I’m thinking about applying to doctorate of physical therapy programs. What do you think the growth will be for this profession? I know that BLS and other job related sources say that need for this job will grow very fast, but I just would like to have thoughts from people in medicare.
The job prospects for a good PT are excellent. There is expected growth in a number of settings as more and more people are having surgeries such as joint replacements and transplants. Most surgical patients can benefit from some physical therapy in the acute setting, a rehab or skilled nursing center, or at home. Physical therapists work in all those settings in addition to outpatient, schools, and early intervention. There is such a wide variety of areas to go into, including many niche practices such as wound care, wellness, women’s health, etc.
The payment structure for health care is undergoing continual changes as CMS is trying to find ways to control costs. As such there is more limitation to how much a company can be reimbursed for physical therapy (and any other) services. Eventually this will translate to a reduction in the growth of PT salaries. However, PTs earn more than the average salary and in most settings and environments can do just fine even with the considerable school loans often required.
Make sure that you have spent a good deal of time getting experience in multiple settings before you apply to schools. Most schools require these hours and it will also serve you well in understanding more about the profession.
Excellent prospects, as already noted.
There’s also the demographic trend–as Baby Boomers age, there will be more needs for PTs–general orthopedics as well as gerentology. Meanwhile, there’s a lot of growth going on in other areas like neurology.
On top of that, as more pressure builds on health care to be more cost effective, there will be (already has been) a growing realization that physical therapy is often far more cost effective than surgery or other alternatives.
Meanwhile, physical therapists are moving into a range of related areas, ranging from health and wellness to worker’s comp and work hardening.
The American Physical Therapy Association has a lot of information on its website: http://www.apta.org
Hope that helps.
I am disabled due to an auto accident, I worked with PT to learn how to walk again, and they also did my rehab for a shoulder replacement. Due to the type of surgery and the joint involved PTs usually do the therapy for shoulders even though OTs usually work with arms…
I am now a consultant, and self-employed…. One of my largest clients is a nursing home and rehab center.
I can tell you from firsthand experience that PTs are in demand and will continue to be, as society ages there will be more need, and as more and more joints are becoming replaceable PTs will have even more work. OTs work more with fine motor skills while PTs tend to do more with the legs and major motor skills they all tend to work closely together in a nursing home setting (including Speech therapist) but all/any joint replacement seems to need the special talents of a PT.
It is safe to say that the demand will grow at least at the pace the BLS projects if not faster.
Programs can be hard to get into, and generally require a number of hours volunteering, I suggest you look into local nursing homes, and see about volunteering with their therapist. you not only can get the required hours in volunteering (if required) but you can also see what the job will really be like; since MOST of the growth will be in the nursing home and rehab settings…..
Good luck, you are looking at a career that has projected growth, stability, and can be extremely rewarding…. I can say that; going from being unable to walk or feed myself to being a productive member of society was extremely important to me, and took almost 3 years to do….
I could not have been done without some great PTs and OTs…. I worked very hard but so did they…
You will have those same opportunities to make real improvements in the daily lives of the elderly and injured….
PT are always on demand. However, earning a doctorate might be extra work. Might just earn your masters. If doctorate in PT is your thing, just become a MD?