Guidelines for DPT Students and New Graduates

What is next after DPT (In Pakistan) and How to start a job or Clinic?

Congratulation! you have completed your bachelor degree in field of physical therapy. No doubt, it was a laborious journey but good thing is that you have achieved the final destination. But, this is not an end, now you need to start another journey.

Here today, I am going to discuss the next options after completing your bachelor degree. In this discussion you will find a guideline for further journey.

What options do you have?

1- Let’s start a job and start your practice in the field of physical therapy

2- Indulge in further studies like M.Phil, MS, or certificate courses in Physical Therapy

3- Another option is Study with Job

4- Find some funded abroad scholarship

5- Invest with self funded study in abroad

6- Internship

In this blog I will discuss regarding how to start job after DPT only, other things like further study options, scholarships, and internships will be discussed in my upcoming blogs.

Starting a job:

Welcome to profession, you have degree and now you are eligible to do practice in physical therapy. After the completion of  your DPT, you need to find some opportunity that brings you some money also. Finding a job is not an easy task in Pakistan in field of physical therapy. I will suggest some job placement and that would help you in finding a job.

Physical therapy teaching institutes are attractive places but I will suggest  and prefer the clinical jobs, or your own clinical setup. Your own clinic will be a bold step. Once it will be established, you will start earning about 50,000 to 60,000 per month. Now awareness regarding physical therapy  is increasing and autonomous practice is also increasing. Honestly speaking, there are limited opportunities in both academic and clinical job placements. That's why you need to start your own clinic. Before starting your own clinic, I suggest you to find your area of interest and also you need some practice with your seniors. 

The prevalence of stroke is increasing in worldwide and same in Pakistan. Stroke Rehabilitation will be a good option. In stroke rehabilitation you will not need a long list of modalities. You just need skills for the rehabilitation of patient with stroke. You can start a paid social media advertisement and marketing. For a stroke rehabilitation clinic you need a brand name for your clinic. A site for clinic, it will be good option if you find some neurologist or a neuron physician. You will start with collaboration.

Next suggestion is to start with a pediatric rehabilitation clinic or a cerebral palsy center. To establish a pediatric clinic you need a wider place as compare to stroke rehabilitation. You can start with following materials and equipment. I have mentioned with cost in PKR, so that you will have a batter decision.

Pediatric parallel bar  =10,000

                                

Tumble forms roll (multiple sizes)=6000

Wedges (multiple sizes)=6000

Balance boards=2000

Scooter boards=3000

Vestibular boards/ rocking boards=3000

Swings=5000

 

Pediatric intensive therapy unit (universal exercise unit, cage with belts and  elastic straps )=200,000

Standing frames=15,000

Mobility frames=10,000

Mobility tricycles=20000

Gym ball (peanut ball)=2000

Rings tower with rings=3000

Therabands=3000

Sensory mattress=3000

Ladder and slides=7000

Other options are start with spine clinic, geriatric care, women's health clinic and orthopedic rehabilitation.

If you have good communication skills, then I will suggest you to find some academic job in teaching institute. Another suggestion is to practice in a group. You need to develop a good team with a leader. In group practice, everyone should find a separate specialty. If you have a team of five member, one should practice in spine related issues and others in neuro, musculoskeletal, stroke, or pediatric rehabilitation. As I mentioned earlier to start your own clinic is not an easy task. Not every new graduate have enough finance to take a bold step. That’s why next option is to search a job placement in some hospital, clinic or a rehabilitation center. Average starting salaries in hospitals or clinics are 15000 PKR to 30,000 PKR.

 HOW TO START WITH YOUR OWN CLINIC:

As I mentioned earlier to start your own clinic is not an easy task. You need to plane accordingly. Here I am discussing the essential things that will surely help you.

1-You Need A Basic Search In Your Area:

Every business needs a pre search that will leads to an effective start. First step is to visit the market technically. A pre search will answer you the following basic questions.

What are most common conditions that seek physical therapy services? Cervical spondylosis, stroke, osteoarthritis, back pain and neck pain, and post operative orthopedic conditions are very common conditions. You will treat these conditions daily. So a basic knowledge, treatment techniques, examination skills and modalities are needed to revise. So in first point you have known to your patients.

What is best place for clinic? Best place for your clinic is well established hospital, where you find some place to start your clinic. You need to arrange a meeting with hospital administration. Best option is to start with commission based share. Normally 70% share goes to therapist and 30% for the hospital. Hospital administrations provide all necessary infrastructure including utilities, furniture, stationary etc. You need also arrange meetings with various consultants that already working in same hospitals for reputation and to discuss your expertise and gain a trust of consultants. Your setup in hospital should have on place where patients with disability can access easily.

Consultation fee in your area: what will be consultation fee? It can be compare with clinics and hospital in your area and also on locality. Your consultation fee will be compare able with therapist and consultants.
Know your competitors: Competition is good for the progress for your business. A market visit also will find your competitors

 2-Marketing strategies:

A business never establishes without marketing. Here I am suggesting some marketing strategies.

1. Arrange meetings with nearby consultants and offer incentive: you need to prepare some visiting cards and some brochure. You can settle some terms and condition with referring consultants. You can offer a commission for every new referral. You may also need to design a referral card. Distribute your referral cards to nearby consultants.
2. Use social media: Face book, Whats App, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram, Linkdin, and others Medias can be used for marketing purpose. Every day a new post regarding common conditions will attract more customers. You can add some promotions and events on your social media pages.
3. Free camps in your area: A focused free camp will create awareness regarding physiotherapy profession, new customers, and people will know about your clinic.
4. Build a team with a leader: “coming together is beginning, keeping together is a progress and working together is success”
5. Your patients are the best marketing stuff. When a patient is satisfied, he will refer your services to others.

 3-Buy some modalities and equipment necessary for physiotherapy treatment

TENS, electrical stimulators, ultrasound, shortwave diathermy, heating pads, cold pads, weight belts and dumbles, therabands and kinesio tape are some necessary equipment for running clinic.

HOME CARE:

Home care in physical therapy is to provide physiotherapy services at door step. Nothing is wrong with home care services. If a stroke patient cannot travel daily to your OPD clinic, then home care is the best option. Patients with post surgical conditions, stroke, and patient with neurological conditions can be best managing at their home.

Please leave with a comment and do not forgot to read next blog in which I am going to discuss about further studies in physical therapy after DPT.