The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has reported a significant staffing crisis in outpatient physical therapy practices across the country with vacancy rates soaring to a whopping 17%.

A comprehensive survey encompassing 133 practices and over 2,600 clinics, reveals that the primary reasons for staff departures are salary concerns, relocation, and work-life balance, rather than the pandemic.

Experts in the field, such as Dr. Susan Taddonio from Long Island University, a practicing pediatric physical therapist, underline the specific hardships faced by certain demographics.

“There is certainly a shortage of physical therapists, especially here in New York, and the pediatric population is suffering,” Dr. Taddonio told Fox News Digital, emphasizing the impact on children in need of therapy.

Additionally, Dr. Marilyn Moffat from New York University explained the financial struggles of physical therapists.

“The sad fact is that we go into physical therapy with a major desire to improve the lives of the people we serve … and the rewards at the end make meeting the costs of living and paying off student debt difficult at best,” she said, articulating the dilemma faced by many in the profession.

The journey to becoming a licensed physical therapist involves a rigorous educational path, leading to substantial student debt.

They typical education path finds students spending four years earning a bachelor’s degree followed by a three-year program to graduate as a doctor of physical therapy.

“To become a licensed PT, you need to earn a doctorate degree,” Taddonio stated.

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With a median annual wage ranging from $88,000 to $101,500, therapists find it challenging to balance financial responsibilities, especially given an average graduate debt of $142,000.

The upcoming 9% cut in Medicare reimbursements over four years, a part of the Biden-Harris administration’s healthcare reform, further complicates the financial situation for those entering the field.

These changes, coupled with a 3.4% decrease in the 2024 Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor, will impact therapists who predominantly serve Medicare patients.

Moffat reflects on the evolving landscape, saying, “In the past, we could … actually establish a nice private practice and even have that grow into several practices.”

However, she observes that the consolidation of practices by large firms is making it “now extremely difficult — if not impossible — to think about being entrepreneurial and starting that small practice.”

The shortage of physical therapists is acutely felt in specific areas, such as early intervention services for young children.

As Dr. Taddonio points out, “We have seen children in the early intervention system waiting months to get a therapist.” These services, critical for infants and toddlers with disabilities, are hampered by the lack of available therapists.

The medical profession is in real trouble. The astronomical education costs along with lower earning potential make medical careers unappealing to today’s graduates.

There surely is opportunity for a streamlined college systems for specialized fields, eliminating some of the courses that are not relevant to the practice of physical therapy. Students could complete their studies much quicker and at a reduced cost.

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