How Innovative Physical Therapy Technology Helps Overcome Labor Shortages

Harness the power of technology to train new therapists, achieve great patient results and grow your practice.

Physical therapy owners are currently facing a daunting challenge: a significant labor shortage. Hiring experienced therapists has become increasingly difficult, making it tough to meet the growing demand for physical therapy services. However, technology offers a solution to this pressing issue, allowing clinic owners to hire less experienced therapists and train them more effectively and efficiently.

As a physical therapy owner, your goal should be to hire the right person for your practice and then build their clinical skills within your practice, using the right clinical design, programs and technology. By doing so, you'll be able to offer a level of care that doesn't rely solely on the expertise of the most experienced therapist.

Transform Your Practice and Empower New Therapists with PT Technology

The use of innovative technology and clinic design in physical therapy practices makes it possible to hire therapists with less experience and rapidly develop their skills. State-of-the-art interventions and treatment plans enable these new therapists to achieve great patient results in a short time, leading to consistent patient referrals and the growth of your practice.

Traditionally, if patients don't see improvements quickly, they won’t pay cash and will only want to see your top therapists. Instead, you can use technology to level the playing field and offer the most differentiated care with the best technology. The right treatment intervention leveraging technology ensures that even your least experienced physical therapist can have a major impact on your business. This approach offers the maximum benefits to the largest number of people.

Advanced physical therapy technology empowers new therapists to be more effective and productive. These tools and training provide a solid foundation for their clinical skills, which, in turn, helps them confidently treat patients and contribute to the success of your practice.

The Results: Thriving Practices and Satisfied Patients

It’s a win-win. The integration of cutting-edge technology in your physical therapy practice not only addresses the labor shortage issue but also leads to impressive patient results. According to a recent study, the use of technology-enhanced interventions in physical therapy has resulted in significant improvements in patient outcomes (Journal of Physical Therapy Science). 

These positive outcomes translate into satisfied patients who are more likely to refer your clinic to others, helping your practice flourish and grow to serve more of the community.

Examples of Game-Changing Physical Therapy Technologies

There are numerous innovative technologies that can be incorporated into physical therapy practices to boost the skills of new therapists and improve patient care. Some examples include:

1. Clinical heart rate variability system: An HRV system helps therapists monitor and adjust treatment plans to optimize patient outcomes by assessing their nervous system balance.
2. Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy: This magnetic stimulation technology has been shown to aid in pain management, tissue repair and the reduction of inflammation.
3. The NEUBIE e-stim device: A cutting-edge neuromuscular re-education tool that can be used to optimize muscle activation and recovery.

Each of these technologies play a crucial role in balancing a patient's autonomic nervous system, allowing them to shift from "fight or flight" mode and giving their immune system the chance to properly recover.

Tackling the Global Health Crisis: Long COVID

As we’ve seen in our practice in Tampa, FL, physical therapists can also play a crucial role in addressing the global health crisis affecting individuals with Long COVID. 

By utilizing technology that can target the patient’s nervous system and understand exactly where their dysfunction lies, therapists can better support patients experiencing prolonged symptoms after the acute phase of the illness. A recent study even demonstrated that technology-based interventions have the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for Long COVID patients (Frontiers in Medicine).

Training for the Future

To make the most of this next-gen technology and address the labor shortage, physical therapy owners must invest in equipment alongside ongoing training and development for their new therapists. By staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in technology and treatment techniques, your team will be well-equipped to provide the highest level of care in the fastest amount of time to your patients.

The Bottom Line: Embrace Tech to Overcome Labor Shortages

Businesses who have differentiated their practice with technology and clinical design have shown via their YOY growth that physical therapy owners can effectively avoid the labor shortage by embracing innovative technology in their clinics. 

This approach gives you the tools and confidence to hire therapists with less experience and train them to be more effective and productive, leading to great patient results and a thriving practice. At NeuPTtech, we know that staying at the forefront of technology and investing in the ongoing development of your team will ensure the success and growth of your physical therapy business so you can keep providing exceptional care that makes a real difference in the lives of your patients.

To put it another way, the right tech and the right people should have your community seeing you as an Apple store rather than a Radio Shack. Luckily, with a partner like NeuPTtech, all the training and support is done for you so you’re free to focus on your business.

If you’re ready to stand out, take the first step by contacting NeuPTtech to discuss how your practice can think differently.