WORLD PHYSICAL THERAPY DAY TRIGGERS ATTENTION AND AWARENESS FOR THE HIGH DEMAND OF PHYSICAL THERAPY JOBS ON THE SHORE

SALISBURY, MD - World Physical Therapy Day, celebrated on September 8, 2011 provides an opportunity to recognize the work that physical therapists do for their patients and community. The day also brings attention to the high demand for PT's in the job market nationwide and on the Delmarva Peninsula.

The job of physical therapist is the job title most often listed by employers in online job search engines and company Human Resource pages. July, 2011 employment trends (extracted from Job Search and Job Search Made Simple sites) rank Physical Therapists( #1), Occupational Therapists (#2) and Assistant Managers (#3), out of 5,200,000 American jobs listed across the internet. But does this data translate to what is happening on Delmarva? Local health agencies say yes.

"The healthcare industry has experienced a push to help patients maintain function and gain independence in their own home over the most recent years," said Therese Ganster, Peninsula Home Care branch director. "In the past, most physical therapy was done in hospitals and care acute rehabilitation centers. Now early identification of the benefits of physical therapy resources has increased the need for patients' recovery and reconditioning in their normal living environment - in the home." If a patient is independent, the need for outpatient therapy centers have blossomed due to potential of providing therapies both pre and post surgeries.

Salisbury Physical Therapy and Sportsmedicine, an outpatient physical therapy clinic, has served the Delmarva area since 1989, specializing in the treatment of orthopedic and sports related injuries. The business is currently in the running to attract additional Physical Therapy assistants.

"We used to be one of the only resources for physical therapy in the area," said MaryAnn Massey, Salisbury Physical Therapy business manager. "Today we have at least thirteen competitors serving the same community. That, in addition to current requirements for physical therapists to earn their doctorate degree, makes the market scarce as the time commitment is greater for students working to land physical therapy jobs."

Peninsula Home Care acknowledges the importance of physical therapy in all realms of health care but claims the requirements needed for Home Care physical therapy can be misunderstood.

"There is a belief that patients need to have skilled nursing referrals in order to have physical therapy," said Ganster." The truth is, we can accept physical therapy referrals without a skilled nursing referral and Medicare will acknowledge the Physical therapy as a skilled need. A Physician's order and the patient needing to be homebound still apply.

While salaries are competitive in this field due to the need for additional resources, it is very fulfilling for our physical therapists to be able to see the progress and satisfaction of the patient's in meeting their goals toward independence. A few weeks ago, a patient acknowledged that after a stroke, his goal was to be able to go into his garage and dabble as he has done for years. The PHC team was thrilled to be able to see him meet that goal.