Routine is an essential part of our lives. Most of us have a set of habits we do in the morning to help us prepare for the day, things we do at night before we go to bed, or both. Our routines help us get into whatever mindset we need for that point in our day. Another routine every professional has to learn is how to manage their workload, prepare for the day, and prepare for the next day. If you’ve ever been to physical therapy, you understand that you are not the only patient your therapist is seeing that day, and you might wonder how they balance it all. Are they really able to give you the attention you need and deserve?
The truth is that every physical therapist, just like anyone else, has to develop a routine that works for them. To give you a snapshot of a typical physical therapist’s routine, I sat down with one of our long-time clinicians, Allison Schmidt, and discussed a typical day in her life. Through Allison’s story, you can learn how she balances her day and still gives each patient a 5-star experience.
Allison’s daily routine
Allison tries to get to work in the morning at least 20 minutes early to check her schedule to see if anything has changed from the day before. She checks for any special insurance authorizations she might need to submit to the front desk (number of visits they have left, pre-certifications, etc.) and reviews as many patient charts as possible, looking at what they did during their last visit so she can progress them appropriately. Then, she tries to do as much paperwork as she can before her first patient of the day.
Once her first patient arrives, Allison’s day kicks into full gear as she treats and pops into the office to print out home exercise plans. She sees 8-9 patients daily; most full-time physical therapists see between 12 and 14 patients, but Allison has other business office-related duties besides treating patients. If she has a break, she tries to get caught up on notes, reply to emails, and make phone calls. After her last patient, she completes her notes and any billing paperwork she must submit. She always tries to make notes as she goes about her day so she doesn’t forget any important details and can finish them the day of. Once she finishes her notes, she heads home to rest and do it all again the next day.
How her routine has changed
As with any profession, you must adapt your routine over time as you learn what works best for you. Allison has come to prioritize getting to the office early in the morning. Not only does it help her get a head start on paperwork, but she also has time to shift her mindset from mom to physical therapist before she begins her day. She can also grasp what her day will look like instead of diving in headfirst when she gets to the office.
Allison has also figured out how to pre-chart some of her patients before they arrive. If Allison can chart a patient’s basic information before they arrive, she only has to edit minor details after their appointment that day. Making notes as soon as possible helps her better remember those details. Allison will also review visit counts before patients arrive so she isn’t surprised by the number they have left under their insurance coverage.
Allison’s advice for physical therapists
So, what advice does Allison have? First, you need a plan going into the day—it will set you up for success. Having a plan makes everything move more efficiently, and it will hopefully help you not take work home. Since Allison has two children, she wants only to be a mom when she gets home, so being able to work her plan during the day helps her be productive and leave her work at work. In addition to making a plan in the morning, it helps to review the next day before you go so you can have some idea of what your next day will be and you aren’t surprised by anything.
Allison has found that patient interaction and making treatment plans are the easy parts of her job. Still, it’s easy for her to get bogged down in paperwork and insurance documentation. This can be true for any professional, especially someone in healthcare who has to deal with multiple insurance plans daily. Sticking to your plan will help your work become more efficient and allow you to give each patient the attention they deserve.
Speaking of patients, it is easy to let listening to people complain about their ailments wear on you. Allison recommends compartmentalizing work and home life as much as possible while practicing empathetic care for your patients. In your free time, take care of yourself mentally and physically. Do activities you enjoy, whether you spend time with your family, exercise, or read to decompress.
Any physical therapist should consider themselves lucky - you are in a position to help change people’s lives, and lead them toward a lifetime of health and wellness. EW Motion Therapy’s therapists work every day with this mindset, and we are always looking for like-minded and passionate physical therapists to join our team. If you’re interested in EW physical therapy, click here to learn more about our program, and click here to see open positions with us.
