How to hire a physical therapist?

Physiotherapists work as a team with medical doctors in order to assist injured or ailing people in improving their movement, flexibility, and reduction of physical pain. A physiotherapist cooperates with other medical experts to provide the best possible care for the patients. It ranges from rehabilitating hurt athletes to assisting patients with chronic pain or even working with post-surgery recovery patients. Indeed, in this modern medicine on the go, the role of a physical therapist becomes not only more important but also indispensable. According to research by the National Institute of Health, it is reported that more than 50 million Americans see a physical therapist in one year, and 90% say they experienced enhanced quality of life with their treatment. Therefore, when you wonder how to hire physical therapists, their specialization will definitely prove the greatest difference in a patient’s recovery and quality of life.

Guide to finding the right physical therapist

If you are in a dilemma about how to hire a physical therapist, it will be an easy task once we sign up with the staffing platform. It will become much easier for you to find and recruit physical therapists for your facility. Well, with the help of modern and AI-powered staffing platforms like MedSquirrels, you will have access to an enormous list of available qualified candidates and verified credentials with streamlined recruitment processes. This means you get to hire the physical therapists that fit your requirements, whether it is for a specialty or general therapy needs. This partnership saves time and ensures you get the best care providers for your patients. The process of hiring physical therapists becomes much simpler with a partner in the staffing platform.

Why the hiring boom of physical therapists?

The USA healthcare sector is reforming. It is modernizing with medicine and a shift from fee-for-service care to value-based care, focusing on the quality of service and the resultant patient outcomes. Thus, the physiotherapist plays an important role in achieving such objectives by effective interventions that bring improvement in the functional well-being of the patients.

One of the main reasons why the demand to hire physical therapists in the USA is at an all-time high is due to an aging population. WHO says that by 2030, one in every six people will be 60 years old or over. As the baby boomers reach old age, rehabilitation services need more professional interventions to deal with conditions such as arthritis, stroke recovery, and other geriatric concerns.

The predominance of chronic health conditions like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases in the US population is another explanation for the increasing demand to hire physiotherapists. Various therapeutic methods along with exercise prescription and lifestyle management are advised by physiotherapists to manage chronic health conditions and are found to be mostly effective.

Types of Physical Therapists

Physiotherapists collaborate with physical therapy assistants, educators, social workers, nurses, doctors, and surgeons to treat patients across all age groups, from infants to the elderly. There are ten specializations of physiotherapists classified by the American Board of Physical Therapies Specialities based on the domain they work on, such as,

• Orthopedics
• Sports
• Neurology
• Cardiovascular and pulmonary
• Pediatrics
• Geriatrics
• Women’s Health
• Clinical Electrophysiology
• Oncology
• Wound management.

Qualifications & skillsets required to hire physiotherapists

Typically, to become a physical therapist practitioner, you will have to complete a three-to-four year post-baccalaureate Doctor of Physical Therapy degree or an integrated doctoral program (3+3 physical therapy + degree) that is CAPTE accredited.

Other states require that physiotherapists pass the National Physical Therapy Examination under the Federation of State Board of Physical Therapy. 

Physical therapists may become board-certified when they pass the NPTE and have acquired 2000 hours of clinical practice. Some states require the performance of a jurisprudence exam for physical therapists to test their knowledge on state-specific laws and regulations governing the provision of physical therapy services. Besides the practical skills a physiotherapist should possess, he or she should have skills such as good communication, listening skills, empathy, and problem-solving skills.

License & practice guidelines

The licensure of a Physiotherapist is managed by individual state regulatory boards of the state/jurisdiction in which a Physiotherapist works and must be renewed regularly. Getting a license will include submitting an application, providing proof of education and examination scores, and passing a criminal background check. For most states, continuing education is a condition for license renewal. A Physiotherapist’s scope of work and supervision requirements are defined by the Physical Therapy Practice Act in each state. Before you hire a physiotherapist, ensure that the job description orients with the scope of work established by your state. Even after hiring, the facility must frequently verify that the license of the Physiotherapist hired is up-to-date to avoid any compliance issues.

Job outlook & pay scale

The physical therapy field is growing in salary and demand, along with the quantity of unfilled job positions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a strong employment outlook for physical therapists and says it will grow by 15% between 2022 and 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for physiotherapists in states like California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania is very high, with the highest employment levels for physical therapists.

Physiotherapists can work in multiple facilities. Some of the places are hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, and private practices. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as of May 2023, the median annual wage for physical therapists is approximately $99,710. Here is a brief summary of the jobs by title and average annual salary to refer to when hiring a physical therapist.

(reference: https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/us-physiotherapist-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,18.htm)

• Physical Therapist – $85,447 per year
• Pediatric Physical Therapist – $97,367 per year
• Home Care Physical Therapist – $95,657 per year
• Staff Physical Therapist – $90,122 per year
• Outpatient Physical Therapist – $86,067 per year
• Registered Physical Therapist – $86,000 per year

Checklist to hire Physical Therapist

Here is a quick checklist to refer to when hiring a physical therapist for your facility.

• Confirm that the candidate has a DAPT degree from an accredited institution.
• Check if they are licensed to practice in the state where your facility is located.
• If licensed in another state, check for reciprocity and endorsement as applicable.
• Check whether the candidate has passed the jurisprudence exam, if applicable, in your state.
• Find other specific certifications or training in specialized services such as sports therapy, geriatric care, and pediatric care that your facility requires.
• Identify the candidate’s working experience in the field.
• Evaluate their expertise in the use of different physiotherapy modalities and equipment.
• Good communication skills must be observed since effective communication with patients and their families, as well as the ability to cooperate with other professionals involved in health care, is required.
• Ensure the candidate has a clean disciplinary record with no history of malpractice.

Challenges while hiring Physiotherapists

• Lack of Physiotherapists with specialized skills and expertise in the domain
• Differing state licensing requirements
• Varying scope of practice restrictions based on the state
• Compliance issues when regular renewal of the license is missed
• Challenging work conditions leading to staff burnout
• The gap between patient demand and the availability of skilled professionals

How is MedSquirrels a solution to hiring physical therapists?

It is evident that the main challenge is the shortage of physiotherapists with specialized skills and knowledge in their domain. Plus, there are a lot of facilities competing for the same top talent, which will lead you to pay more to hire them. Due to this, your facility may have to go over the budget allotted to hire physical therapists or may not be able to hire them at all. Are you wondering, “where to hire a physical therapist”? These challenges can be alleviated if you associate with an experienced hiring platform like MedSquirrels. All of your recruitment processes will be comfortable and smooth by entrusting your hiring requirements to MedSquirrels. Using our model, we aim to attract the best talent for physical therapists available, compensate them with top dollar, and yet remain budget-friendly. From the first recruitment effort to credentialing, compliance verification, and onboarding, MedSquirrels delivers the painless aspect of a recruitment process.  Get answers about how MedSquirrels can help you with your hiring needs. Request a demo today.

FAQs

What licensures and education degrees are essential for hiring a physical therapist?

The licensures and education degrees are Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degrees from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Must pass the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) to obtain licensure as a physical therapist.

What is the average salary of a PT in Irvine?

The average physical therapy salary in Irvine, CA, is $105,000 per year or $50.48 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $55,422 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $127,119 per year

What types of physical therapists can I hire?

There are different types of physical therapists  to be hired for healthcare facilities but 9 types of physical therapy specialties career hopefuls can consider for better growth,they are,

1. Pediatrics
2. Sports
3. Women’s health
4. Geriatrics
5. Clinical electrophysiology
6. Cardiovascular and pulmonary
7. Neurology
8. Orthopedics
9. Oncology

What are the benefits of using a staffing platform to hire physical therapists?

The benefits of using a staffing platform to hire a physical therapist include a streamlined process, access to a larger talent pool, and reduced hiring time. You can also reduce your overall hiring costs as staffing platforms do not charge markups or additional fees. 

How to hire a physical therapist quickly and efficiently?

The entire process of hiring a PT can be time-consuming and tedious as numerous steps are involved, including talent scouting, interviewing, onboarding, credentialing,  and more. To expedite the hiring of PTs, you can leverage a staffing platform that takes the responsibility of staffing top-tier PTs based on your facility’s job requirements.  MedSquirrels is one such staffing platform that can provide you with curated profiles of pre-screened candidates and facilitate the interview process. It will also handle quick credentialing and smoother onboarding of your hired PTs.