Physical therapy can be a pretty demanding profession. Sure, you aren’t digging ditches in the mud, but you may be lifting patients, managing an outpatient caseload, documenting functional progress, and satisfying insurance regulations to ensure payment.

So, are there things that you can do consistently to make your day in the clinic and your patient interactions go more smoothly? Are there special hacks that the pros use to help them get through a day? You bet there are.

Here is a list of 10 physical therapy pro tips that can help you be a successful physical therapist while working with your patients.

1. Take a 30-Second Break During Your Evaluations

When first meeting a patient and taking a history, your mind may be scrambling to get the story straight and to decide on the best way to assess your patient. A 30-second break after taking the history may be all that you need to clear your head to perform a thorough evaluation. Keep things like a dynamometer or a goniometer in a cabinet or drawer away from the patient. After you get the history for your patient and are ready to start performing tests and measures, excuse yourself to retrieve the measuring equipment. That can give you a quick break to catch your breath, clear your head, and perform the best evaluation and assessment.

2. Start All Evaluations by Asking Your Patient What He or She Does for a Living

When you first meet a patient to perform an evaluation, start your questioning by asking what he or she does for a living. Why? When you ask someone what job they do, you are really asking what position they put their body in all day long. Someone with back pain who sits all day at a desk may need posture correction exercises. A mechanic who reaches overhead at work may be causing their own shoulder pain. This question can also give you insight into how their condition affects their ability to do their job. (Super pro tip: even if your patient is older or elderly, ask what their job is. Never assume someone is retired based upon their age!)

 

3. Grab the Non-Injured Limb During Treatment? No Worries

Uh oh. Your patient has a frozen shoulder on their right side, and you start performing range of motion on the left shoulder. The patient calmly informs you that you are treating the wrong shoulder! What do you do? Simply smile and say, “Oops.” and move to the correct side. It’s not the end of the world; we all make mistakes. Plus you can use that faux pas to see how the patient’s non-injured side moves compared to their injured side and assess the severity of their condition.

4. Mix It Up

Be careful not to fall into the predictable pattern of prescribing exercises to your patients that are all the same sets and repetitions. Mix it up a bit, and prescribe the correct number of reps based on the patient’s needs. Are you working with an endurance athlete? Perhaps prescribe higher repetitions of an exercise. Trying to build strength? Keep it at eight to ten reps. Take a day and visit another PT clinic to learn some different exercises. Just try not to get in a rut of using the same exercises at the same intensity for all your patients. Physical therapy is a specialized service, and your patients should get specialized care from you.

 

5. Rely on Your Clinical Skills and Judgment

These days, it seems that every patient shows up to the physical therapy clinic with X-ray and MRI reports. Is an MRI really necessary before starting PT? Most of the time, the answer is no. Glance at the MRI pictures and reports after your evaluation. This can help keep your clinical skills sharp and can prevent you from performing an examination that is biased by the MRI pictures. Not every patient with a herniated disc requires McKenzie extension exercises. Patients with rotator cuff tears all move differently, and your assessment should reflect that fact. Rely on your clinical skills first and make a professional assessment based on your evaluation findings.

6. Theraband Isn’t Just for Strengthening.

Theraband, or other resistance bands, can be used for activities other than strengthening exercises. If your patient has foot drop, you can tie one end of the band around their upper calf and the opposite end around the patient’s toe. The tension on the band can help pull their ankle up when walking to prevent catching their toe on the floor. If your patient is standing on a dusty or slippery floor, use a small bit of resistance band to help improve contact between your patient’s foot and the floor (much like Dycem).

 

7. Use a Towel as a Handle for Theraband

Do you have a patient who has rheumatoid or osteoarthritis and is having trouble gripping a resistance band? Or are patients complaining about how the resistance band is cutting into their hand while gripping it? If so, there is an easy fix: use a small towel as a handle. Simply tie a loop at the end of the resistance band, and feed a rolled up hand towel through the loop. Now your patient can hold the towel as a handle while performing upper extremity exercises.

8. Don’t Use Fancy Anatomical Terms and Medical Jargon

So, your patient has a posterior lumbar derangement and requires a grade III flexion and rotation mobilization to reduce the derangement and regain normal intervertebral mobility. That sounds impressive, but your patient doesn’t need to know all those fancy words. When you are speaking with doctors, nurses or other physical therapists, it is fine to use medical terminology. But when speaking with patients and their families, use terms that are easily understandable.

 

9. Always Ask Your Patients If They Have Any Questions

It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to stay on schedule and to try to move quickly from one patient to the next. Before leaving any patient, get in the habit of asking if he or she has any questions about their physical therapy care. Taking thirty seconds to ask your patients if everything is clear and understood can help you develop a positive working relationship with your patients.

10. Communicate Effectively With Doctors and Referral Sources

One of the most important things you can do is communicate with professionals who refer patients to you. Be sure to write clear and concise notes, and make sure the doctor (or whoever is reading your notes) understands exactly what your physical therapy plan of care is.

Being a physical therapist can be tough, but it can also be very rewarding. By learning some professional tricks of the trade, you can be sure to maximize your time with your patients to get the best rehabilitation outcomes.

 

 

Let’s talk about your business challenges today.

Our fresh perspectives, experience, and specialized skill sets will get your practice where you want it, and with far less stress.

(833) 764-0178

{Reference: https://www.verywellhealth.com/pro-tips-for-physical-therapists-4066018}

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Don’t Miss the Upcoming Event in Orlando.

Discover how to increase revenue, boost patient loyalty, start profitable cash-based programs, and improve staff efficiency!

Meet our own Mr. Kevin Rausch
who will be speaking.

 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

PRIVATE PRACTICE OWNER, CLINICIAN, OFFICE MANAGER, FRONT-OFFICE, BILLER

• If you are successful, own multiple clinics and is looking to get to the next level

• If you are doing ok, but wish you were doing a lot better

• If you are tired and fed up with POPTS practices, hospitals, corporate groups and declining payments

• If you can’t take a vacation without things falling apart

• If you are dependent on referrals from a handful of physicians

• If you are overloaded, and stuck with your day-to-day tasks as a practice owner

• If you are starting out, and want to hit the ground running, and avoid costly mistakes

• If you want to grow your practice by attracting, hiring, retaining and motivating staff

• If you are the bottleneck in your own practice

• If you have tried other marketing strategies, and nothing has worked

MAY 17, 18, 19 ORLANDO, FL

Visit: https://ignitionevent.com/

 

 

Let’s talk about your business challenges today.

Our fresh perspectives, experience, and specialized skill sets will get your practice where you want it, and with far less stress.

(833) 764-0178

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In a world that is inundated with digital “noise”, and so much information for the public to consume, you need a way to set your practice apart from your competition. The ways in which you can get your physical therapy clinic noticed is through intelligent and directed digital marketing. Enhancing your marketing strategy will allow you to outpace your competition and turn individuals seeking your services into new clients.

By using display ads and geofencing you can ensure that your practice is put directly in the eyes of potential customers.

Display Ads

 

You can think of display ads like the billboards of the internet. They appear when you are scrolling through your Facebook feed or visiting websites looking for ideas for what to cook for dinner tonight. They prominently put your business in the eyes of the consumer, complete with your text and logo. These ads do not happen by chance and they are a good way to keep your business at the front of mind for your next client. By having attractive and effective marketing, you will attract viewers to your ad, which will increase your conversion rate and bring you a whole new client base to compliment the one you already have! These ads can be targeted based on client behavior, based on gathering data and using browsing history. Additionally, when a potential client visits your website, you can stay front of mind by having your ad appear on future websites they visit. The advantage to this is when that individual is ready to choose their physical therapist, your clinic is the first they think of.

Geofencing

 

Geofencing is a location-based digital marketing tool that allows marketers to send advertisements to people’s smartphones depending on their location. In this platform, a virtual line is drawn and when someone crosses that boundary your ads begin to pop up on their device. Once in the defined area, a user who is in an active browser session, or using apps will see the ads appear on their device, whether it be a smartphone or tablet. Geofencing can be used even further to your advantage by hitting those potential clients when they are within the boundaries of your competition, putting your clinic front and center, rather than the “other guys”. You can also target individuals based on their visits to complementary businesses, or based on the area or locations they most frequent or reside in. This technique allows you to specifically and intentionally target those clients in your area, searching for your expertise in PT.

The key is not to work harder, but smarter. We have the digital marketing support to ensure your physical therapy clinic is the clinic that comes to mind when clients are looking for knowledge, expertise, and passion in the PT field!  This is just one more way in which to set your entity apart from all the others! Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PerformPTYourPracticeOptimized or give us a call at 949.300.4294 to see how we can take your clinic and your marketing strategy to the next level!

 

Let’s talk about your business challenges today.

Our fresh perspectives, experience, and specialized skill sets will get your practice where you want it, and with far less stress.

(833) 764-0178

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If you are making the assumption that paying people more is the key to making them happier, guess again. A recent study found that perks can be far more appreciated than a pay raise! What is NOT in dispute is that happy teams perform better and create more revenue in 1001 ways for your practice. Let us help with those patient retention ‘details’. 

Most companies agree that people are their most valuable assets.

What they fail to realize is that for today’s worker, salaries are more of a threshold than a scorecard. In fact, there are many more effective ways to keep your talent happy and engaged.

Company perks remain a major opportunity for most companies, who aren’t taking full advantage of the appeal of non-monetary benefits for most employees. A recent industry study reported that 48% of employees would weigh company benefits and perks, including the availability of snacks, in their decision to find their next job. This is also true when working with temporary workers since perks will more than like determine if they stay after the assignment is done.

But what company perks really matter to employees? If salaries don’t always move the needle, what does? The answers might surprise you…

Using data from a recent Glass-door survey, we’ve compiled the sixteen best employee perks and benefits that offer the biggest bang for your buck into the info-graphic below.

The Top Employee Perks:

 

• Health Insurance

• Vacation/Paid Time Off

• Performance Bonuses

• Paid Sick Days

• 401(k), Retirement Plan and/or Pension

• Flexible Schedule

• Office Perks

• Employee Development Programs

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Employee Discounts

• Gym Membership or Wellness Programs

• Stock Options and/or Equity

• A Diversity Program

 

 

 

Let’s talk about your business challenges today.

Our fresh perspectives, experience, and specialized skill sets will get your practice where you want it, and with far less stress.

(833) 764-0178

https://www.snacknation.com/blog/best-employee-perks/

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Today’s healthcare arena is composed of countless providers and the offering of physical therapy clinics follows suit. Due to the overwhelming availability of specialized treatment facilities, patients must do their research in order to pinpoint a therapist that best fits their unique needs. While recovery focus, which can vary from occupational therapy to sports-related injury rehabilitation, remains a key factor in selecting the right clinic, overall patient experience is critical in determining whether patients choose to return and continue their journey to health. Below we’ll discuss how selecting appropriate furniture and finishes for physical therapy environments can help evoke positive first impressions and a lasting relationship between patient and provider.

Designing Your Space

It comes as no surprise that interior design plays a crucial role in the success of healthcare facilities. After all, how can these providers expect to rehabilitate their clients without the necessary equipment? Treatment tables, storage cabinetry, a variety of seating options and proper flooring all play a part within a physical therapy office and are imperative for staff and patients to achieve their goals. A clinic’s most significant cost will be its staff, so providing them with the tools they need to be efficient in their work will ensure profitability.

Since physical therapy business is referral-based, clinics must inspire a powerful and positive first impression to ensure that patients return for continued treatment. Furniture, finishes and overall functionality play a powerful role in attracting and retaining clients. While interior design will differ between facilities depending on their specialty, physical therapy spaces all aim to provide rejuvenation and restoration of balance. Proper use of these primary elements will help trigger positive first impressions, aid in patient healing and lend a hand in overall clinic profitability.

Lighting: No other medium is as influential on our bodies and minds as light. Studies have shown that natural light deprivation can play a detrimental role in health and well-being, so it obvious that healthcare facilities should allow for as much natural light to permeate their space as possible. Adequate exposure to natural light supports healthy bodily functions, reduces stress and boosts moods, all of which promotes motivation and a sense of rejuvenation for patients. While artificial lighting is also necessary, it is important that it not impede upon provided care. Avoiding overbearing brightness and spaces that are too dim will help staff and patients remain comfortable and efficient.

• Colors, Graphics, Patterns: An article titled, “How Does Color Affect Us?” published by Pantone, a world-renowned authority on color and all color-related trends, noted that “color is light and light is energy.” A great deal of research has found that both psychological and physiological changes occur when humans are exposed to certain colors. They can excite and stimulate, calm and tranquilize, directly influencing moods, emotions, sleep patterns and even appetite. When choosing colors, graphics and patterns for a physical therapy clinic, it is crucial to take into consideration how they will affect patients and their rehabilitation. Bright, high-energy colors like red and orange can be used in the workout room to excite and keep spirits high, while cool blues, greens and other tranquil earth tones can calm and comfort in a massage room. The same mindfulness should flow through into graphic and pattern selections. Research has shown that people prefer natural-colored wood grains over non-grain surfaces. They also feel more comfortable with wood in comparison to more sterile options like glass or chrome. And as discussed in CDI’s previous blog post on biophilic design, connecting patients to the outdoors and natural elements through windows, plants and natural patterns, textures and graphics can boost health and wellness in both staff and patients.

• Functionality: Incorporating the best lighting, color schemes and furniture pieces mean nothing if a space lacks functionality. A physical therapy facility should flow seamlessly based on the specialized treatments that are being offered. Upon their first visit, a patient will discover if the space is easy to navigate, smoothly transitions between furniture and equipment and has the proper amount of space and elements needed to make their medical care and overall experience beneficial. A great deal of planning needs to go into mapping out a clinic’s design, however, understanding the purpose and targeted clientele will aid in appropriately selecting furniture placement and strategizing architectural elements.

In recent months, Corporate Design Interiors (CDI) was presented with the opportunity to work with TeamRehabilitation, a network of therapist-owned outpatient physical therapy clinics located in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Georgia. With three locations recently opened in the greater Milwaukee area and a fourth facility to follow quickly, Team Rehabilitation was looking for a unified aesthetic with their incorporated furniture solutions. In forming relationships with each of the clinic directors and working to understand their targeted approach to patient care, CDI has provided furniture, finishes and design support for the company that best suits their needs and brand identity. The following Kimball product lines were chosen for Team Rehabilitation’s clinics based on a variety of features, sophisticated aesthetics and configurability.

Product Integration

Narrate™

With streamlined framework and unlimited configuration options, Kimball’s Narrate collection is an exceptional solution for reception desk applications within physical therapy clinics. Not only does the collection’s modularity allow for reconfiguration and layout modifications to accommodate employee growth, but its end panel system can be customized with graphics, mixed materials and various panel options to truly personalize a space. Narrate can also be broken down and transported to a new location, further solidifying its value in comparison to immovable millwork. View CDI’s blog post on the Narrate collection for more information and check out Team Rehabilitation’s Narrate reception desk installation below.

Sanctuary™

Kimball Sanctuary’s well-crafted offering of patient room casegoods is easily incorporated within the physical therapy realm and can be specified to meet any clinic’s needs. Boasting a versatile design menu of materials, shapes and base and feet options, combined with easy-access drawers and smooth glides, Sanctuary provides easy solutions for a customized aesthetic. In meeting with Team Rehabilitation’s clinic directors, Sanctuary cabinets were tailored to preferred height and placed next to treatment tables, allowing for quick access to linens and small medical supplies.

 

 

Joya™

Achieving a unified aesthetic throughout a clinic’s seating offering is possible with Kimball’s Joya. The sophisticated collection, which boasts a 3.5” seat cushion for increased comfort, offers a task chair and stool, side chair and stool, as well as a sit-to-stand task chair, giving staff and patients a seating solution no matter the task at hand. With a wide variety of arm and caster options, materials and ergonomic features, Joya is the perfect choice for physical therapy facilities like Team Rehabilitation. The clinic chose to incorporate the side chair in their reception area and beside treatment tables, as well as the task stool for the receptionist. Learn more about the Joya family of seating and its design details on the CDI blog.

Alterna™

Designed to support the ever-evolving healthcare environment, Kimball Alterna provides durable caseworks solutions for the entire facility. The line offers a broad spectrum of easily installed models, all of which include components that can be reconfigured and repurposed should the need arise. Alterna’s lockers are a perfect fit for physical therapy clinics as they give patients storage for their belongings while maintaining a consolidated footprint. For additional Alterna details and thought-starters, read its feature on the CDI blog.

A Rejuvenating Destination

Physical Therapy Clinics bear the responsibility of providing a healing hand to everyone who walks through their doors. Through the implementation of perceptive design elements, facilities of all specialties can reap positive patient feedback and increased profitability. Whether you are a incorporating a subtle paint splash in soothing shades, bridging patients’ connection to nature through finishes and artwork, or offering ergonomic autonomy through seating solutions, even the slightest design enhancement has the ability to evoke a positive first impression and turn a visitor into an established patient. After all, a healthy patient is a happy patient.

 

 

Let’s talk about your business challenges today.

Our fresh perspectives, experience, and specialized skill sets will get your practice where you want it, and with far less stress.

(833) 764-0178

https://corporatedesigninteriors.wordpress.com/2018/02/15/physical-therapy-clinic-design-creating-a-positive-and-profitable-rehabilitation-space/

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As a manager, you want to do right by your employees and support them through intense work periods so they don’t get burned out. But this can be a challenge when you’re feeling overly stressed yourself. How can you take care of yourself so that you have the time and energy to support your team? What steps do you need to take to reduce your stress level? And what actions can you take to improve your team members’ well-being?

What the Experts Say

It’s tough to find the energy you need to help others when you yourself are at your limits. Burnout — as opposed to more run-of-the-mill stress — can cause you to “feel utterly depleted,” says Susan David, a founder of the Harvard/McLean Institute of Coaching and author of Emotional Agility. And it “can permeate all aspects of your life. You are overtired and under-exercised; you’re not attentive to food and nutrition; and you’re disconnected from relationships.” But it’s not just you who suffers. “Your team is picking up on your stress, and it’s making everything worse,” says Whitney Johnson, the author of Build an A-Team: Play to Their Strengths and Lead Them Up the Learning Curve. So for the sake of both your health and the health of your employees, you need to summon all the resources you can to improve matters. Here’s how to do that.

 

Make your own health a priority

Before you can help your team members manage their stress, you need to manage your own. “Instead of hunkering down and concentrating” on your job, “you need to stop, look around, and figure out how you’re going to help your people get what they need,” says Johnson. A good starting point is to take care of your physical and mental health. Eat healthy, wholesome food; exercise regularly; get plenty of sleep at night; “try meditating, and find someone to vent to”— preferably “not your boss.” Taking care of yourself is not an indulgent luxury; it’s a matter of self-preservation. Johnson suggests sharing your tension-management techniques and rituals with your team. “Say, ‘here’s something I’m doing to manage the stress. This is how I cope.’”

Tackle the problem as a group

Even if you haven’t fully reigned in your stress, it’s helpful to demonstrate that you take the issue seriously. You can even suggest that you all take on self-care as a team — learning meditation as a group or sharing tips about what practices are working to reduce stress. You can make it a team goal to keep stress under control, says David. “Say to your team, ‘Even in the context of this change, how do we come together?’” This is helpful for the group but will also keep you accountable for taking care of yourself. Don’t force anyone into these activities though. A sense of autonomy can counteract the symptoms of burnout so you want people to feel they are making their own choices.

Exhibit compassion

Don’t be so hard on yourself or your team. “Burnout can often feel like a personal failing,” says David. But of course, that’s not true: We are all susceptible to it — and, in fact, our “environment precipitates” it. We are “living in an imperfect world, and yet we expect perfection.” Many organizations breed stress. “The ambiguity, the complexity,” not to mention the 24/7 nature of technology, leads many of us to feel “an extreme level of strain.” Be compassionate. Recognize, both inwardly and publicly, “that all of us are doing the best we can with the resources we have been given.” This doesn’t mean that you’re “lazy or letting yourself off the hook.” Rather, you’re “creating a psychologically safe place for yourself and others.” Johnson recommends talking your team through stressful periods in an honest but upbeat way. Yes, the workload is intense. And yes, big, high stakes projects are daunting. Tell your team, “‘We are in this together, and I know we can deliver.’”

Set a good example

You also need to “think about the [behaviors] you’re modeling” to your team, says David. “If you’re running from meeting to meeting and don’t have enough time in the day to breathe,” what message does that send? Set a good example by making downtime a priority. Show your team that you don’t always operate in full-throttle mode at the office. “Bring humanity back into the room,” she says. Johnson agrees. When “your people are completely overwhelmed,” you need to “encourage them to take regular breaks,” she says. “They need time to rest and rejuvenate and disconnect from work.” It’s also important to set limits on how much work encroaches on evenings and weekends. Whatever you do, “don’t send anyone on your team an email at midnight,” says Johnson. “You’re thinking, ‘I’ve got to get this out.’ But you’re also throwing a grenade into your employees’ peace of mind.” Instead, she recommends using Boomerang, or a similar program, that allows you to schedule emails.

 

Focus on the why

A common symptom (and cause) of job-related burnout is a “disconnect between a person’s values” and the work at hand, says David. “You feel stressed and tired, and yet you continue to work and work and work,” all the while forgetting what drew you to your career and organization in the first place. “It can be toxic.” As a leader, you need to “develop a shared sense of why” — as in, why are we driven to accomplish the mission? As a boss, it’s your job to galvanize your team. Remind them of the objective and why it’s important to the organization and your customers. When people have shared values and connection they are more likely to feel positively about their work.

Advocate for your team

If you and your team are suffering under a heavy workload, it might be time to ask your boss for a reprieve. It is your responsibility “to advocate for your team within the context of your organization’s goals,” says Johnson. She recommends talking to your boss about the effect stress is having on morale and performance. “Say, ‘My team is fully committed to this project, but people are tired. And we all know the law of diminishing returns.’” Convey the consequences of burnout and describe how it is in your boss’s best interest to take action. “There are going to be mistakes and slippage. And those will be costly.” Explain that you’re worried you might lose people who are valuable to the organization. Then ask, “can this deadline be pushed back? Or can this assignment be curtailed?” Think, too, about what you can “put in place within your team that can help,” says David. Perhaps certain meetings can be discarded or at least shortened. It’s “important that leaders go to bat” for their employees.

Be a source of optimism

Whenever work is frenzied and frantic, make a concerted effort to promote positivity, says Johnson. This is hard to do when you are stressed out but “look for the good,” she says. “Smile at people. And be kind.” Make sure you regularly acknowledge, recognize, and thank people for their efforts. “Say, ‘I notice you did X. Thank you. I appreciate it.’” Cultivate a feeling of community and social support. When your team hits a milestone or when a particular crunch time is over, celebrate. Acknowledge the accomplishments — yours and the team’s.

Principles to Remember

 

Do

 

• Encourage your team to take regular breaks and seize opportunities to rejuvenate.

• Support your team with inspiring language. Your message should be, “We are in this together.”

• Go to bat for your team. If the workload is too heavy, ask your boss if deadlines can be moved or tasks reassigned.

Don’t

• Neglect your health and well-being. Take good care of yourself and share your favorite stress-reducing strategies with your team.

• Consider burnout a personal failing. Recognize, both inwardly and publicly, that people are doing the best they can with the resources they have.

• Get bogged down in negativity. Be a source of optimism and try to cultivate positivity in the ranks.

 

Let’s talk about your business challenges today.

Our fresh perspectives, experience, and specialized skill sets will get your practice where you want it, and with far less stress.

(833) 764-0178

https://hbr.org/2019/03/how-to-help-your-team-with-burnout-when-youre-burned-out-yourself

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