Case study

Strengthening APTA’s Leadership in Digital Health Through Partnership with ORCHA

Sector:

Professional Member Association
Allied Health / Physical Therapy

Challenge:

Equip members with trusted, validated digital health tools for clinical practice

Solution:

Digital Health Formulary

Transforming physical therapy in the digital era

As the national voice for the physical therapy profession, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is committed to advancing innovation, supporting member success, and promoting high-quality, evidence-based care.

With digital health technologies transforming every aspect of healthcare delivery, APTA identified a crucial need: to educate and equip its members with validated, safe, and effective digital health tools for use in clinical practice.

To meet this need, APTA partnered with ORCHA, the global leader in digital health app evaluation and distribution. The collaboration led to the creation of a first-of-its-kind Digital Health Formulary for Physical Therapy, designed specifically for physical therapists and rehabilitation professionals.

The APTA Digital Health Formulary, powered by ORCHA, provides members with access to independently assessed and continuously monitored digital health technologies (DHTs).

Each app is evaluated against rigorous standards for clinical effectiveness, safety, privacy, and usability, ensuring only trusted tools are available for use in patient care.

This initiative enables physical therapists to confidently integrate digital solutions into clinical workflows, enhancing both professional practice and patient outcomes.

The strategic impact

1. Advancing APTA’s Innovation Agenda

The partnership aligns with APTA’s 2022–2025 Strategic Plan, reinforcing its leadership in innovation and the future of care delivery. By connecting members to trusted digital tools, APTA bridges the gap between emerging technologies and clinical excellence, positioning itself as a leader in digital health within allied health professions.

2. Enhancing Member Value and Retention

The ORCHA-powered formulary offers a tangible, exclusive benefit to members—access to over 100 rigorously reviewed digital health apps. This supports clinicians at the point of care while reinforcing member satisfaction, engagement, and retention. It also attracts students and early-career professionals seeking modern, evidence-based resources.

3. Elevating APTA’s Voice in National Digital Health Policy

Through collaboration with ORCHA, APTA now contributes data-driven insight to national and regulatory discussions on digital health. ORCHA’s frameworks give APTA the evidence base needed to advocate for safe and responsible digital adoption across allied health.

4. Supporting Clinical and Professional Excellence

The partnership enables PTs to use digital tools as an extension of care beyond in-person sessions.

“I would encourage PTs to use the formulary and think about digital health as an extension of their care, not a replacement. Practically speaking, PTs are with a patient <1% of any given month and digital health can help bolster the therapeutic alliance at home. The more accessible your care is, the more adherent your patients will be. More adherence yields better outcomes.”
This helps reduce variability in app selection, strengthen adherence, and deliver better patient outcomes — a core pillar of APTA’s mission.

5. Enabling Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM)

ORCHA’s platform provides foundational support for Remote Therapeutic Monitoring, helping members identify compliant DHTs that track functional status, adherence, and outcomes. This strengthens APTA’s advocacy for reimbursement expansion and ensures its members are equipped for data-driven, hybrid care models.

"The digital health library we hold offers one of the most valuable resources for our members."

Justin Moore

CEO, APTA

Results & ROI

Since launching in 2023, the APTA Digital Health Formulary has achieved significant engagement and measurable value.

These results demonstrate clear ROI for members, stakeholders, and sponsors, validating digital health innovation as a core component of APTA’s strategic success.

12,000+

member sessions

100s

increased clinician confidence