Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network’s Post

The average graduation rate in outpatient physical therapy is 9% No, that’s not a typo. It’s not 90%. It’s 9. Graduation rate isn’t just a number. It’s a measure of your impact, your efficiency, and ultimately, your success as a clinic. You might be thinking, “Mine is DEFINITELY higher than that.” OR maybe you don’t even know your graduation rate. Remember: what gets measured gets managed. So how do we track this? Here’s a quick way to check your graduation rate: 1. Count your successful discharges over the last 6 months. 2. Divide by total evaluations. 3. Multiple by 100. That’s your percentage. It’s okay. This number might be brutal. Maybe you can’t track it easily. Maybe it’s lower than you expected. Maybe it even explains why Susan’s schedule is always so damn hard to fill (sorry to all the PTs named Susan out there). Beyond getting people better… …Why does this matter? Low graduation rates rob you of the 3Rs crucial for practice growth and raving fan transformation. 1. Reactivation - patients come back with new issues 2. Referral - your marketing efforts compound 3. Reviews - you rank higher on Google, attracting patients and staff Good news: With a handful of small tweaks you can double or even triple your graduation rates. This means: • Fewer new patients needed • Less intake and documentation for your team • No need to fire Susan over those schedule holes So if you want to double (and sometimes even triple) your graduation rates… Join us for our 3-day free virtual 'Fill Your Practice Challenge' starting July 23rd. We'll dive deep into improving your clinic's product for predictable growth. To save your spot, click the link in the comment below. Looking forward to seeing you there.

The average graduation rate in outpatient physical therapy is 9% No, that’s not a typo. It’s not 90%. It’s 9. Graduation rate isn’t just a number. It’s a measure of your impact, your efficiency, and ultimately, your success as a clinic. You might be thinking, “Mine is DEFINITELY higher than that.” OR maybe you don’t even know your graduation rate. Remember: what gets measured gets managed. So how do we track this? Here’s a quick way to check your graduation rate: 1. Count your successful discharges over the last 6 months. 2. Divide by total evaluations. 3. Multiple by 100. That’s your percentage. It’s okay. This number might be brutal. Maybe you can’t track it easily. Maybe it’s lower than you expected. Maybe it even explains why Susan’s schedule is always so damn hard to fill (sorry to all the PTs named Susan out there). Beyond getting people better… …Why does this matter? Low graduation rates rob you of the 3Rs crucial for practice growth and raving fan transformation. 1. Reactivation - patients come back with new issues 2. Referral - your marketing efforts compound 3. Reviews - you rank higher on Google, attracting patients and staff Good news: With a handful of small tweaks you can double or even triple your graduation rates. This means: • Fewer new patients needed • Less intake and documentation for your team • No need to fire Susan over those schedule holes So if you want to double (and sometimes even triple) your graduation rates… Join us for our 3-day free virtual 'Fill Your Practice Challenge' starting July 23rd. We'll dive deep into improving your clinic's product for predictable growth. To save your spot, click the link in the comment below. Looking forward to seeing you there.

The average graduation rate in outpatient physical therapy is 9% No, that’s not a typo. It’s not 90%. It’s 9. Graduation rate isn’t just a number. It’s a measure of your impact, your efficiency, and ultimately, your success as a clinic. You might be thinking, “Mine is DEFINITELY higher than that.” OR maybe you don’t even know your graduation rate. Remember: what gets measured gets managed. So how do we track this? Here’s a quick way to check your graduation rate: 1. Count your successful discharges over the last 6 months. 2. Divide by total evaluations. 3. Multiple by 100. That’s your percentage. It’s okay. This number might be brutal. Maybe you can’t track it easily. Maybe it’s lower than you expected. Maybe it even explains why Susan’s schedule is always so damn hard to fill (sorry to all the PTs named Susan out there). Beyond getting people better… …Why does this matter? Low graduation rates rob you of the 3Rs crucial for practice growth and raving fan transformation. 1. Reactivation - patients come back with new issues 2. Referral - your marketing efforts compound 3. Reviews - you rank higher on Google, attracting patients and staff Good news: With a handful of small tweaks you can double or even triple your graduation rates. This means: • Fewer new patients needed • Less intake and documentation for your team • No need to fire Susan over those schedule holes So if you want to double (and sometimes even triple) your graduation rates… Join us for our 3-day free virtual 'Fill Your Practice Challenge' starting July 23rd. We'll dive deep into improving your clinic's product for predictable growth. To save your spot, click the link in the comment below. Looking forward to seeing you there.

🚀 Calling all Physical Therapists and Clinic Owners! 🏥 You exemplify remarkable resilience. 💪 In the world of physical therapy, providers face a unique set of challenges every day. From patient buy-in to navigating changing legislation, here are just a few hurdles therapists tackle head-on: 1️⃣ Reimbursement cuts: Over the years, CMS has consistently announced plans for deep cuts to specialty services, including physical therapy. 💲📉 2️⃣ Educational Costs and Mounting Debts: The journey to becoming a PT is rewarding but comes with its fair share of financial burdens. APTA has reported that over 90% of physical therapy graduates have debt over $153,000 💰📚 3️⃣ Patient Buy-in, Recovery & Retention: It's not just about getting patients through the door; it's about building trust, achieving results, and keeping them coming back for more. Studies show that physical therapy dropout rates range from 3.8% up to 40%. Add this to a no-show rate of at least 10%. 💼🤝 4️⃣ Physical and Mental Exertion: Working with individuals in pain and suffering can take a toll on both bodies and minds. 🧠😫 5️⃣ Overlapping patients and documentation: Many therapists treat 2 to 3 patients at a time and work unpaid during breaks and after-hours to meet the legal requirements of documentation. ⏱️📝 6️⃣ Changing Legislation and Billing Guidelines: Staying up-to-date and compliant with constantly evolving regulations, Electronic Health Records to ICD-10 code changes, and reimbursement schedules demands a lot of adaptability. 🔄📑 7️⃣ Continuing Education: In an ever-evolving field, staying ahead of the curve requires a commitment to lifelong learning. 📚🌟 8️⃣ Business Skills and Acumen: Running a clinic isn't just about treating patients; it's also about balancing the books, marketing, and ensuring financial viability. 💼📈 9️⃣ Staff Attrition: Nearly 3 million women have dropped out of the workforce in the US since the COVID-19 pandemic. For a profession that comprises nearly 70% women, this poses a serious challenge of a shortage of talent in the future. 🚶♀️🚶♂️ Every day, millions of therapists rise to the occasion and keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible in physical therapy! Despite these challenges, they continue making a positive impact on the lives of our patients and our communities. What keeps you going? 🤔 #PhysicalTherapists #ClinicOwners #TherapyChallenges #HealthcareStruggles #PTLife #TherapyJourney #HealthcareHeroes #PatientCare #PTCommunity #HealthcareProfessionals #KeepPushingBoundaries #StayMotivated

Not all superheroes wear capes; some wear scrubs. After engaging with hundreds of therapists as part of our Customer Discovery process, I can confidently say that they are some of the most resilient individuals I have encountered. While healthcare is tough in general, Physical Therapists face additional hurdles, from managing patient care amidst financial constraints to staying abreast of evolving regulations. Allied healthcare often gets the short end of the stick in negotiating insurance contracts. Consistent reimbursement cuts not only devalue the profession, but also exacerbate financial strain for providers, particularly considering the average debt of over $150k (excluding mortgage) for graduates. Education fees at public universities have doubled in the last three decades. The situation is worsened by Physical Therapy graduates often commencing their careers with lower salaries compared to other healthcare professionals, despite completing at least six years of college. In an era of convenience, it's often easier for patients to pop a painkiller than undertake the hard work of physical rehab, where incremental progress may go unnoticed. Almost half of the patient case load drops out and doesn't continue treatment. This further underscores the challenges of PTs, as they must not only provide treatment but also motivate their patients to persist. Moreover, the physical and emotional toll of lifting, treating, and constantly being surrounded by patients in pain and suffering cannot be understated. Yet, they persevere, adapting and innovating to provide exceptional care. In my opinion, their tireless dedication to helping patients regain mobility and improve their quality of life, even in the face of such challenges, exemplifies their unwavering resilience. Links: 2024 PT Fee Reduction: https://lnkd.in/daC9uVX7 Impact of Student Debt on the Physical Therapy Profession: https://lnkd.in/dvUr4-gN Rising PT Education cost: https://lnkd.in/dRgSS9qe Patient Retention: https://lnkd.in/d4zMg2KD

This article summarizes what I try to achieve and advocate for everyday on an inpatient medical unit as a recreation therapist. https://lnkd.in/gDuUXpnz

The documentation burden can be tough on physical therapists, as I’m sure it is on many healthcare professionals. I recently had a conversation with a colleague about ways we can improve the quality and efficiency of our documentation, and this article by #WebPT came up. 5 great tips that can be utilized whether you have 10 weeks of experience or 10 years!

Being a part of a growing field highlights the importance of cultivating effective changes that benefit the evolution of the industry, future professionals, and patients’ quality of care. According to an online news article titled 'Workforce: New Research Shows Hiring Challenges Continue for Outpatient Physical Therapy Clinics Amid Growth' Published on the PR Newswire website, “From 2023 to 2024, outpatient physical therapy practices reported increases in both the number of employees and job openings, reflecting overall industry growth but also revealing significant hiring hurdles.” The benchmark report published by the American Physical Therapy Association summarizes the need to fill the rising employment demand within the industry. Some of the findings of this report reference the greater demand for physical therapy assistants within the field, as well as the contribution of pay rates and unfavorable work-life balance to employee turnover. I believe addressing these concerns could be beneficial in order to maintain industry standards for professionals, as well as to preserve quality of care for patients. If companies were to raise pay rates, particularly for entry level positions such as physical therapy assistants, the appeal of these roles would likely increase. This could result in more individuals pursuing the career, therefore relieving strain from current employees and contributing to a healthier work-life balance. Additionally, as industry demand continues to grow, I would love to see the quality of educational training for PTA’s evolve accordingly, ensuring that the next class is both qualified and well-equipped for success. https://lnkd.in/gVd8yiSb

Physical therapists are in demand in a variety of work settings. Hospitals, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, and skilled nursing facilities are common settings where physical therapists work. With the growing emphasis on preventive care and wellness, opportunities are also increasing in settings such as fitness centers, sports training facilities, and corporate health programs. Each setting offers unique challenges and rewards, so it's important for physical therapists to consider their interests and career goals when choosing a work setting. #PhysicalTherapy #Healthcare #Wellness

The Secret to Success in Outpatient Physical Therapy, Leadership, and Middle Management In Outpatient PT, success is often a blend of clinical expertise, outstanding patient care, and effective leadership. But what truly sets apart a thriving practice from the rest? The answer lies in the unsung heroes of middle management and their ability to shield their teams from unnecessary disruptions. A picture I recently saw from Reno Perry perfectly encapsulates this idea. It illustrates how great managers protect their teams from the unreasonable demands, constant interruptions, excessive meetings, and the often toxic politics that can plague any workplace. By doing so, they create a sanctuary where therapists can focus on what matters most: delivering top-notch patient care. In my experience, the best managers are those who understand the value of their team's time and energy. They prioritize meaningful work, foster a supportive environment, and cultivate a culture of trust and respect. This not only enhances productivity but also boosts morale and job satisfaction, leading to better outcomes for our patients. As leaders in outpatient physical therapy, it’s our responsibility to advocate for our teams, streamline processes, and eliminate unnecessary barriers. By protecting our therapists from the noise and chaos, we enable them to thrive and provide the highest level of care. Remember, success is not just about clinical skills; it's also about creating a workplace where everyone can excel. Let's strive to be the kind of leaders who empower our teams to achieve their best! #physicaltherapy