2 answers
Emma
Student
Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain
5
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Physical Therapist Daily Work-Paperwork vs Patient Care
How much paperwork does a Physical Therapist have on the daily versus time spent with the patients? Also, on average how stressful is the job and environment?
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2 answers
Lauren Swansinger
Physical Therapist Assistant
13
Answers
Wyandotte, Michigan
Updated
Lauren’s Answer
I will prefice with, I am a PTA.
Patient care to paperwork, I want to put it at 50/50 but that's not true. Outpatient documentation is quicker than hospital often due to the amount of stuff that needs to be documented (vitals, communications when other staff). Daily notes after quicker than initial evals also due to the amount of things required to be in the eval. When you really calculate it, documentation should be only about 20-30% of your day (if I had to give it a percent).
Stress is subjective. Hospitals can be stressful because each patient can have very complicated health issues, it can be difficult getting a patient to work with you (they don't want to, are off the floor) while staying within your required productivity. Outpatient can be stressful because of the amount of patients you see (1 every half hour), time management, and trying to get insurance coverage (it can be every hard to get insurance to agree that a patient needs therapy). Each job can have stressful if you cannot keep up on documentation, trying to keep up with the continuing education and mandatory education each job requires (they don't usually provide time for them, you have to find time to do them).
These are just a few things that can be challenging but it is all how you look at it. Documentation is required for the job and if you don't document, you never saw your patient. Patients with complex histories can be viewed as a challenge. Mandatories are tedious, Continuing education is ongoing learning to add to your skills.
Patient care to paperwork, I want to put it at 50/50 but that's not true. Outpatient documentation is quicker than hospital often due to the amount of stuff that needs to be documented (vitals, communications when other staff). Daily notes after quicker than initial evals also due to the amount of things required to be in the eval. When you really calculate it, documentation should be only about 20-30% of your day (if I had to give it a percent).
Stress is subjective. Hospitals can be stressful because each patient can have very complicated health issues, it can be difficult getting a patient to work with you (they don't want to, are off the floor) while staying within your required productivity. Outpatient can be stressful because of the amount of patients you see (1 every half hour), time management, and trying to get insurance coverage (it can be every hard to get insurance to agree that a patient needs therapy). Each job can have stressful if you cannot keep up on documentation, trying to keep up with the continuing education and mandatory education each job requires (they don't usually provide time for them, you have to find time to do them).
These are just a few things that can be challenging but it is all how you look at it. Documentation is required for the job and if you don't document, you never saw your patient. Patients with complex histories can be viewed as a challenge. Mandatories are tedious, Continuing education is ongoing learning to add to your skills.
Thank you so much!
Emma
Maria Cecilia San Juan
Management and Clinical Operations, Patient Care
12
Answers
Rochester Hills, Michigan
Updated
Maria Cecilia’s Answer
The amount of documentation is dependent on the environment. Some require more 'forms' than others. Completion of initial evaluation notes always takes more time than the daily visit notes which can be completed in a timely manner while working with patients. The latter is easier to accomplish when patients are taking a break, if you're working one on one with them and also if you're not providing manual / hands on treatment in the moment. Being organized with your day and processes is always helpful in making sure you complete your notes in a timely manner. In regard to stress - there's always some degree of 'stress' with any job or position. I believe it's what keeps you moving along and accomplishing all the necessary tasks. I think the extent to which that stress affects you is dependent on how you individually approach and manage those things that are expected of you and what you know you need to accomplish.
Thank you so much! This helps a lot.
Emma