Physical therapy schools do not prepare private practitioners for the harsh realities of running their own business. Physical therapy management must be learned fast for the practice to succeed. In retrospect, university provides the relevant technical knowledge and skills sets of a clinician to treat patients. However, before you can even begin treating patients, you have to get patients inside your clinic. This involves marketing which is one function of physical therapy management and new private practitioners are at a loss where to begin.
Physical therapy management is basically about planning, leading, organizing and controlling. You have to have very clear systems in place and they should be documented to serve as the standard operating procedures of the business. Granted, it is easier said than done because it is a complex process which can be boring at times but very necessary and important.
Investing in courses to strengthen your physical therapy management skills will make a huge difference. Having a business coach will also help a lot. Their insights gained from experience will be valuable in coping with meeting and overcoming the challenges of somebody new to physical therapy management.
One important aspect of physical therapy management is financial management. Your physical therapy business must be run with profitability in mind. After all, you went into private practice to have financial freedom. As a health care professional, billing for services rendered is your primary source of income. With all responsibility of a business owner, it might be more effective to outsource your billing or invest in a physical therapy management software that will automate billing and other office processes.
Human resources is another aspect of physical therapy management that therapists are not prepared for. This involves hiring, training, leading and managing employees. The aim is to avoid staff turn-over because this would mean work disruption and additional costs in hiring and training. A good manager is about becoming the person your employees will trust and follow. Your vision will become their vision as well.
Good physical therapy management means having a good relationship with patients while providing quality care. This is important to the private practice because of the marketing aspect. Happy patients mean willing referral sources.
Physical therapy management is about an organized team. The team members know exactly their individual role and contribution to the success of the business while at the same time would be able to step in and fill other roles if necessary.
Running a successful business requires effective physical therapy management. It is a dynamic process which always keeps the objectives and goals of the organization in mind.
