Overcome Physical Therapy Staffing Shortages with Therapeutic Technology

Has your physical therapy clinic suffered from the ongoing nationwide staffing shortages? 

Fewer therapists and other staff members mean your clinic takes a direct financial hit. You can’t service as many clients as you need to earn profits and stay on the cutting edge of therapeutic services. 

NeuPTTech can help you rise above the prevalent staffing issues with cutting-edge solutions. We offer not just temporary fixes, but long-term strategies to accelerate recovery times, improve patient satisfaction and attract and retain top talent. 

The True Cost of an Understaffed Physical Therapy Clinic

Staffing has become a significant problem in the healthcare industry. In 2021 alone, more than 22,000 PTs — almost a tenth of the workforce — left their jobs, according to a report by the health data analytics firm Definitive Healthcare. 

This wave of staffing shortages comes at an inconvenient time as baby boomers continue to age and increase the demands on the healthcare system. Patients may struggle to find appointments, leading to frustration and potential loss of clientele. The burden on remaining staff will also increase, leading to burnout and decreased quality of care.

Short and Long Term Effects of Staffing Issues at Your PT Clinic

• Difficulty maintaining high standards: Physical therapy clinics must maintain similar sanitary conditions and cleanliness as other healthcare practices. Fewer staff members could lead to lower standards, which puts immunocompromised patients in danger (check out our ActivePure Air Technology)
  
  
• Less personalized patient care: Patients increasingly expect services tailored to their needs, despite the national staffing shortage. Impersonal services leave patients feeling unsatisfied and alienated from their providers.
  
  
• Suffering mental health among staff members: Your therapists likely work long, demanding shifts that prevent a healthy work-life balance. The demands take a toll on their mental well-being as they struggle to keep up with their clinic’s needs.
  
  
• Messy record-keeping: Fewer people at the helm of daily operations could lead to increased errors in patient and financial records. 

How can you address staffing shortages and keep your clinic from drowning? Industry-leading physical therapy technology and healthcare solutions may help you satisfy more patients and retain your much-needed staff members.

How Technology Can Improve Patient Experiences and Prevent Staff Burnout

The pandemic underscored the need for enhanced service accessibility to improve patient experiences and ensure your staff's time and efforts go further. That's why innovative companies have made great strides in providing scalable, user-friendly solutions that meet HIPAA requirements. Explore some cutting-edge recommendations that will help reduce the impacts of staffing shortages:

Empower Patients and Staff with Technology

Many PT devices, such as Winback, NEUBIE and HRV systems, can accelerate recovery times with personalized treatment and diagnostics. For instance, the NEUBIE’s user-friendly interface paired with NeuPTtech's streamlined virtual training allows new grad clinicians to execute treatment plans, freeing up your skilled therapists for more complex cases. 

One of our clients, Mike Gorman, owner of iMove Physical Therapy, wanted to offload some of his clients but was having difficulty finding a skilled physical therapist that could take his place. By utilizing the NEUBIE and NeuPTtech’s done-for-you training programs, he was able to get his PTA to manage more of his patients. He stated,

“With every other clinician I’ve hired in the past, patients still just want me. Now, they don’t really care about having me. As long as they get their NEUBIE, they are happy.”

Increase Revenue with Cash-Based Services

Physical therapy devices can also be a valuable cash-based service that extends beyond your traditional treatment plans. For example, with the NEUBIE’s Master Reset Protocol that addresses nervous system imbalances, you can help patients with chronic stress, long-COVID and sleep disturbances.  The best part is that patients can continue using these devices for ongoing wellness and maintenance with little staff intervention, generating additional revenue for your clinic.

Modern clinicians must be adept at using technology in order for your clinic to grow. However, this training process often consumes finite resources, like time, energy and staff availability. Virtual courses and clinical training, such as our signature MVP program, can help your staff learn more about how to best utilize PT technology and optimize their time. 

By offering these educational opportunities, you can also show employees that you value their professional development. This supportive clinic culture can help you mitigate the staffing shortage by attracting and retaining top talent.

Another way technology can combat staffing shortages is through the use of AI. While it may be a buzzword right now, there are many ways your clinic can use it to save time and resources. For example, you can use AI to craft the best job descriptions and get a better hire for your most valuable positions. Our MVP program delves into the cutting-edge realm of AI by equipping your team with the skills to leverage this powerful technology for your business's growth.

Shop With NeuPTTech for Solutions Designed for Growing Physical Therapy Clinics

Implementing modern technology into your private practice can not only differentiate your clinic, it can also provide your therapists the flexibility they deserve without undercutting patient resources. Accelerate recovery, empower your staff and unlock new revenue streams with our research-backed devices. 

Contact NeuPTTech to elevate your physical therapy clinic’s services.