work in a PT outpatient facility? what's it like?

[MateRoloFat]

I interviewed today for a job at a Physical Therapy Outpatient facility. they already have 2 therapists and are looking for a third. The job is full time- 40 hours, but I really want to work part time since I have a young baby.
The person i interviewed with seemed ok with that and the hours might be the best arrangement i've come across so far.

She said the MT's do 8 minute sessions on ppl (??!!!) - what the can they do in 8 minutes? if it is busy the work is back to back, if it is slow than you can basically sit around, fold towels if needed, ect.

I have been am MT for 5 years and worked 2 of those in a local upscale spa. I am very interested however in getting into a more medical atmosphere and gaining experience in more than just spa modalities. I also desperately need a part time job right now financially.

I was surprised when she asked me what I thought my compensation should be and I asked her what she was thinking. She said does $20 an hour seem right? I said it sounded fine b/c I am very anxious to just get a job already and didn't want to sound greedy at the time.
plus, unlike other places, they will pay me $20 regardless of how much or little i work (i guess like a salary).
Does this sound right? even at my well paying spa job where I got 50% plus tips it usually only averaged out to this amount anyways since they were so empty so often.
Basically if i'm offered the job I will take it b/c I could use the money and 20 hours a week still leaves me time to keep up with my private clients and with my family.
but I am intersted to hear what others experiences in places like this have been.

should I ask upfront if after 6 months we can review how things are going and possibly get a raise of like $3 an hour more? should I just wait till i get the job before I ask this?

Thanks
(btw- I am the person who posted about the job at ESPA in Miami. they offered me the job but only if could work the late shift (come home at 10 pm at nights) and it was 40 hours a week! with a husband in night school, and 2 young kids it just wasn't feasible, and it reinforced how much I want to work somewhere normal that is open 9-5!)

 

[s0LuT1oN]

I worked at a PT clinic and hated it. The PT's acted as if I knew nothing what so ever. Ex. I noticed a pimple like bump on a man's incision from his recent surgery on a Mon. on the wed. it was slightly larger told the patient such and told the PT ..PT ignored it...I told the patient on the side to watch the bump if it got larger he needed to go to his Dr. on the Fri. it was the size of a quarter and come to find out it was a Staph infection...but yet lil ole MT me didnt know what I was talking about as opposed to the know it all PT that totally ignored it....ok sorry that is a rant lol

Doing 8 minute massages is VERY frustrating. Mainly when you get the ones where you know more work would help. Also when they are telling you to do one thing and you know it won't help the patient at all and won't let you do what you know will actually help them.

I will never work for another PT. And I also wanted more of a medical aspect to massage but working for a PT...OH NO!
Oh and I was Full time and made 8 bucks an hour....I actually did more of their work then they did sometimes.

 

[StrawDog]

wow- ok. so not a good experience! I definitely hear your frustration. They did mention to me that it is not my place to make diagnosis, like telling patients how to stretch and so on. I guess that makes sense b/c the PT's have alot more knowledge than me when it comes to that anyway.
on one hand the 8 minutes is frustrating from the aspect that I want to make a significant diff. to the patient and really utilize my skills. On the other hand, I have been offered a job at a massage therapy practice where you go in for 7 hours at a time, only get paid per massage and average will be 2-3 a day, are paid the same for deep tissue as for swedish (about $27 an hour- no tips) and have to really hustle to get clients.
I guess i'm feeling like mabey the work will be easier than working hour long deep tissue sessions only to get paid less.

of course, any work place that treats you badly is not good. I don't deserve to be looked down upon by PT's- I am good at what I do and contribute something valuable to the patients recovery.

Honestly, it's not so much that i think working here will do that much for me, but isn't it better if I want to eventually work independantly with MD's and such (say where they refer to me at my private practice...one day when I can make a go of my own place) to have experience in a place like this than in another day spa where i'd be doing body wraps and hot stone??

I'm frustrated b/c my job search is very limited by the fact that my DH can babysit in the morning hours but most places want me at other times and once i have to pay for childcare it just doesn't pay anymore.

Thanks for any and all feedback, it's so great to have other MT's to talk to
Chani

 

[Sad Eyed Jokerman]

Chani, PM me. I work for a chiro doing the kind of work you describe, & would like to talk with you more about it :} Thanks!
Karla

 

[NO-FEAR]

I worked for an outpatient PT clinic for 2 years and had a very positive experience. The PT was excellent at his job and was very willing to both educate and listen to our input. This was my first job out of school and I learned a LOT. It very much still affects the style of work I do today. The arrangement sounds much like yours, one hourly rate regardless of what you're doing, massaging or laundry. We did, however, 15 minute massages ("modalities") for the most part, occasionally a patient required 30 minutes.

All in all, I found it a great experience and I would do it again. I guess it comes down to the attitude of the PT.

HTH

 

[garlo7]

I currently work in a pt clinic and it's annoying! Pt's act like you don't anything :roll:


Smooches;0