
Now let’s look at that same tennis player in an out-of-network model like The METHOD. After his initial rehab phase, he didn't get discharged and left to figure it out on his own. Instead, he transitions into a customized strength and mobility program tailored to his sport and goals. He checks in once or twice a month—not because he’s in pain, but to stay ahead of it. He’s got a go-to provider who knows his body, understands the demands of tennis, and can troubleshoot tweaks or adjust his plan as he ramps back up. As his goals shift from just being pain-free to playing stronger, faster, and longer, his care evolves too. This ongoing membership model becomes his performance edge—like having a PT in his corner for regular tune-ups and wellness checks that catch small issues before they become big ones. He stays on the court, progressing—not just recovering.
Even when I worked in the insurance model, I knew I was a good PT. But now, I’m a great PT—because I get to help patients reach their long-term goals for good. That doesn’t mean discharging them once they’re “good enough.” It means offering an ongoing partnership through membership—staying with them as they move from pain to performance, and beyond.
If you’re ready for a different kind of physical therapy—one that meets you where you are and takes you where you want to go—give us a call at 617-466-9995, book a free 15 minute discovery call, or visit www.themethodpt.com.
