Official Therapist Blog

Business Week Cites Opportunities for Physical Therapists

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 10.23.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapist Licensing, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist

While unemployment rates around the country seem to be sky-rocketing, physical therapists are in increasing demand, and, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the physical therapy profession is expected to grow by 27% in the next 7 years. Business Week recently cited a survey conducted by SimplyHired.com, which ranks physical therapy as one of the top 3 careers in 29 of 40 metro areas.

As the baby boomer population ages, the need for physical and occupational therapists continues to increase. Julie Keysor, associate professor of physical therapy at Boston University, describes physical therapy as a profession with opportunity. She says, “The large U.S. population of aging baby boomers ensures demand for physical therapists - who, through one-on-one interaction, help patients reclaim musculoskeletal abilities impeded by illness, surgery, or injury - will stay strong.”

In 2008, the mean annual salary for physical therapists was reported at $74,000, but with the increased demand, salaries are also increasing. Physical therapists also receive “additional pay based on performance and productivity,” according to Jennifer Gamboa, owner of a physical therapy clinic in Virginia. Travel therapist jobs report even higher salaries with stronger benefits.

“Travel therapists enjoy forging new friendships and professional relationships in various geographic locations, earn up to 20 percent more than traditional permanent jobs and receive free private housing and free health insurance,” said Vice President of Recruitment, Mark Kay Hull, for The Joint Commission certified Travel Force Staffing.”

Gamboa explains that physical therapy is not a career for everyone. Physical therapists need to be able to reach out and form professional relationships with people who are in chronic pain and who can, therefore, be difficult to work with. Tolerance and patience are key traits for any physical therapist. Physical therapy is also an analytical field that requires therapists to examine and understand the puzzles that each patient presents.

In addition, Hull says that compassionate people with tolerance and patience are well suited for a career in Physical Therapy. These traits are essential to forming professional relationships with patients in chronic pain. Chronic pain can make even the most mild mannered seem very difficult. Physical Therapists must also easily be able to work closely with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds. The Physical Therapist must understand how the physical challenges of their patients affect the whole patient.

Those interested in beginning a physical therapy career should know that educational requirements for physical therapists are stringent. A three-year doctoral program is now the standard, and each state has its own licensing requirements beyond the National Physical Therapy Exam, which can sometimes dissuade potential physical therapists from starting their career. Those who have followed the physical therapy path, however, report high job satisfaction and good benefits.

For more information about physical therapy jobs, visit Travel Force to sign up for to receive therapy job updates from the RSS feed.

Physical Therapist Licensing Between States

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 09.29.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Certifications, Continuing Education Units (CEU), Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapist Licensing, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist

The nature of the travel therapist job is to move around and work in a number of sites and states. It’s the perfect job for an adventurer: see the country, meet new people, and get great benefits like a competitive salary, free private housing, and free continuing education classes.

“It is important to be aware of the process of licensure and to plan for it; it should never be seen as a hindrance, just a necessity that needs to be taken care of for all allied professionals. Travel Therapists who keep good records, applications updated and who work closely with their Recruiters and licensing boards to follow up on their application status find the process to be painless,” said Vice President of Recruitment , Mary Kay Hull, of Travel Force Staffing.

Most states do not offer reciprocity for those already licensed in another area of the country. Each state has different physical therapy licensing requirements, and applicants must meet the specific requirements of each state in which they’d like to be licensed. States do have an endorsement policy, which generally means that applicants must meet the state physical therapy licensing requirements, but they might not need to take the National Physical Therapy Examination again if they can provide the correct documentation.

A representative from the Colorado Physical Therapy Licensure Division of Registrations gave details about the endorsement process. All applicants must submit an application and fee, along with verification from all states in which they have been registered, including proof of at least one active license. Applicants who have been practicing for fewer than two years must have test scores sent in, and applicants with more than two years of experience must provide documentation that they have practiced for two of the previous five years.

While the lack of reciprocity makes licensing a bit more taxing than most physical therapists and travel therapists would like, rest assured that there are resources out there.  Travel Force Staffing  representatives walk you through the licensing process as you begin your travel therapy career, and Travel Force reimburses clients for their licensing and credentialing fees. Apply now to work with a Travel Force recruiter.

To find out about physical therapy licensing requirements in a specific state, visit The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy for a complete list of websites and phone numbers for every U.S. state.

Travel Force Staffing Offers Innovative Search Tool for Finding Therapy Jobs Nationwide

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 09.24.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist

Travel Force Staffing, a leader travel therapy jobs’ recruiting agency, announced its innovative resource for finding the most desirable jobs in the market for allied health care professionals. Therapy job seekers can visit the company’s new Therapy Job Board with real-time job posts and view job requirements, facility descriptions, and a brief synopsis of the area where the permanent or travel physical therapy jobs are located.

A new employment report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed that the health care industry has remained strong, adding 20,000 jobs in July; and Travel Force has more physical therapy jobs and occupational therapy jobs listed nationwide!

In addition, Travel Force Staffing offers a quick and easy way for therapists to find these new job postings. Now, more than ever, therapy jobs are a terrific way to triumph in today’s tough economy; financially and career-wise. Plus, Travel Force travel therapy job benefits like free private housing, free health insurance, our tax advantage plan, and free unlimited online CE will all improve your financial position.

To learn more about Travel Force and its benefits read entire press release .

Becoming a Physical Therapist: Common Questions and Answers about Travel Therapy Jobs

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 09.21.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist

Do you have specific questions about physical therapy schools and travel therapy benefits? Travel Force Staffing provides answers and resources for frequently asked questions that may help you start a physical therapy career. Visit the travel therapy career center for informative links on how to become a physical therapist.

Learn more about this great career: what is a travel therapist?

Can I work as a travel therapist and get free housing while I am in school?
Travel therapy jobs have education and certification requirements, so you must have your physical therapy degree before becoming a travel therapist; therefore, free housing would not yet be available to you while you are in school. Travel Force does offer free continuing education classes, however, so if you are already a certified therapist, you could earn both free housing and free professional development by becoming a travel therapist.

Where can I get information about state accredited physical therapy programs?
The American Physical Therapy Association has a comprehensive list of all accredited physical therapy programs. You can download a list of prerequisite courses required for each school, and get more information about each school’s curriculum, clinical opportunities, tuition, and admissions requirements. For a complete list of accredited physical therapy schools near you, visit APTA.

How much do travel therapists get paid?
This answer depends on the specific job or jobs you take, but it is generally agreed that travel therapists are among the highest paid in the physical therapy field. On top of salary, if you consider the free housing, travel reimbursement, state licensure reimbursement, free health, life, and dental insurance, and free continuing education classes, your earning potential as a travel therapist is extraordinarily high. Check the salary calculator at our therapy career resources page for more information on physical therapist salaries.

What would my schedule be like?
This answer, too, depends on your particular situation, but most travel therapists work eight-hour shifts, five days a week. You can request extra shifts or time off, but these requests, as with any other job, will be granted based on hospital/facility need. If you’d like time off between travel therapy jobs, that can be arranged by contacting Travel Force.

What kind of support does Travel Force offer its clients?
When you apply for healthcare travel jobs with Travel Force, you will be assigned a recruiter with whom you will work on-on-one. You can expect to hear from your recruiter often, as he or she will check-in with you weekly to make sure everything is satisfactory. Your recruiter will walk you through all licensing and credentialing processes to make sure that everything goes smoothly. On top of that, Travel Force has an emergency hotline that is open for clients 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.

How do I get started on my travel therapy career?
You can start right away by contacting Travel Force at 1-800-617-0608 or by visiting the Travel Force website to apply online now.

Student Loans and Travel Therapy

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 09.08.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist

Physical therapists are in high demand, but as educational requirements have gotten more stringent, it has become harder for young people to make the financial commitment to becoming a physical therapist. Most Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs are three-year post-baccalaureate programs, costing between $20,000 and $35,000 each year. Most students considering a DPT program also have undergraduate loans to pay, and taking out additional loans of more than $100,000 may seem out of the question.

There is hope, however; some states already offer loan forgiveness programs, and current legislation is seeking to add physical therapists to the National Health Service Corps, which would allow physical therapists working in underserved areas of the country to have portions of their loans repaid in return for their service.

Beyond that, however, travel therapy jobs offer great benefits that can help to ease the financial burden. Some of the financial benefits of travel therapy include free private housing; free health, dental, and life insurance; 401K retirement plans; malpractice insurance; free online professional development courses; and reimbursement for state licensing. Travel therapists can also qualify for tax benefits and referral bonuses. On top of that, travel therapists are among the highest paid physical therapists in the occupation.

Travel therapy is obviously not for everyone. Some physical therapists may have families and do not have the luxury of moving around the country whenever necessary, but for young graduates looking not only to ease the burden of their loans but also to find some adventure and excitement, travel therapy is a great option.

To get started on your travel therapy career, apply online now or visit Travel Force for more information.

Google, MSN, and other Online News Channels Reporting on Rehab Therapy Jobs

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 08.12.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist

A recent MarketWire Press Release reported on rehabilitation therapy jobs search made easy with Travel Force Staffing. In addition to great opportunities for therapists, the PR also reported that health care staffing industry leader, American Traveler, backed by 25 years of health care staffing excellence joined Travel Force Staffing to offer therapy jobs’ staffing services nationwide. The PR was released on 8/11/09 and  distributed to major online news channels such as Google News, Yahoo News, MSN, and others.

“Our highly trained specialists guide candidates through the application process, search for rehabilitation therapy jobs in preferred facilities and place an emphasis on matching PT, OT and SLP candidates with locations in tune with their lifestyle needs and personal interests,” said Robert L. Bok, American Traveler CEO and Travel Force Staffing President.”

Read the entire PR

Healthcare Jobs on the Rise

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 07.10.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Registered Nurses, Rehabilitation Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, Videos

Watch video from the Early Show where Consumer correspondent, Susan Koeppen, answers viewers’ questions on state lemon laws, community supported agriculture and insulated job sectors.

iPhone Contest for Therapists

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 07.01.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Contests, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Gadget, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist

The iPhone contest is open to all therapists and allied health care professionals. Enter to win an iPhone 3G-S from Travel Force Staffing.

The winner will be awarded a $200 Apple Store Gift certificate - View iPhone Contest Rules to Enter

H1N1 Influenza or “Swine Flu” Update

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 05.04.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Diseases, Infectious Diseases, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist

The outbreak of Swine Flu (A/H1N1) continues to evolve, and healthcare organizations continue to monitor the release of information, especially guidance that most pertains to healthcare professionals. Below are specific links and recommendations allied healthcare professionals will find helpful in ensuring that they, their families, their patients, and their communities are most ready to respond to this outbreak of flu.

Comprehensive site on Pandemic Flu: Below is a link to Pandemic flu.gov – the U.S. government’s site for all information on preparing for and responding to a pandemic, including preparedness plans, latest outbreak news, and lots of information on how the US will respond to a pandemic.

• Pandemic Flu
• Investigation of the outbreak: CDC Swine Flu Investigation. You can sign up for email alerts, RSS feeds, and follow the CDC on Twitter to get information as it is released.
• Symptoms of Swine Flu – the same as seasonal flu! CDC Swine Flu Information Fever and body aches are the most telling signs of flu. Other signs are cough and occasionally vomiting and diarrhea. Other symptoms include lethargy and occasionally sore throat and nausea. A person is believed to be contagious one day before symptom onset, and up to seven days after becoming sick.
• What to do if you suspect a patient has Swine Flu : CDC Identifying and Caring for Patients with Swine Flu Obtain a nasal swab, refrigerate, and send via local or state health department to a state health department lab for testing.
• Use of masks and other PPE: CDC Interim Guidance for Use of Respirators and Facemasks in Settings Where H1N1 Virus Transmission Has Been Detected

AT THIS POINT, the CDC has recommended that only health care workers providing care to or collecting specimens from suspected or confirmed cases of H1N1 flu wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, gowns, goggles, and a fit-tested N-95 mask. As with seasonal flu, nurses and other health care workers caring for persons with confirmed or suspected cases should use standard, droplet, and contact precautions. **Remember that staff must be fully tested for a proper fit per the OSHA guidelines linked below before using an N-95 mask in order for it to be effective.

OSHA Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employees

It goes without saying that health care professionals must follow the strictest hygiene practices while on duty. Just a reminder to also take personal responsibility for hygiene on your own time. Avoid unnecessary contact with obviously ill people, thoroughly covering your mouth and nose with disposable tissues or the inside of your elbow when sneezing or coughing and dispose of the tissue properly. Thorough and frequent hand washing is also key.

It is also imperative that allied professionals and nurses follow these guidelines to avoid infection:

• Therapists should monitor the constantly changing flu event by visiting the web sites listed above and/or watching the news
• Traveling therapists should carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer and use it frequently through out the day.
• If you develop flu-like symptoms, contact your personal physician as soon as possible.

TravelForce provides rehabilitation therapy and healthcare career news, information and resources to stay current and informed on health care issues and career development.

Swine Flu Video | Swine Flu Outbreak Map

Now is the Time for Change

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 04.14.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Registered Nurses, Rehabilitation Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Travel Nurse Blog, Travel Nursing, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist

This is the perfect moment to “Go-Learn-Do” with your career

Recently I had the pleasure of seeing my dentist for my routine check-up and cleaning. As usual he was running behind, and his assistant came in and offered me something to read to pass some time as he worked on the poor soul in the room next to mine. The assistant brought me back a Time Magazine, although I was hoping it would have been People. (I am not the gossipy type and never purchase it for myself, but will admit to reading it every “free” chance I get.)

This Time was different — the cover story gripped my attention quickly — “10 Ideas Changing the World Today.” The first one being “Jobs Are the New Asset” by Barbara Kiviat. In short, she was stating that in today’s economy with people losing money on their stock portfolios and the housing market crashing, people are seeing their jobs as an asset and taking the time to “invest in their careers again.”

Today’s healthcare professional is in high demand; there are shortages everywhere for nurses and therapists! I started to salivate (and not from any Novocain injections) at what this can mean to travel nurses and traveling therapists. You have an opportunity that others don’t have; your asset can also be an adventure! It is truly unique to be able to work in a field where you have the ability to “change it up” and experience new things — not just from a destination standpoint but from a learning perspective, too.

I think taking your J-O-B from “just a job” and making it feel like an asset takes passion for what you do. Let’s face it, sometimes we all lose sight of why we do what we do everyday. We get caught in the rat race. The solution for all of you out there in the healthcare industry: TRAVEL!! Make your job your passion again. Remember why you became a nurse or allied professional to begin with. Reinvent your career. Traveling can make that happen! I am so enthusiastic about having a job as a recruiter. Giving people an avenue to do something that they would never have done before excites me! Many, many times I hear from my travelers, ” I am so burned out and am looking for a change, but nursing is who I am.” Then after an assignment I hear, “I never thought I would have learned so much,” and “I have tried so many new things that I never dreamed possible.”

On every assignment you can learn something new from the facilities and people you work with. A traveling nurse can really get an education. Changing the geographical destination will keep it fresh too. Having new sights to see and sharing it with new friends can make a world of difference in your life. (Think about the fun of experiencing the Big Apple with rent free New York travel nurse jobs and paid round trip travel!). I do not know many professions that offer this type of opportunity — not to take advantage of it is kinda crazy!

So let me just say this: Go - Learn - Do.