After 2022's "Great Resignation" and the rising phenomenon of "Quiet Quitting", staffing challenges are increasingly creating strain on businesses, including physical therapy practices. Employee issues can ultimately make or break your service-based business, so it’s important to hire and nurture the right people for your team.
In a recent interview with MEG Business, Jason Waz, founder of Competitive Edge Performance (CEP) and NeuPTtech, discussed how he has successfully attracted and retained top performers at his physical therapy clinic so that you can apply the same principles at your practice.
The bottom line: It’s easier than you think!
To attract and retain the best people, the first step is to establish your clinic as a center of excellence. You can achieve this through ongoing training and certifications, by demonstrating innovation within the field of physical therapy and by adopting an “always be recruiting” mindset.
During his conversation with the president of MEG Business, Brian Gallagher, Jason highlighted how his clinic's strong reputation has enhanced staffing. He stated,
"We attract top candidates because CEP is seen as a center of excellence."
The biggest part of the staffing puzzle revolves around clinical education. A recent survey by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) revealed that clinicians with regular training opportunities felt more fulfilled in their roles and tended to stay at their place of employment longer than clinics without education programs.
At CEP, Jason’s clinical education strategy has proved to be effective. "We host 12-15 DPT students each year and after their final clinical year with us, each clinician becomes an APTA Certified Clinical Instructor," he shared.
This approach not only raises the bar for care quality but also attracts driven professionals. At CEP, it's clear: education equals growth. Staff see a roadmap for their careers, making them more likely to stick around.
If you want to retain and attract a winning team, equip them with the best tools and knowledge. NeuPTtech's MVP Program is founded and based on Jason’s experience running CEP’s clinical education. Aimed at driving excellence, the MVP program provides your team with top-tier training that’s relevant to today’s modern clinician.
>> Get access to the MVP program for a limited time discount
To create a strong team, you have to adopt a dynamic and engaging workplace culture. This requires innovative practices and approaches to management.
For example at CEP, Jason has shifted to a performance-based compensation model. This unique approach can attract people who identify as “intrapreneurs” or self-starters and tend to become better employees. CEP rewards employees based on the volume of care their practitioners provide along with the quality of care that they provide.
Jason has also implemented progressive physical therapy technology like the NEUBIE and HRV to provide the most comprehensive and efficient treatments. Employees choose to work at CEP, because they want to become a part of an progressive institution with state-of-the-art technology.
In the face of our employment instability, waiting for a position to open up before seeking new talent could put clinics at a disadvantage. A forward-thinking approach to recruitment ensures that clinics are consistently equipped with the finest talent available.
This proactive mindset, coined as "always be recruiting," champions the idea of perpetually scouting for potential hires, regardless of immediate job openings. Jason's two-decade commitment to this strategy at CEP is testament to its effectiveness. He actively screens applicants who align with CEP's core values, often leading to unexpected outcomes.
As Jason recalls, "I’ve had candidates create jobs for themselves that didn’t exist. We started my clinic director on a per diem, part-time and by the end of the first month he had a full schedule.”
This approach can mitigate the pressure of last-minute hiring and ensures clinics prioritize quality over immediacy.
And if finding external candidates proves challenging? Look within. Internal recruiting can act as a morale booster, offering existing staff a clear path to growth. Additionally, promoting from within can save on training costs and time, given the employee's existing familiarity with clinic operations.
A successful PT clinic owner doesn’t just value patient outcomes; they also want to nurture a valuable team. To maximize the growth and success of your staff, take advantage of Jason’s 25 years of experience as a clinic owner and join the MVP Program by NeuPTtech.
Whether you're just launching your practice or scaling an established one, the MVP Program is here to guide you strategically every step of the way. Once enrolled, members unlock an array of invaluable perks such as:
Spots are limited to ensure personalized attention, so make sure you register today. Join the MVP Program now at a limited-time discount!