I thought I would initiate an informal poll.
Recently I read an article in Modern Healthcare. A disturbing little
article caught my eye, it was pointing out how many PT's are out
of jobs these days. It went on to quote several VP types from large
rehab companies who described in gruesome detail the actual numbers
of ex employees. It was difficult for the first time to actually see in print
that over 12,000 PT's nation wide have lost their jobs!
However THE single most disturbing statement was made by a board
member of the APTA. When asked to comment on the recent carnage
sweeping the rehab world, his reply was that there was no proof that there
are too many PT's for the available positions, it was only "anecdotal
evidence".
I run a rehab department in a small community hospital in Northern
California, we have 2 per diem PT positions posted, I have over 60 resumes on
my desk very
recently submitted. Frighteningly anecdotal. A recent graduating class of
over 40 masters level trained PT's - word from one of the students that as of
today only 3
had jobs secured. How many PT's out of school over 4 years had to wait until
after graduation to find a job? Again, too anecdotal for me. I estimate that
30-40% of my
same age counterparts are getting out of PT (another informal poll), going
into high-tech sales, pharmaceutical sales, med school, etc. Oh, I feel
another anecdote coming on.
I am willing to give the benefit to this high ranking PT official and the
entire APTA organization for that matter, maybe the question wasn't clear
enough, maybe a communication style misunderstanding? I hold out
optimistically because I am too frightened to believe that such and 'out of
touch' comment could
come from one so plugged in to the system.
Unduly harsh? Maybe, but I don't think I've heard enough healthy debate about
the
direction of this field and what is being done to preserve our position
within the
healthcare arena. Most of the survival techniques I see are coming straight
from
innovative and imaginative individuals who love what they do, maybe they
should
be making comments to the press instead.
Rick May, PT
[log in to unmask]
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|