The Bedrock of Medical Exercise Training: Home-Based Services - MET 101 Tip #45
In Tip 45 of the MET 101 eBook series, Dr. Mike highlights the profound importance—and growing practicality—of offering home-based Medical Exercise Training (MET) services. Home-based care is already one of the most frequently utilized service models by medical exercise professionals, and demand is expected to increase dramatically over the next 20 years as the population ages.
Providing MET in the client’s home is not simply a convenience—it is arguably the most important component of medical exercise training.
This model plays a critical role in supporting the expanding senior population within the healthcare system by helping individuals maintain mobility, independence, and the ability to safely leave their homes. Physicians frequently request these services for homebound patients, particularly those who have completed their limited allotment of post-operative or post-acute physical therapy visits but have not yet achieved functional independence.
Medical Exercise Professionals (MedExPROs) are uniquely positioned to bridge this gap—transitioning individuals from licensed therapy services (such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, or nursing) into ongoing, structured medical exercise training that supports long-term function and quality of life.
How MedExPROs Can Apply This in Practice
To respond effectively to the growing demand for home-based care, MedExPROs should incorporate the following strategies immediately:
- Include Home Services in Your Offerings
Home-based medical exercise training should be a core component of your service menu. It represents the foundational “bedrock” of MET service delivery. - Ensure Logistical Readiness
Be prepared for mobile service delivery by maintaining reliable transportation and appropriate portable equipment for use in clients’ homes. - Implement Differential Pricing
Home-based services carry additional operational costs. Your pricing should reflect travel time, mileage, and fuel by charging a higher rate than in-facility sessions. - Prepare Your Staff (If Applicable)
Clinic owners should ensure staff members are both willing and properly equipped to provide services in clients’ homes as part of a professional MET practice.
Offering home-based Medical Exercise Training ensures continuity of care, supports physician recommendations, and directly addresses one of the most pressing challenges in today’s healthcare system—preserving mobility and independence in older adults.
For a deeper understanding of this and other foundational concepts in medical exercise training, download your free copy of the MET 101 eBook at www.MET101ebook.com.
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