Dr. Kristi Henderson, DNP, FAAN, CEO of Confluent Health, recently shared her vision for the company’s future in an interview with Louisville Business First. A trailblazer in healthcare innovation, Henderson took the reins at Confluent Health in 2023 and has already made significant strides in expanding the company’s national footprint while maintaining a focus on quality care.
Before accepting the role, Henderson went undercover as a patient to experience Confluent Health’s care firsthand. Her goal? To ensure the company’s rapid growth didn’t compromise its commitment to excellence. “What I found was incredibly talented and skilled therapists,” she said. “There was an energy in the clinic that was so interesting.”
Confluent Health has grown exponentially under Henderson’s leadership, adding six Partner Brands and 126 clinics over the past 18 months. Now with 800+ outpatient physical therapy centers across 49 states, the company’s model of empowering local practices while providing centralized resources has fueled coast-to-coast expansion.
Henderson’s career reflects her passion for access to care and innovation. From launching one of the nation’s first telehealth programs in Mississippi to spearheading virtual care initiatives at Amazon and Ascension Healthcare, she has consistently sought ways to improve healthcare delivery. At Confluent Health, she’s applying these lessons to bring new technologies, such as AI tools, into clinics and to advocate for value-based care models that emphasize outcomes over volume.
“I believe PT first should be the model of healthcare,” Henderson said. “It’s about closing gaps in care, opening new clinics, and advocating for policy changes to make physical therapy accessible and preventative.
With Confluent Health’s ambitious growth trajectory and Henderson’s innovative leadership, the company is poised to transform musculoskeletal care nationwide.
Read the full interview in Louisville Business First for insights into her journey and plans for the future: https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2024/12/06/kristi-henderson-profile-ceo-of-confluent-health.html