If you’ve been a PT for any length of time, you’ve probably found yourself frustrated by the profession’s place in the larger healthcare landscape. Primary care physicians are most people’s entry into any healthcare journey, and because of that relationship, they have come to enjoy a perch atop the provider pyramid when it comes to just about any condition or ailment. So how can rehab therapists carve out a larger role and a bigger reputation within the healthcare hierarchy?

In this episode of the Practice Experience Podcast, WebPT Content Marketing Specialist Dr. Ryan Giebel talks with Jason Collin, PT, MPT, CHPC, Co-Founder and Director of Awesomeness at PT Revolution, discuss some of the ways that PTs can help elevate the profession’s standing, including:

• Building relationships and understanding with other providers;
• Redefining the PT brand; and
• Bringing awareness during National PT Month.

Episode Highlights

On the PT’s value and brand

Jason: We need to differentiate ourselves in other ways to show that we are on par as a healthcare provider and really show that value. And I think there's a big piece of this is having the confidence as PTs to have deep discussions with physicians about what the best plan of care is.

On bridging the gap with physicians 

Jason: What I found through the years is so many docs don't know what PTs really do. We have to educate them in a constructive and collaborative way. We have to let them know what we can do. We have to keep them informed, and be collaborative with them.

On how PT can make inroads with patients

Jason: The experience needs to change. The experience needs to be elevated to a level that people want to be a part of, whatever it is that we're doing… Create an experience that is unforgettable in a positive way that stokes their ambition and gets them to tell everybody else about you.

On keeping up morale in a challenging profession

Ryan: Being in healthcare, whether it's PT or being a physician or nurse, is hard. It's not an easy profession. But you are affecting people's lives and everything that you do occupationally and maybe even not occupationally outside of the clinic, like engagement. And so I think being able to acknowledge that can help keep that team environment and everybody kind of helping build each other up.

On building awareness for PT

Jason: We're in a unique environment;  we're in the mountains, so we do avalanche awareness clinics. We get mountain guides in to talk about being in the backcountry and some basic backcountry survival skills. We do movie nights with some of the local extreme athletes and have them there for Q and A's. So we've positioned ourselves as this hub for mountain athletes, and we don't even have to be there at the forefront saying, where are the experts? This is why, because we're hosting it. So it builds confidence, builds that community around us. And people know what physical therapy is, even if they don't, even if they haven't experienced it and it's not top of mind.

On changing perceptions of PTs

Jason: I think one big thing is we don't see a lot of PTs involved in more civic activities. If you look at city councils and government positions, you don't see a lot of PTs holding those kinds of civic positions. Even community positions, like chamber board members or visitors authority boards—I've done that quite a bit, and I've never had another PT on a board with me. I've never seen another PT, at least in my communities, on more of these community-oriented panels, whether it's elected or selected. And I think that's a big thing, that for whatever reasons, we don't see PT leaders stepping into leadership roles outside of their practice.

On building relationships with physicians

Jason: if we have confidence in who we are and temper that with humility, and then be curious with the physicians, what they want, and it's amazing how much you can get when you can actually, if you can, or you get to talk to a doc…We're learning from other people, asking questions and we just take that active listening role. It sets us up as somebody that people want to come to. And it starts breaking down that barrier of what's PT, who's PT, who do I go to.

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