How Top PT's Thrive Without the Burnout

When I graduated from PT school I originally wanted to go down the rabbit hole of becoming the best manual therapist I could be. I had researched all the certifications, looked into which con-ed courses were coming near me, and tried to find mentors to train under. 

The longer I worked in an outpatient ortho clinic, I realized this wasn’t where the magic happened, but it was always where people’s eyes were drawn. 

I was having a conversation with a colleague surrounding this issue, mainly stating how we glamourize the things we can do with our hands from a manual therapy sense in PT school. Each lab is so focused on hand placement, drawing out the skill component, but most importantly, requiring the client to be in-person to perform these interventions… 

So, what does this have to do with the value of PT?

It skews the perception that our manual skills and the time we spend with clients are the main drivers of value… simply by default of the model….

But I want to challenge that. I want to help you reframe your perspective. I want to help you see that your skillset goes beyond using your hands and trading your time (while also respecting those things that can have their place in the journey).

What if you started to see value in the knowledge you possessed? 

The way you filter decisions based on contextual factors to the specific client’s experience.

Helping clients better decipher what intensity they should train at, why they should train at that intensity, or even if they should respect a rest/recovery day. All without the need for a scheduled visit, just a simple send of a message….

What if you started to understand that you could get the same or even superior results if you removed the barrier of the session needing to be a direct trade for time?

Here’s how that works. 

Every day, clients come into the clinic, consuming the education you provide them, only to forget it the moment they walk out the door. True client management when we are talking about return to sport/performance absolutely NEEDS touchpoints beyond the clinic walls… 

The problem is therapists aren’t compensated for this type of management - even though it can be the ultimate driver of a complete outcome. 

So we’ve sought to change that. A new model exists that blends the upside of in-person care with the management of volume, exercise prescription, and decision-making that takes place outside the clinic.

We call it the Performance Provider Growth Model and the intent is to keep great providers in the profession by simply adjusting the demands of the job. We’re seeking to remove the necessity for 40+ clinical hours per week to create recurring revenue that stabilizes the business and allows freedom and flexibility to live the life you dream about. 

The sooner you see your value lies outside your hands and your time, the sooner you can adopt a client management style that is modernized to meet what your clients truly need.