Travel Therapy Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Travel Therapy’

Travel Therapy : What Recent PT and OT Graduates Can Expect

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

By Erica Ronchetti

If you are a student studying to become a physical therapist or occupational therapist, a travel therapy job might be an excellent opportunity for you upon graduation.  The following information should dispel common myths about travel therapy jobs and provide you with information on the benefits associated with traveling physical therapy jobs and traveling occupational therapy jobs.  Many students have heard of travel therapy career options, but do not know enough to consider it as a viable career choice.

Occasionally professors may tell students of bad experiences associated with travel therapy jobs, though certainly the majority of traveling therapists (traveling physical therapists, traveling occupational therapists) have amazing experiences while on assignment.

Even if you’re a student still in school and studying to be a physical therapist or occupational therapist, you can begin your application process and land a physical therapy travel job shortly after graduation.  Typically, an internship is the only experience you need to qualify for a travel assignment.

When you first find a travel therapy agency that you want to work with, you will have to fill out an application.  Be ready to answer a lot of questions, because your travel therapy agency will want to understand your status and know exactly what you’re looking for in a physical therapy travel job or a traveling occupational therapy job.  Once they have an idea of what type of assignments you’re looking for, they’ll send jobs to you that match your interests.  Remember that it’s up to you to accept which jobs you do or do not want – you control your destiny.

There is a huge demand for traveling physical therapists and traveling occupational therapists.  PT travel jobs and occupational therapy travel jobs have competitive salaries, travel reimbursements, home accommodations, and other benefits.  Don’t hesitate to find out more information on travel therapy and learn which travel rehab jobs are right for you!

Erica Ronchetti is Account Manager for Travel Nurse Source, a recruiting company for traveling nurses.  Travel Nurse Source is affiliated with Allied Travel Careers, a recruiting company for traveling physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists.  For more information on what we do, please visit our websites.

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Posted in Allied Travel Jobs, OT Travel, Occupational Therapy, PT Blogs, Physical Therapy | 3 Comments »

Areas with Greatest Needs for Therapists

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Every month, a company called Wanted Technologies gathers data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and online job boards in each U.S. state and researches the number of employees in every professional occupation by city. Then, Wanted calculates the difference between the available supply of employees in each profession in each city in proportion to the demand for employees in that profession. The company then ranks all professions and all cities based on national average. Those that exceed the national average are considered your best bet for finding a job.

The Wanted data regarding jobs in physical therapy, physical therapy assistant, occupational therapy and speech language pathology confirm that these are all some of the “most wanted” health care professionals all over the country. As a travel physical therapist, traveling physical therapy assistant, traveling OT or travel speech language pathologist, these opportunities multiply as new assignments continue to be made available. Here are some of the locations with the greatest demand for rehabilitation therapists and support staff. Contact a travel agency recruiter to find out where your skills are needed the most as a travel therapist.

Travel Physical Therapist Jobs: Orlando, FL; Atlanta, GA; Tucson, AZ; Charlotte, NC

Traveling Occupational Therapy Jobs: Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater area of FL; Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue area of WA

Travel Speech Therapy Jobs: Tampa, St, Petersburg, Clearwater area of Florida

Physical Therapy Assistant Jobs (among the highest demand of all Wanted careers): Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue area of WA; Dallas Fort Worth and Arlington areas of TX

Occupational Therapy Assistants: Philadelphia, PA; Camden, NJ; Wilmington, DE

The Wanted website also features industry wide job forecasts as well as recession forecasts. For more information visit: www.wantedtech.com

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Posted in Allied Travel Jobs, OT Travel, Occupational Therapy, PT Blogs, Physical Therapy, Speech/Language Pathology | No Comments »

Physical Therapists in Highest Demand

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

In a tough economy and even tougher job market, the following should be music to physical therapists’ ears: “This job tops the list of jobs referred to by several job sites as “best shots at finding work.” The websites, including LinkUp, Indeed and Simply Hired, also point to the comparatively easy training requirements and lower turnovers than other jobs. Physical therapy has a dramatically lower unemployment rate than the national average. Current career stats have physical therapy jobs and traveling physical therapist jobs growing by a whopping 207% in the past two years, with an average annual salary reported to be $52,000. Job growth is forecast at 2006-2016 between 2006 and 2016.

The demand for physical therapists and physical therapy travel jobs is on the rise, partly because of the growing need for therapy and rehabilitation by aging baby boomers and partly due to the increased awareness of healthy habits by the rest of the population. Costly health insurance premiums and co-pays are also on the minds of the American health care consumers, especially as they make the connection between price tag and physician visit. Physical therapists can help solidify this connection in their clients’ minds, emphasizing healthier ways of functioning and avoiding injuries.

Physical therapists and travel physical therapists can provide relief to patients from all walks of life from wounded weekend warriors, to elderly clients suffering from chronic debilitating conditions, heart attacks and strokes to babies born with severe birth defects and in need of rehabilitation to improve their future. The profession is also growing, as new medical advances allow trauma survivors who once would have expired, to survive and require rehabilitation.

Sources: American Physical Therapy Association, Simply Hired.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Posted in Allied Travel Jobs, PT Blogs, Physical Therapy | No Comments »

Travel Therapy Company Focus: Medical Connections Part II

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Following, is the conclusion of my conversation with Ann Marie Ruggiero, Director of Travel Therapy and Recruiting at Medical Connections. Here, Ann Marie discusses other aspects of a career in travel therapy including how current health care trends may affect this field.

Which areas hold the most opportunities for travel therapists right now?

The majority of assignments are in skilled nursing settings like assisted living facilities, outpatient settings and of course in acute hospital settings. There is a pretty even need between physical therapy travel jobs, occupational therapy travel jobs, and travel speech therapy jobs.

How much experience is ideal for the aspiring travel therapist right now to get hired?

All therapists who aspire to travel need is one year of experience after graduation. The reason for this is that there is often a very minimal amount of orientation on a new assignment.  You may be hitting the floor by 10am on your first day.

In your opinion, how are current healthcare trends affecting travel therapy?

The increase in baby boomers will increase the need for travelers, especially in the skilled nursing facilities that we have contracts with throughout the United States. Even with the economy the way it is, we have found that therapy has slowed down slightly but there is still a big demand for traveling therapists at this time.

In light of this demand, we recommend that our therapists have multiple state licenses to make themselves more marketable and be able to accept a new assignment quickly. These are therapists who do not have a problem finding work at all. One of our benefits is 100% licensure reimbursement.  If you are contemplating going into travel, get at least one or two other state licenses.

Anything else we should know about Medical Connections?

We have wonderful benefits at Medical Connections as well as several solid clients we work with throughout the U.S.  We have recruiters available every day, even on Saturdays.  You can also go to our website (www.medicalconnections.com) to ask a question or submit an application through our website. Most important, I want travel therapists (or those considering this career) to know that we have so many travel therapy jobs right now that we can’t even fill them.

Medical Connections
www.medicalconnections.com

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Posted in Allied Travel Jobs, OT Travel, Occupational Therapy, PT Blogs, Physical Therapy, Speech/Language Pathology | 1 Comment »

Travel Therapy Company Focus: Cirrus Allied Part II

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Following, is part two of my conversation with Candace Berk, President of Cirrus Allied (formerly MDI Medical).

What kind of advice would you give to new travel therapists?

Make sure your company has your back and understands your career goals. For instance, some people just want to try one travel assignment and see if it works or just travel for the summer. Others may come across a facility where they would like a permanent position. Those are all things that we can accommodate, but it’s important for all therapists to make sure that their travel company understands what they want and not what the company needs.

How can new travel therapists determine which agency is best for their needs?

To start with, it comes down to your relationship with your travel recruiter. Are they calling you back when they said they would?  Are they clear on the job expectations? Do you trust that how they will represent you will be based on what you want? Do you connect with them? Are they listening to what you need? Ask for therapist references.

Can travel therapy work if the therapist has a family?

Most of our travelers will be young and not yet have a family.  They will do travel therapy jobs before they settle down.  We also have empty nesters as travel therapists.

We do have people who travel with families who make it work either by home schooling their kids or keeping the therapist busy in the area they want to work in.  We’re a large enough company where we have that kind of flexibility.

Which travel therapy careers are most in demand now?

Physical, occupational and speech therapists are all in high demand now. It also depends on the setting. For instance, speech language pathologists are most in demand by schools.  Across the board, physical therapists are needed everywhere.  Physical therapists and occupational therapists are both needed in home health.

In closing?

As a travel therapist, your job is to enable patient satisfaction. If you’re focused on that, everybody wins.

Cirrus Allied (formerly MDI Medical)
www.mdimedical.com

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Posted in Allied Travel Jobs, OT Travel, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech/Language Pathology | No Comments »

Travel Therapy Company Focus: Cirrus Allied

Monday, May 18th, 2009

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

As promised, here are the highlights of a very informative conversation I recently had with a representative from Atlanta, Texas and Charlotte based Cirrus Allied, a valued travel agency partner of Allied Travel Careers.  I spoke with President Candace Berk about her company, what they look for in travel therapists and advice she has for aspiring travel therapists.

What makes Cirrus Allied stand out from other travel therapy companies?

Cirrus Allied, formerly MDI medical, has been in the travel therapy market for 7 years. We dedicated ourselves specifically to the therapy market before it was cool to be in therapy. Our therapist clients find it great that we have a niche focus in a broad setting. We place therapists in schools, government settings, home health agencies, hospitals and in skilled nursing facilities across the country. We have also received outstanding recognition for our customer service. We understand that therapists have their choice of companies to work with and are honored that they choose us. We also offer excellent benefits, something we’re seeing competitors drop in the current market. We have a broad client base and get travel therapy jobs anywhere in the country.

Who are the best candidates for a career in travel therapy?

Therapists who have at least one year of experience who want to grow their resume, experience level, and make more money doing it. They have to be adaptable to different clinical settings while understanding that certain personality traits match up with each setting. It’s not just about matching up clinical skills.

What are the most important questions new travel therapists should ask about a new assignment?

They should get a clear expectation of the pay rate, benefits, housing specifics (some companies really shave money on the housing), job expectations including caseload and really the totally package from their recruiter and the client. Unfortunately in this market there are many verbal commitments so they should make sure the promises are all in writing. Also ask about the orientation provided. Most places provide anywhere between 8-24 hours. Once a therapist has some experience traveling, they generally know how things work other than learning a few new idiosyncrasies of each new place. Very often we’ll sit in on the phone interviews with clients to make sure it’s the right fit, especially if they’re new to travel.

See our next blog for the conclusion of my interview with Cirrus Allied President and travel therapy industry expert Candace Berk.

Cirrus Allied (formerly MDI Medical)
www.mdimedical.com

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Posted in Allied Travel Jobs, OT Travel, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech/Language Pathology | No Comments »

Where Occupational Therapy and Community Service Meet

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

While it’s true that the majority of career opportunities for occupational therapists and travel occupational therapists lie in hospital settings, there are also a variety of opportunities in community based rehab therapy. Occupational therapists with a desire to take their passion for helping people and serving the community to the next level will find many enticing options in this area of healthcare. Those pursuing careers in travel occupational therapy expand their options even further, with the opportunity to serve a variety of different communities around the country.

Opportunities to explore in community centered occupational therapy exist in the school or other education settings, at homeless shelters, at daycare centers, in the area of health promotion as a community educator, and in the workplace where a role as teacher and advocate is key in preventing workplace injuries. Although salaries vary depending on the setting, employer and experience level of the occupational therapist, one of the main draws of the community setting is fulfilling the universal desire of healthcare providers to help and serve those who need it the most.

A traveling occupational therapist on a community based assignment has the opportunity to experience and gain knowledge from working with a variety of patient demographics in all sizes of rural towns to big cities. Every patient population has its own set of unique rehab therapy needs and the town or city that surrounds them often plays a major factor in determining those needs. A travel occupational therapist in Florida for instance, may work with a great number of patients recovering from strokes, simply because of the older age demographic in that state.

  • If you are an occupational therapist (new or experienced) with a strong desire to be involved in community health, then a career in travel occupational therapy may be an ideal solution that allows you to serve patients in many different communities across the country.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Posted in Occupational Therapy | No Comments »

Travel Physical Therapists Restore Quality of Life in Many Settings

Friday, March 13th, 2009

By Christine Whitmarsh RN, BSN

The valuable role of physical therapy in restoring mobility and quality of life for post-operative patients, those with chronic conditions that affect mobility and general function, and patients recovering from injuries is not limited hospital rehabilitation units. There are career opportunities for physical therapists, including traveling physical therapists, in many different clinical settings. Each setting offers a new way to stretch your skills and build your resume.

Here are some of the various clinical settings with potential career opportunities for physical therapists. Contact your travel rehabilitation agency recruiter to find out what is available at your goal destinations.

Hospitals and Medical Centers: Depending on the size of the facility, the physical therapy department of a hospital can be anything from an office to a large space that resembles fitness gym meets playground. In hospital settings, physical therapists treat a variety of patients including post-operative hip and knee replacements, recovering stroke patients, and children and young adults with athletic injuries.

Home Health Care: Physical therapists with the experience and qualifications to work in patient’s homes are typically the most well paid in the profession (avg. $2k+ median salary). The type of patients seen in their home are often similar to those seen in long term care facilities as well as those who would normally be seen in doctor’s offices but lack transportation.

Long Term Care Facilities: One of the major therapeutic goals for residents of nursing homes and other long term skilled nursing facilities is to maintain as much function, mobility, balance and overall quality of life as possible. This is an ideal career option for physical therapists who enjoy the satisfaction of contributing to a patient’s well-being and celebrating each day.

Physician’s Offices: Aging baby boomers who haven’t quite realized that they’re not resilient 20-somethings anymore, make for a growing supply of “weekend warrior” injuries seen in doctor’s offices. Physical therapists play an important role in getting these patients back on their feet again, restoring function and teaching them how to use assistive devices such as walkers and crutches.

Physical Therapy Clinics: Examples of rehab patients that a physical therapist will see in a private practice outpatient clinic include children and adults with chronic conditions and diseases such as multiple sclerosis as well as follow through care for patients recently released from the hospital who still require additional rehabilitation.

Schools: Many schools will employ or contract physical therapists to work with patients with childhood/hereditary disabilities. An important aspect of this type of physical therapy career is the emphasis on following a regimented course of treatment, meeting measurable, scheduled milestones in the child’s treatment and communicating results to parents on a regular basis.

With a variety of clinical settings in need of physical therapists, both experienced and new grads, this type of career flexibility, might be one of the reasons that a career as a physical therapist has been ranked as one of the “best careers” for 2009 in several national prestigious surveys.*

Travel physical therapists: Tell us about your experiences working in various clinical settings.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Posted in Physical Therapy | No Comments »