random topic but what are some quality metaphors or clinical pearls you frequently tell pts that seem to resonate with them. it could be about anything related to PT (anatomy, physiology, prognosis, diagnosis, etc). I sometimes struggle to provide patient education in a way they understand and hoping to get some ideas. I see a mix of ortho/neuro/transplant/general deconditioning but would appreciate all suggestions!

Hi all, I'm a recent graduate from PT school and accepted a job offer at a level 1 trauma center for acute care. I start in a couple of weeks but I am a little anxious as only my second clinical rotation (almost two years ago now) was in acute care at a level 3 trauma center (the rest in outpatient ortho/sports). While I learned a lot and performed really well during my acute care rotation, I don't know what to expect in terms of a level 1 compared to a level 3.

I'd appreciate any clinical pearls or tips that anybody would be able to provide working in an acute care setting as well as any big things I should brush up on before starting. Thank you!

Hi all, for those who has taken worker's comp cases, I am wondering how that works out compared to typical insurance coverage?

1. How is the paperwork/ documentation like?

2. What is the pay schedule like?

3. Can one submit a superbill and have it set up like an "out of network" type of situation?

4. Any additional watch-outs?

5. Anyone who is on the camp of "workers comp is totally great" vs. "avoid at all cost" - why, if either way?

6. Anything else to share? (e.g., dealing with legal, documentation, patients, etc). Does anyone treat people differently because they are WC cases?

Thanks in advance!

Just wanted some advice for my current situation… my first job out of school was basically a dream job. Performance cash-based PT with a focus on runners. They hired me knowing a was a new grad with a mentorship that lasted a few months. I was learning a lot and gradually improving. They just let me go yesterday, feeling sorry that they didn’t realize sooner that I just needed more clinical experience before I was set loose on my own. The standards are higher there, and I get that. I’m pretty devastated because I know the reality of every other PT setting out there and feel depressed that I’m going to have to return to clients/patients that aren’t motivated, worrying about insurance, etc. I feel like I fucked up an amazing opportunity. If you were in my shoes how would you move on from this?? I’m already struggling mentally and with energy levels, I feel like I’ve just been shot. (This is dramatic)

Do these rates seem fair for pay per visit in a LCOL area-

Base rate is $55 for discharge and treatment
Evaluations is $85
Recert is $90
Oasis is $130.

Benefits wise
Dental/vision/medical insurance
401k match to 4%
10 days of PTO in January
No paid maternity/paternity leave
25 vs minimum average is 25-30
No defined radius but near my area.

I do have 2 years of OP ortho experience but looking for a pay raise and more flexible hours.

Let me know your thoughts and if you have any additional questions

I'm a PTA in a private clinic, but the owner recently decided to merge with Ivy Health for a private practice partnership. I'm still finding out in real time what all this means, and he doesn't have a lot of info to give us either. I know they use Raintree, which I've heard a lot of negative things about, and we'll be trained on this and expected to switch over. Has anyone gone through this? What changes are expected of the clinic and therapists? And I'm really skeptical about the "ambient AI listening" with ScribeIQ. It seems like we'll have to wear microphones during treatment? This makes me feel really uncomfortable both with colleague and patient conversations. Patient relationships and personal talk is a big part of our practice. I pride myself on my patients feeling open to tell me anything, and I know my colleagues do too. I know having a microphone listening will change that. I'm concerned about staff morale and losing what makes our clinic great these changes. It would really help to hear honest opinions from anyone who has experience. Thanks!

Do you folks enjoy working there? Hoping to apply in the future once a position opens up.

I’m a PTA and looking to get a job in pelvic health how much slid a great annual salary for me in NYC? Like what can I reasonably push for?

Kinda shit post, kinda not.

Essentially I want to hear from others who have maybe experienced similar.

I’m a travel PT making close to 3k/wk after tax in a HCOL area. I did the math and to make the same at a perm role I’d need to gross 230-235k, which is pretty much not a thing as a staff PT. I’ve only been traveling for a little over a year but I’m tired of relocation, starting over, moving all my shit, making new friends, etc.

But I don’t know how I can go from my current pay to likely a fraction of it for the same job. On top of that, having less flexibility and needing to ask for PTO rather than just taking time off between contracts makes me want to throw up.

I love travel PT for the pay and flexibility but it’s not sustainable to put down roots, date, have a family, etc.

I feel like my hands are tied at the moment.

Off the record,,,,,, has anyone taken the pelvic floor courses 1-2c through HW that would be willing to share their course manual 👀

I took the courses back when the manual was just a bunch of PowerPoint slides and the new way they’re doing the manuals is so much better. I contacted HW and they said the only way I can get the updated ones is to retake the course or be a TA which I don’t have the time or desire to do 😭

Hello fellow physios ! Im into the search of expanding my cpd library as a sports physio but i dont want to spend money on just marketing traps that there are plenty in our industry.So if you are satisfied of cpd you did more specifically related to sports physio i would love to know !

I keep seeing posts from physical therapists saying they are frustrated, burned out, underpaid, or that they would not choose PT again.

Instead of simply saying, “PT is a bad profession” or “I regret becoming a PT,” I think we should identify why people feel this way.

You cannot change a problem until you know what actually needs to change.

So, PTs: What is the main reason you are unhappy, frustrated, or burned out?

If you are personally happy with PT but have friends or coworkers who are not, what reasons have they given you?

For example:

• Salary too low compared with the education required?
• Student loan debt?
• Poor ROI on the DPT degree?
• Productivity requirements?
• Too many patients per day?
• Documentation after hours?
• Insurance companies and reimbursement cuts?
• Lack of raises or salary growth?
• Limited career advancement?
• Physical demands of the job?
• Difficult patients?
• Management or corporate ownership?
• Working evenings/weekends?
• Lack of professional respect?
• Feeling that the doctorate does not match the compensation or authority?
• Medicare/insurance regulations?
• Burnout from doing the same treatments repeatedly?
• Lack of autonomy?
• Owning a clinic becoming harder and less profitable?
• Something completely different?

And if you are happy being a PT, I would like to hear from you too.

What are you doing differently?

What setting are you in? How many patients do you see? How many hours do you work? Do you own a practice? Work PRN? Home health? Hospital? Cash-based? Are you satisfied financially?

Maybe the problem isn't simply “physical therapy.”

Maybe there are several different problems hiding underneath that statement.

Before a profession can improve, we need to understand exactly what is making people want to leave it.

So if you could change ONE thing about the PT profession that would make the biggest difference in your quality of life, what would it be?

Currently HHPT, considering travel HHPT position. Any advise of competitive total package per assignment or per month? Not sure how pay structures are; the detailed the advise in terms of negotiables and non- negotiables, you would all be appreciated

Hey all, would appreciate some help finding a good clinic for a family member of mine who will be in Scottsdale for cancer treatment over the next few months. He has recently been in the hospital and had a trach put in, will be DCd to OP but going out of state for onc treatment.

The rx mentioned ATI but I won’t allow that to happen. I’m a PT in another state but am not familiar with the reputation of AZ companies, and know that in my city there would be a handful of places I would NOT let a family member go to.

Outside of looking at reviews I thought there may be some of yall in the area that had helpful recommendations.

Working SNF for the first time:
as a PT is it legal for me to co sign a note from a PTA from a session that occurred on my off day? This had never come up as an issue at my previous job

Called out sick today due to my own body issues. We do a lot of manual therapy (I know, I know.) so I just didn’t feel like being in pain while treating today. I get asked if I can come in for one patient who would be pro-bono. They were a previous patient but came for a separate body part a long time ago. I’m also a PTA, so I don’t feel comfortable seeing patients for their first appt. Idk it just rubbed me the wrong way. The patient can wait like the rest for a proper evaluation. I’m taking a sick day, so no, I am not coming to work for one patient. Rant over.

We are shut out from lucrative careers in business, finance, marketing, AI, tech. All of these awesome, cushy jobs we will never get to participate in, simply because we took the easy way out and became PTs.

With our salary alone, we are literally unable to financially survive in HCOL areas where our peers are thriving.

SPTs, please be sure you pick a spouse who is anything but another Physical Therapist or enjoy having roommates until you’re 40. :(

Hello,
Im a foreign grad PT with 6 years of experience in India and UK. Currently working as PT for 54$ per hour in bay area, california. It is not a mil, no aides, no double booking but I see 14-15 patients everyday and lots of manual therapy😪
This is my first job in US, it’s been only 4 months and I’m kind of starting to feel the burn out. My body hurts and most of the stuff we do (electrotherapy, manual therapy) is not even evidence based. I keep comparing the work with UK’s healthcare and culture. This game of insurance of productivity and all this mess is driving me crazy. And I get only 10 days of PTO and 5 days of sick leave. 😭

I have no friends here yet so I don’t even know anyone to ask advice. Should I explore more options? I like working in Ortho outpatient setting. I have done it for years but never felt this way. I guess this is how it is in US.
I heard worse things about mil and double booking and all, so should I be happy where I am? Or are there better places in bay area? How’s working as PT in sutter/ kaiser? What is the pay like?

I’m also doing pelvic floor certification next month. My interest lies there too. Hoping that opens doors for better opportunities. I’m looking for slow paced work, flexibility and more PTO.

Please share your thoughts/ advice.

Hi everybody, I'm new to this subreddit and I believe this question doesn't break any rules. Sorry if I misflaired the post as well.

Basically, I know some people will watch YouTube tutorials to get free exercises to help with pain relief or stretches instead of going to a real PT.

So my question is, does it seem most people still prefer to go to a real PT in-person despite the availability of online resources?

Earlier this year I even had to go to PT in-person for my back, and I know I personally prefer it to any YouTube videos as I can talk with someone about my specific issue and get specialized care and attention from a legit professional. I'm curious if the online videos and tutorials affects the amount of patients available to treat basically.

Thank you all in advance for your knowledge and answers!

Sincerely, an IT infra engineer looking to change careers

There is a local public University that will allow a DPT to earn a PhD in Health Science in about 47 credit hours. I was considering it as long as it can be done part-time with the long-term goal of transitioning into a teaching career in my 40s. Has anyone done this recently? How is it working out for you?

I’m wondering about applying for licensure in states that are not part of the compact as I’m planning on beginning traveling PT soon. If anyone has any experience or information/suggestions on the process for obtaining licensure in the states listed below, I would appreciate it!

Florida
Hawaii
Idaho
Maine
Massachusetts

I recently moved from clinic into HH “full time” just short of 2 months ago as a PPV 1099 IC in California. Is it normal to have some weeks be 23 visits and then other weeks be 16 for example? Do you work for 1 staffing agency or multiple HH agencies? I’m really anxious with the fluctuations in census but I’ve been averaging 35-40 visits every 2 weeks with my current agency which brings be close to what I was making in clinic more or less when I factor after what I have to put away for insurance- but would like to be closer to 45-50 visits. I would be lying if sometimes said I didn’t look at the next week ahead and it sends me into a little bit of a spiral (right now I’m at 6 visits for next week). I am about to probably start taking patients from another staffing agency but they’re already coming across a little flaky

I really enjoy working with my current staffing agency, I make a good rate, and the owner who’s a PT has been mentoring me since I started at part time in March before going FT. But your girl has debt and bills to pay. I guess I’m looking for advice, words of wisdom/encouragement or at this point recommended side gigs. TIA