Inside the Chiro-PT Model That Scales, Heals, and Elevates

By Dr. Jeff Berard & Kristin Berard
As featured on the Seven Figure Chiro Podcast

In this follow-up to episode 17, Dr. Jeff and Kristin Berard walk you through the exact process they use to integrate physical therapy (PT) and chiropractic care in their practice. The result? A highly efficient model that improves outcomes, grows revenue, simplifies compliance, and cements their clinic’s reputation as a trusted multidisciplinary provider.

If you're a chiropractor wondering how to practically implement this model, not just why, this episode gives you the playbook.

Integrating PT and chiropractic isn't just about maximizing billing codes. It’s about delivering a truly complete treatment plan. Most patients, especially those with chronic pain or movement limitations, need more than adjustments. They need therapeutic exercise, neuromuscular reeducation, and sustained functional improvements, things that require time and specialization.

Without PT, chiropractors are often forced to either:

• Cram physical medicine into short visits (risking non-compliance), or
• Send patients elsewhere and lose control of outcomes.

Integration solves this by sharing the patient journey, creating efficiency, and boosting retention, while remaining insurance-compliant.

Dr. Jeff outlines exactly how it works in their office:

1. A New Patient Arrives
   Complaining of low back pain and intermittent neuropathy. After a comprehensive chiropractic assessment, it’s clear they’ll benefit from both manual adjustments and physical therapy.
2. Explain the Model
   The patient is told they’re free to choose any PT clinic, but that in-house PT is available for convenience and better collaboration. Chiropractor and PT will work as a team.
3. Front Desk Schedules Care
   Example schedule:
   • Chiro: 3x/week for 2 weeks
   • PT: 2x/week for 6 weeks

Collaborative Care in Action

• The chiropractor focuses on mobilization, subluxation correction, and reducing pain.
• The PT handles strengthening, balance, and functional restoration.
• Patient receives ~5 minutes of chiro care followed by 1 hour of PT.

Back-End Communication
The chiro briefs the PT with exam findings, X-rays, and treatment goals so both providers are aligned before care begins.

The Result
The patient feels confident, supported, and receives comprehensive care, without bouncing between providers or conflicting philosophies.
 

Providing multiple modalities within a single chiro session can create red flags during insurance audits, especially when time-coded physical medicine services are billed alongside adjustments.

By offloading that responsibility to the physical therapist, you:

• Ensure compliant documentation
• Reduce your administrative burden
• Stay in your zone of genius (adjusting)
• Maximize each provider’s skill set

PTs are trained in coding, documentation, and extended care sessions. Use that to your advantage.

One of the most powerful outcomes of the Chiro-PT model is how it organically builds your patient base:

• Chiro patients get referred to PT
• PT patients become chiro patients
• Over time, external referrals grow from MDs, surgeons, and orthopedic specialists who trust the model

“You build trust with PT patients and before long, they’re seeing you for chiro too,” says Kristin. “It’s a synergistic, self-sustaining ecosystem.”

Even if you're cash-based, this model applies. But if you take insurance (as most clinics still do), compliance becomes even more important. The separation of services by provider type and staying within your scope protects your clinic from unnecessary scrutiny.

The Berards’ integrated model didn’t just transform outcomes, it created strategic partnerships with local school systems, sports programs, and surgical specialists. That led to:

• Managing athletic training programs
• Providing prehab and rehab for student athletes
• Referrals from orthopedic and spine surgeons
• Becoming the “go-to” sports rehab hub in their area

It’s not about pushing services, it’s about becoming an asset to your community.

If you’re a chiropractor seeing 125+ patients per week, or looking to grow faster without hiring another DC, PT integration is one of the most scalable, sustainable options available. You'll:

• Offer more complete care
• Improve clinical outcomes
• Increase revenue per patient
• Protect your license through compliant coding
• Attract new patients from multiple pipelines

“You’re not just adding a service. You’re expanding your impact.”

Visit SevenFigureChiro.com and contact Jeff and Kristin for help integrating PT into your clinic, compliantly, profitably, and effectively.

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