
What factors best predict a successful career as a physiotherapist or healthcare provider?
Many factors contribute to success, but one of the most important factors found across all industries is the value you bring to those you work with.
This isn’t referring to our value as human beings.
We are all equally invaluable as people.
But for clinicians, this value refers to what we bring to the table for our patients, our employers and our teammates.
What does it take to become a high-value clinician?
The key to becoming a high-value clinician is to provide the same high-quality care for your patients, employers and teammates as you would like them to share with you if you were in their position.
It helps to put yourself in the shoes of your patients, employer or clinic team. If you were in their position, what level of care would you like them to share with you?
Providing Value for Patients
One question we could ask ourselves for every clinical encounter is:
How can I give the most value to this individual patient?”
Successful professionals aim to provide way more value than the price of their consultation fee.
This doesn’t mean we try to fit as much in the session as possible. Oftentimes, less is more.
The value we bring to a clinical encounter should be evidence-based, meaningful and specific for that particular patient on that particular day.
Some other questions that we could ask ourselves:
What does the patient want today?
What can I do to help them feel more understood, more confident and in less pain than when they came in?
How can I make today’s session simple and meaningful so that the patient is more empowered than when they started”
Some ways that we can provide value for patients in the clinic include:
- Being present and taking the time to listen
- Paying attention to them as a person rather than just their specific injury or diagnosis
- Keeping our communication simple, clear and honest
- Being clear about their end goals and identifying where they are in their recovery process. Connect this back to their treatment plan and measure progress along the way
- Choosing the best treatment strategies to relieve their symptoms, if possible, especially in an acute setting
- Closely observing the patient perform an exercise or functional task to give specific feedback
- Following up with patients with a written treatment management plan and any updates regarding their program
- Remembering small details that they may have shared about their life that you can chat about when appropriate. For example, their pet’s name or the live gig they were excited about last week
Our ability to develop rapport with patients goes a long way to helping improve clinical outcomes. This rapport with patients helps develop trust and encourages them to feel safe in their rehabilitation.
Providing Value for Your Employer
Equally as important is the value that we bring to the table for our employers.
Many clinicians aren’t aware of the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes as a clinic owner. I know I didn’t appreciate it until later in my career.
One of the best tips a new graduate clinician could receive is to show as much initiative as possible for their employers.
This could include:
- Arriving at the clinic early and preparing for the day ahead
- Being proactive with any learning opportunities and continuing education options offered within the company and externally
- Regularly asking for help and feedback from clinic directors and colleagues
- Looking out for the little things you can do to help out the clinic. For example, arriving early to open and close the clinic when reception staffing changes happen last minute
- Figuring out a task that needs doing around the clinic and offering to complete it without being asked
Clinic owners would greatly appreciate any of their clinicians who are proactive in their clinical development and are looking for ways to go the extra mile. Clinic owners ideally want to trust you and encourage you to be autonomous in your career.
Providing Value for Your Teammates
I believe one of the best predictors of a successful and fulfilling career is the people you surround yourself with.
For a team and a clinic to be successful, each team member needs to contribute and also feel acknowledged for their unique role in the team.
How can we bring value to our clinic team?
- Know that the energy we bring to the clinic has an impact on our team
- Checking in on each other regularly to see how everyone is doing
- Being present to chat through difficult cases
- Keeping your clinic room tidy and clean for the next clinician after you
- Helping to clean up clinic equipment that you or others have used in common areas such as the gym
- Celebrating each other’s achievements professionally and personally
Earning a Healthy Income as a High-Value Physiotherapist
Success in any business or profession from a financial perspective usually follows the same principle.
Income is always proportional to the value provided to the marketplace.
The more value we provide each patient, the more likely they are to recommend us to their friends and family. Providing high-value care is the key to word-of-mouth referrals, which are often the leading source of referrals for most clinics.
In the video below, Sahil Bloom shares some of his cold wisdom about providing exceptional value if you’d like to increase your income.
Keeping Things Balanced
Just as important as it is to seek ways to provide the most value possible, it’s important to not sacrifice yourself along the way.
A long and healthy career as a health professional is a constant balance of working hard and being mindful of your energy and well-being.
I’ve often said that working as a healthcare provider is very energy-demanding, and we need to take care of ourselves like an athlete would if we want to enjoy a healthy career.
This is still something I am working on after many years, but with time, intention and support you’ll find your way.
What are some other ways that we can provide exceptional value as clinicians?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Luke McManus is a CAMPT-Certified physiotherapist in Ontario, Canada and a registered musculoskeletal physiotherapist in Australia. He has been working in clinical practice since 2005. Luke created Physio Journeys to help physiotherapists enjoy a thriving career while minimizing health practitioner burnout.