Valuing the Physical Therapist Assistant

At F&L, we greatly value our Physical Therapist Assistants because they are essential to our operational model that consists of a special team of physical therapists, therapist assistants and massage therapists. We often meet as clinicians to share our treatment approach so that we can provide a well-rounded and comprehensive treatment to our patients. We believe all of our assistants possess competent skills as health care providers and have the utmost confidence in them to provide excellent care to our patients.

Unfortunately, the current trend in many outpatient therapy clinics in Hawaii is to provide care on a one-to-one basis by a physical therapist without the use of physical therapist assistants. More clinics are adapting to this model and marketing it as an approach that is more consistent and of higher value. Because of this new model, assistants are starting to be seen as lesser skilled clinicians to the general public and other healthcare professionals. Even the insurance companies are following suit and trying to dictate this model by reimbursing treatments based on who delivers the care.

However, this is a flawed view. As a physical therapist, I depend on my assistants to provide the same care to our patients as I would on a one-to-one basis. We enjoy having assistants as part of our team and fully support their profession. Other medical professions use a team approach including doctors and medical assistants, dentists and hygienists, and nurses and nurse aides.

Our organization also has a strong teaching culture where we provide opportunities for student internships from schools like Kapiolani Community College that have PTA programs. We have had many students come through our doors from these programs and are proud to say that more than half of the assistants employed by F&L are graduates of KCC.

Regardless of the day or time you are treated at any of our clinics, you can be assured that our staff is well trained. More than one pair of eyes on a patient provides a greater overall picture for optimal treatment. But beyond the technical skills that our assistants possess, the most important quality they all have is empathy. It’s a value that we look for in all our employees. It’s often said in the medical field that “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” – John C. Maxwell

In addition to being knowledgeable in the physical therapy field, our assistants are unique in that they are able to incorporate their various backgrounds into their patient care. We are fortunate to have assistants that are licensed massage therapists, certified personal trainers or have been lifeguards and firefighters.

We recognize that our operational model of treatment is different than the current trend. We are a special company that follows our values and not trends. We stand by our employees and see great value in each and every one of them.