PT Solutions

If you can’t be both efficient and caring at the same time, which one should you do first?

Jessica Mueller — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:23:12 +0000

The way you answer this question will certainly reveal something about your philosophy of patient care. Of course efficiency and compassion are both important! But which attribute is more important?

The goal of this article is to first of all help you understand where you fall on the continuum between two health care philosophies, and secondly to invite you to think about whether or not your employer shares your philosophy.

Most therapists find themselves navigating between the following two competing philosophies when it comes to patient care. Sometimes it’s helpful to look at a philosophy in its extreme form, in order to see more clearly the gray areas in between. This oversimplification will hopefully help you recognize the competing principles at work in your organization.

Philosophy_of_Care_Extremes.jpg

Every rehabilitation provider’s philosophy must answer this question:

What is the best way for our organization to financially profit from providing therapy services?

Somehow, rehabilitation providers have to pay their employee and facility expenses, and make a profit for their board of directors. Each rehabilitation provider has to determine how much to profit is acceptable, and find a way to maintain those profit margins, while at the same time providing the best care they can for their patients.

The end result of these choices determines the environment in which you, as a therapist, will be working.

Have your ever had a nagging sense of being a square peg that’s being pushed thru a round hole?

Have you ever felt like the ugly duckling? Different from everyone else, but trying to fit into the system, anyway?

Philosophy of care issues often hide under the surface. It’s tricky – because even when an organization has a clearly defined and communicated mission statement, or philosophy of care, that organization might be operating in a way that contradicts that mission. Actions always speak louder than words.

To determine which way on the scale your employer leans, answer this question:

If I can’t be both efficient and caring at the same time when treating a patient at work, which one would my employer expect me to do first?

If your personal answer to this question is on the opposite end of the spectrum from your employer’s answer, you might want to consider looking for an employer who values the same things that you value. Even though you may have to take a cut in pay or spend more time on your commute, your job satisfaction will increase dramatically.

As a therapist owned and managed staffing agency, we specialize in connecting therapist and therapy providers with compassion, excellence and dedication.
We facilitate permanent, short term, and travel therapy placements.

If we can be of service to you,
PLEASE CONTACT US TODAY -
Email: Jessica@myptsolutions.com
Phone: 616.669.8100
Website: www.myptsolutions.com

What Makes Your Job Worthwhile?

Kris DeBoer — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:49:21 +0000

Location, Location, Location. Usually location has a great deal to do with determining whether or not you are interested in working at specific facility. However, there are factors that make a long commute, or packing up your bags and moving, worth your while.

The number one thing that determines job satisfaction is not a great salary, a comprehensive benefit plan, or having a convenient location…( although all those things are important.) What job satisfaction really boils down to is feeling VALUED and APPRECIATED by your CO -WORKERS and your patients. Your co-workers are the number one factor in how much you enjoy your job. Of course we all know that this factor is out of our control, and we need those valuable life skills of getting along with whomever we happen to be working with….but what if you could choose your work environment based on whom you would be working with?

As a physical therapist, you have a myriad of job opportunities before you. When you apply for a new position, take time to spend a day observing in the gym. Are there any therapists here that you might be able to learn from? Who are you going to be able to ask for suggestions when you run into difficult cases? When does the clinic staff spend time together, just for fun?

The best practice environment is one where the staff works together as a team; where co- workers are looking out for each other and everyone works together to manage the patient caseload. Maybe your clinic isn’t anything like this now… but you have the authority to influence it in that direction.What can you do to create this type of environment? Reading Stephen Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” and discussing each chapter as a staff is a good place to start.

And then…flip the coin. What about those times when you have great co-worker relationships, but you’ve learned all you can from them? Loyalty to your current co-workers will certainly hold you back from moving into new opportunities. How will you know when a new opportunity is worth breaking your current employer or co-worker’s trust?

We’ve watched therapists wrestle with all these questions. And no one can really answer them, except the person who is testing out each new opportunity. However, when you find yourself in a position where you are ready… ready to try something new – we’ll be happy to introduce you to the myriad of opportunities that await you.

PT Solutions has several openings for PTs interested in Outpatient Settings

Kris DeBoer — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:38:34 +0000

PT Solutions currently has openings available for Physical Therapist interested in working in outpatient settings. Locations vary so please contact us today if you are interested. Call Jessica at 616-772-9904 or email jessica@myptsolutions.com

Job Search Information Overload

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 19:01:24 +0000

Have you ever felt yourself shutting down as you stood in front of a café cashier….staring at a huge menu, scribbled on a chalkboard that covers the whole wall?

Our brains are designed to sort and filter information. Too much information, too many decisions…. And suddenly, like one hundred logs jamming a river… everything comes to a stop. We need a brave, careful lumberjack to slowly push some thoughts free so they can start flowing down the river again.

PT Solutions can help you sort thru and understand the myriad of choices and information that jam your thought processes as you determine which job options to pursue.

We have three things to offer you… a listening ear, an experienced opinion, and an opportunity to experiment.

We’ll listen…

The reality is, we sometimes don’t know what is most important to us, until we hear ourselves explaining it to someone else. When you call PT Solutions to find out what job opportunities are available, you’ll be asked the question… What’s your dream job? We can’t guarantee that we’ll find it for you, but just talking with us will help you figure out where to head next.

We’ve been there…

Everyone knows that it’s wise to ask for advice. The best way to prepare for a trip to an unknown destination is to ask for advice from an experienced traveler. Devin DeBoer and John Heyerman, our owners, are working physical therapists. They each have 14 years of experience in permanent settings, as well as short term contract placements. They are available to advise you on the following job settings: Outpatient, Inpatient, Long Term Acute Care Centers, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Home Health, and Department Management.

We’ll let you experiment….

Finally, after you’ve done all your research…. experiment! By taking a 13 week placement, you can try a setting without the long term commitment of a permanent placement. By taking a travel position, you can experiment with living in different parts of the country. Your short term experiences will prepare you to choose a permanent placement with confidence.

Call Jessica at 616.772.9904 or visit our website today – www.myptsolutions.com