What different job settings are available to a physical therapist?
What different job settings are available to a physical therapist
?
One of the many benefits of becoming a physical therapist is the ability to work in a multitude of vastly different settings, depending on the individual preferences of the physical therapist. Variance among work settings for jobs in physical therapy means a considerable difference in the work functions you will perform and the types of patients you could come into contact with. This variety makes physical therapy an ideal job for anyone interested in having an exciting career that lends itself to many different work environments.
As a physical therapist, your services may be needed in any of the following settings:
1. Hospitals
A common setting for many physical therapists, hospitals allow you to focus on a specialty area of physical therapy in which you can become an expert who is consulted specifically for any patient requiring that type of care. A few of the specialty areas that physical therapists can pursue include orthopedics, geriatrics, and acute care. Hospitals are always looking for specialists and are almost always understaffed, so they are one setting you should be sure to consider as a working physical therapist.
2. Outpatient clinics
Another common setting that employs many physical therapists is the outpatient clinic, which is a healthcare facility that provides both highly specialized and more general types of care. Many outpatient clinics are attached to hospitals, but this is not always the case, as some do not share facilities with a hospital at all. Across the board, however, outpatient clinics do not serve patients who need to be housed overnight, unlike hospitals. These clinics, which are nationally or privately owned, often specialize in sports medicine rehabilitation.
3. Skilled Nursing Facilities
Skilled nursing facilities, such as nursing homes and assisted living centers, are one of the big players in physical therapy employment settings, and most definitely a growing work setting for physical therapists. One benefit of working in a skilled nursing facility is that they tend to have a high turnover rate, which is reflected in a higher pay scale. For instance, a physical therapy assistant working at a skilled nursing facility typically gets paid close to the same as a physical therapist working in an outpatient clinic.
4. Rehabilitation hospitals and rehabilitation centers
These centers, which aim to provide complete care for rehabilitation patients, are another popular destination for physical therapists. Here, professionals in physical therapy work alongside occupational, speech and recreational therapists to form a team of specialists that can provide patients this all-inclusive and total care entirely at the facility. These centers are configured to offer all aspects of care at one convenient location for patients who require these complete services.
5. School systems
For the purpose of facilitating the learning of special needs students, school systems often employ physical therapists to assist students in special education classes. Physical therapy is an essential and significant part of the learning curriculum for students with learning disabilities. This work setting follows a teacher's schedule, which often means that the physical therapist does not work during the summer when students are not required to be in school.
6. Home health agencies
This work setting allows for physical therapists to travel to the homes of their patients in order to provide care. This "at home" method forges a more personal and long-term relationship between the patient and his or her care provider, since the rehabilitation exercises are performed outside of the impersonal and, oftentimes, intimidating hospital atmosphere. Patients are able to receive care at home in a more comfortable setting that will set them at ease and allow for more relaxed treatments. If you choose to work in this setting, keep in mind that your equipment will often need to be transported to a patient's home.
7. Other
The expertise of physical therapists is still in demand in a number of other settings, including physicians' offices, gyms, universities and adult day care centers.
These are just a few of the many facilities where physical therapists can make use of their degrees and pursue work that demands the skills they have acquired in their education and in practice.
If you are interested in finding a job in physical therapy, PTJobs.com is a great source to research available positions and for quick placement into a physical therapy job that meets your qualifications.
References:
http://physicaltherapy.about.com/od/careersinphysicaltherapy/qt/PTWorkPlaces.htm
PTJobs.com
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