I will soon be interviewing Brandon Decker, the head of the Pre-Physical Therapy Association. I emailed him the other day, and I'm sure he will be getting ahold of me soon. This association provides the opportunities and information about how to become a successful program applicant. Some things I will be asking him:
What is a meeting for this association like?
What is your favorite part of the meeting?
Do you learn a lot?
Is is a fun group?
What are some things you usually discuss?
What is the environment like?
This is what I have so far, and I'm sure more questions will come up throughout the interview. I'll post those when I actually do the interview. I'm really excited to learn about this group and potentially join! I'm sure it's really helpful with learning about physical therapy.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Starting a Physical Therapy Practice
If I actually get into physical therapy, I will want to start my own business. I don't like taking orders, and I think it would just be better for me to do my own thing. I also don't really want to work in a hospital. All those scrubs are so ugly. I realize this is a lot of work, but I know it's what I want to do eventually. I like to be in charge so, yeah, that's my plan.
I read about the process of starting your own practice. I already know the top states to live to start my practice from a previous post, but I want to know what my plan would be from there. This is what I learned from the site Nitin 360 (http://www.nitin360.com/starting-a-physical-therapy-practice.html).
The first thing the site tells you is to make sure it's what you want because you have to love helping people for it to all work out in the end. Or else you'd be stuck in something you hate for a while. Anyway though.
I need to prepare a financial statement in order to find out how much I can put to raise funds for the private project. I've got to have a good business plan, and identify where my business will be situated because it has to be accessible to my clients.
Competition is important. I have to make sure I know who they are and where they are. This makes sense. So don't put my business around some big, known practice or else I won't have any patients.
Another hint they give is to make sure I know what to do when certain situations arise so that I can avoid embarrassment from fellow colleagues.
I have to plan a lot. That's for sure. Don't want anything to go wrong. And prepare for criticism, what can you do to avoid that though.
I won't make all my money back going right into it, so I have to pull through even when the times are tough at the beginning. It will eventually profit.
I might need a business consultant, but they're expensive, so I'm going to try to stay away from that.
ADVERTISE. Tell everyone. Use all my connections from family, friends, and coworkers in order to get word out.
Staff is really important. I have to make sure they all are up to par by having weekly review meetings. I will fully check the workers out to ensure they love helping people as much as me. Oh, and be good to them, but still a leader. Makes sense.
Lastly, feedback from clients is a big thing, I've got to be clear with them, be friendly and caring, and really show them how to get better.
I can definitely do this.
I read about the process of starting your own practice. I already know the top states to live to start my practice from a previous post, but I want to know what my plan would be from there. This is what I learned from the site Nitin 360 (http://www.nitin360.com/starting-a-physical-therapy-practice.html).
The first thing the site tells you is to make sure it's what you want because you have to love helping people for it to all work out in the end. Or else you'd be stuck in something you hate for a while. Anyway though.
I need to prepare a financial statement in order to find out how much I can put to raise funds for the private project. I've got to have a good business plan, and identify where my business will be situated because it has to be accessible to my clients.
Competition is important. I have to make sure I know who they are and where they are. This makes sense. So don't put my business around some big, known practice or else I won't have any patients.
Another hint they give is to make sure I know what to do when certain situations arise so that I can avoid embarrassment from fellow colleagues.
I have to plan a lot. That's for sure. Don't want anything to go wrong. And prepare for criticism, what can you do to avoid that though.
I won't make all my money back going right into it, so I have to pull through even when the times are tough at the beginning. It will eventually profit.
I might need a business consultant, but they're expensive, so I'm going to try to stay away from that.
ADVERTISE. Tell everyone. Use all my connections from family, friends, and coworkers in order to get word out.
Staff is really important. I have to make sure they all are up to par by having weekly review meetings. I will fully check the workers out to ensure they love helping people as much as me. Oh, and be good to them, but still a leader. Makes sense.
Lastly, feedback from clients is a big thing, I've got to be clear with them, be friendly and caring, and really show them how to get better.
I can definitely do this.
PT Interview Questions
I will be interviewing my mom's friend Susan over the phone. She's a physical therapist that lives in gun lake and works at a hospital.
What do you have to write?
How do you write it? Is there a process involved each time? Do different processes vary?
What type of communication do you have to use when interacting with people?
How does it vary with different people? Patients, family, fellow doctors?
Do you like to write? Is there a lot involved with this career?
Have you worked in different environments where the writing changes or is it always the same?
Is there anything else should know about the writing process for physical therapy?
What do you have to write?
How do you write it? Is there a process involved each time? Do different processes vary?
What type of communication do you have to use when interacting with people?
How does it vary with different people? Patients, family, fellow doctors?
Do you like to write? Is there a lot involved with this career?
Have you worked in different environments where the writing changes or is it always the same?
Is there anything else should know about the writing process for physical therapy?
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Delivery & Style of 3 Sources
Blog: http://intouchpt.wordpress.com
Harrison Vaughan delivers his blog through a digital setting, on the internet. He most likely did this because it's most accessible to people, most everyone has a computer. He makes it relatable to his audience because he starts with "I’m sure you’ve heard of the saying, 'Look Ma, No Hands!' and may have said it yourself when you first took your hands off of the bicycle", which made me more interested right from the beginning.
The style he uses is obviously professional, because he knows his stuff. I can tell because he discusses his past experience so the audience knows he is credible. He gives a lot of examples of what he's trying to say so that his audience understands completely what he's trying to get across. He also makes it seem like what he's saying is important for the patients. He reiterates the importance of decreasing bias when physical therapists assess the patient's healing. He also puts a lot of explanation into the different processes. It made me think that I could trust what this guy was saying.
Newspaper article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/world/asia/patching-troops-together-one-ache-at-a-time.html?pagewanted=1&ref=physicaltherapy
Graham Bowley delivers this article in a very sincere way. I read it as a digital source on the internet, but it also was in the actual New York Times newspaper. So, it is very accessible to a variety of audiences. The reason I think it's sincere is because he delivers it with a picture of a woman in the army, helping an army guy with a bad leg. And he starts the article with giving her a lot of credit. I think he wants to make it known right away that this is a touching story. Probably to catch more attention I'd say.
The style he uses is very serious, because it's a serious situation. He tries to make the audience feel some pity for the soldiers. He describes what the soldiers have to go through in great detail, and gives facts like that there's only one physical therapist for a combat of 100 soldiers. He did a good job of using this style to affect the audience. He almost made it feel real to me, and allowed me to understand what it's like for soldiers and physical therapists in war. It was very affective.
Scholarly Article: http://search.proquest.com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/docview/223126513/1392409039DCA4F751/11?accountid=12598
The article, "Physical therapy to improve functioning of older people in residential care facilities" was delivered very basic, and not personal or made relateable at all. It's on the internet so it's accessible. It seemed very straightforward. I take this as a professional, quick research when I see this delivery.
The author, Nancy Harada, has a very blunt, straightforward style. Just a proffessional tone. She gives her research, process, and results, that's all. It was just very quick and impersonal.
Harrison Vaughan delivers his blog through a digital setting, on the internet. He most likely did this because it's most accessible to people, most everyone has a computer. He makes it relatable to his audience because he starts with "I’m sure you’ve heard of the saying, 'Look Ma, No Hands!' and may have said it yourself when you first took your hands off of the bicycle", which made me more interested right from the beginning.
The style he uses is obviously professional, because he knows his stuff. I can tell because he discusses his past experience so the audience knows he is credible. He gives a lot of examples of what he's trying to say so that his audience understands completely what he's trying to get across. He also makes it seem like what he's saying is important for the patients. He reiterates the importance of decreasing bias when physical therapists assess the patient's healing. He also puts a lot of explanation into the different processes. It made me think that I could trust what this guy was saying.
Newspaper article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/world/asia/patching-troops-together-one-ache-at-a-time.html?pagewanted=1&ref=physicaltherapy
Graham Bowley delivers this article in a very sincere way. I read it as a digital source on the internet, but it also was in the actual New York Times newspaper. So, it is very accessible to a variety of audiences. The reason I think it's sincere is because he delivers it with a picture of a woman in the army, helping an army guy with a bad leg. And he starts the article with giving her a lot of credit. I think he wants to make it known right away that this is a touching story. Probably to catch more attention I'd say.
The style he uses is very serious, because it's a serious situation. He tries to make the audience feel some pity for the soldiers. He describes what the soldiers have to go through in great detail, and gives facts like that there's only one physical therapist for a combat of 100 soldiers. He did a good job of using this style to affect the audience. He almost made it feel real to me, and allowed me to understand what it's like for soldiers and physical therapists in war. It was very affective.
Scholarly Article: http://search.proquest.com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/docview/223126513/1392409039DCA4F751/11?accountid=12598
The article, "Physical therapy to improve functioning of older people in residential care facilities" was delivered very basic, and not personal or made relateable at all. It's on the internet so it's accessible. It seemed very straightforward. I take this as a professional, quick research when I see this delivery.
The author, Nancy Harada, has a very blunt, straightforward style. Just a proffessional tone. She gives her research, process, and results, that's all. It was just very quick and impersonal.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Wii Golf Now Used for PT Patients
In the New York Times article, "Physical Therapists Turn to Wii Golf", I was very pleased with how beneficial this high tech game has been for patients. There has been a lot of positive feedback. I have learned that wii golf has helped PT patients with balance as well as movement. And the patients find it more pleasurable than anything. Usually PT stands for pain and torture for patients, but they don't even count it as therapy because it's so fun. It brings a little competition for them too, in big settings. And it allows patients to be more independent with their therapy. This way they can play at home, either alone or with family members, and it gives them a chance to practice without actually being with a therapist. Patients gain a lot of coordination with the different buttons and ranges of movement. I find it so interesting that physical therapists use these types of alternative methods to help their patients. The doctor in the article discusses how important it is for a patient to have a meaningful and fun therapy, because this helps with progress. I think it's exciting that there are different sources and tools of helping a patient heal. Therapy gets old I'm sure, and this is a fun way of keeping things interesting.
Mickey from The New York Times Website
Ten Questions about Physical Therapy
1. How long do you have to go to school?
A Bachelor's degree along with a doctoral program, so 4 years then 3 years for the doctoral program. 7 years, plus they should continue to take classes throughout their career.
2. What kinds of classes do you have to take?
Courses in biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, and pharmacology.
3. Is it more common to work for a hospital or start your own business?
It's more common to work in a hospital, about 28% in hospitals, 10% in home health care, and 7% are self employed.
4. Which state is the most popular place to start a business for physical therapy?
California's the top place, with New Jersey and Maryland right behind.
5. What exactly does a physical therapist do in a day?
They diagnose their patient after watching the difficulty they have with movement, then set up a plan for them to get better, go through the exercises with them, evaluate their progress as time goes on. They also have to educate their patient and family of what to expect and how to cope.
6. Are there a lot of jobs in this field?
Last recorded in 2010, there were 198,600 jobs.
7. What is the salary?
Median salary is $76,310, about $36.69 an hour.
8. What kind of people do you work with?
All ages, people with injuries, sprains, strains, fractures, arthritis, strokes, amputation, birth conditions, ect.
9. What qualities should you have to be a physical therapist?
Compassionate (desire to help people), detail oriented( be able to observe and analyze the problem), dexterity(comfortable working with hands), interpersonal skills(should enjoy working with people and be able to communicate),and physical stamina(on feet all day and need to lift sometimes) are all important.
10. Is there going to be jobs in the future?
It is predicted that jobs will go up 39% from 2010 to 2020, with a raise of 77,400 jobs.
(Occupational Outlook Handbook)
A Bachelor's degree along with a doctoral program, so 4 years then 3 years for the doctoral program. 7 years, plus they should continue to take classes throughout their career.
2. What kinds of classes do you have to take?
Courses in biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, and pharmacology.
3. Is it more common to work for a hospital or start your own business?
It's more common to work in a hospital, about 28% in hospitals, 10% in home health care, and 7% are self employed.
4. Which state is the most popular place to start a business for physical therapy?
California's the top place, with New Jersey and Maryland right behind.
5. What exactly does a physical therapist do in a day?
They diagnose their patient after watching the difficulty they have with movement, then set up a plan for them to get better, go through the exercises with them, evaluate their progress as time goes on. They also have to educate their patient and family of what to expect and how to cope.
6. Are there a lot of jobs in this field?
Last recorded in 2010, there were 198,600 jobs.
7. What is the salary?
Median salary is $76,310, about $36.69 an hour.
8. What kind of people do you work with?
All ages, people with injuries, sprains, strains, fractures, arthritis, strokes, amputation, birth conditions, ect.
9. What qualities should you have to be a physical therapist?
Compassionate (desire to help people), detail oriented( be able to observe and analyze the problem), dexterity(comfortable working with hands), interpersonal skills(should enjoy working with people and be able to communicate),and physical stamina(on feet all day and need to lift sometimes) are all important.
10. Is there going to be jobs in the future?
It is predicted that jobs will go up 39% from 2010 to 2020, with a raise of 77,400 jobs.
(Occupational Outlook Handbook)
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