Many clinicians can find themselves thrown into the role of being a physical therapy and rehabilitation manager even if they don't have a business or management background. As so many facilities, especially critical access hospitals, find themselves doing more with less, therapy services can sometimes fall by the wayside. However, timely therapy interventions can be highly associated with successful patient outcomes and positive patient experiences.
What's more, successful physical therapy managers can also see their programs become a significant revenue stream for their facility and contribute to strategic growth. If you're looking to achieve this, we're sharing the following guide to the qualities that are found in many top therapy program leaders.
What traits do successful physical therapy managers share?
Physical therapy and rehabilitation units do have many unique operational needs, but they should also be focusing on the same care fundamentals as other service lines and interfacing with them smoothly. To balance all of this, any physical therapy manager should keep the following priorities in mind:
- Patient advocacy and always keeping the patient's best interest at the center of any interactions
- Clear communication with other medical personnel and departments to ensure continuity of care
- Operational expertise and deep knowledge of best practices for regulatory compliance and reimbursement for payers
- Understanding of proper staffing levels and how to recruit therapists with the right mix of experience and patient focus
The good news is that you don't have to go it alone if you're a physical therapy manager who is challenged to meet these goals. Many of the most successful leaders have a partner in the form of contract therapy providers who can help address some or all of the opportunities in the above areas.
Alliance Physical Therapy Partners can help you find management success
For decades, Alliance has been helping hospitals across the United States manage their therapy programs for better patient care, more efficient operations and strong strategic growth. We believe in building strong and lasting partnerships with each facility we work with, not taking a one-size-fits-all approach to contract therapy. With our recruiting network, proprietary therapy software, compliance support and marketing services, we can custom-build a solution that fits nearly any budget and scale.
To learn more and receive an assessment of your current program and opportunities for growth, contact our dedicated team today.