Medical Methods Blog

It may not be spring but if you are a therapist this is the year for you to make a change. Why? We just wrapped up our end of the year analysis of the therapy job market and there are some big reasons why you should consider making a change this year.

Obviously, I am making an assumption here. That assumption is you have been considering a change for the last year or two and you have chosen not to make a move for a variety of reasons. So, if this applies keep reading.

Why play?

Out of 6,000 requests for therapist in 2009 we had 1,600 applicants. Think about that. There is nearly a 4 to 1 ratio of positions to candidates. I have been studying employment trends for 15 years and I can’t recall a market like this. In most skill sets you find the opposite – a 4 to 1 applicant to opening ratio. In today’s climate there are dozens of skills sets that have ratios more like 50 to 1.

Need more reason?

Out of the 6,000 openings we received last year there was nearly an equal split of permanent vs. travel/contract openings. That again is staggering. In 2004 nearly 90% of the positions we received were for travel/contractors. This simply means you can find a great job no matter what you are considering.

Still more?

We are finding that clients that have been slow to hire the past couple of years are starting to come back and look for talent. Some of our best old customers have asked us for help in the past few weeks.

Define playing

Playing in the market doesn’t have to mean you actually leave your job. It means that you get educated, look around, and scratch that itch to see if you are ready to make the move.

So, if you are a physical, occupational or speech therapist or assistant please give us a call this year and let us help you decide to play or stay.

Best wishes for a great 2010!

Clint

2009 is almost over. I honestly have to say that I am pretty grateful about that fact. However, I have learned more this year than in any previous year about a lot of things. I have learned to manage our business far more effectively then we ever have. I have learned that diversification is a major factor in surviving downturns. I have learned that in order to survive you must make very tough decisions. I have also been reminded to count my blessings everyday and put little emphasis on material things.

Regarding Medical Methods, it has been a tough year.  While we have had consistent demand nationally, we have seen our clients in Florida shift quite a bit.  The other major factor has been the flip flop in demand for permanent therapists vs. contract/traveling therapists.  Historically, we have always seen far more requests for contract/traveling therapists, mostly because our customers couldn’t get enough therapists to take permanent jobs because there were so many opportunities for contract/traveling positions. Now that the economy has shifted so dramatically therapists are very leary to take contract/traveling jobs and therefore more facilities can tighten up there staff by hiring more permanent folks. The national unemployment rate is currently over 10% while physical and occupational therapy is under 1%.

In the past 3 months we have started to see a reversal of the trend towards permanent requests. We have seen several straight months of requests for more contract/travelers than permanent. We believe this will continue as the economy recovers and as therapists feel more confident taking more flexible roles. 

At the end of the day we can help therapists find great permanent roles or contract/traveling positions. Also, the great thing for therapists is that there are plenty of jobs in any economy. The thing for us all to pay attention to next year will be legislation and reimbursement changes.

If you haven’t been to our website lately, www.medicalmethods.net, you are missing our monthly job data updates and thoughts for the month. We are trying to keep everyone updated on the trends effecting the therapy industry.

I pray that everyone reading this has a safe and healthy Christmas with the ones they love. 

Until next month,

Healthcare reform, war, layoff’s, random murders, deficit, bad credit, bankruptcy, greed, email, cell phones, texting, twitter, facebook, linkedin, and fear.  This is in front of all of us — EVERYDAY.  While I certainly try and pay attention to the stories that impact me, my business and my family, my thoughts turn to simplicity this month.

The world we live in is so complex today.  There is way too much information, too many choices, too many credit cards, too many commercials, ads, pitchmen, toys, electronics, distractions, etc….

If you’re still reading you are likely getting tired and perhaps confused already.  I found myself getting caught up in too much of this in October.  Let me give you an example.  Over the years I would occasionally listen to sports talk radio just to hear the highlights.  Well, last month for some reason I listened to it all the time.  Every morning, going to and from lunch and then again going home at night.  At first I enjoyed it but by the end of the month I noticed that I was getting more and more annoyed by the shows, the fighting, the pettiness, the triviality of it all.  I added too much complexity to my schedule.

Oh yea, one other driver of complexity (not to mention the list in the first paragraph) that surprised me this month was my new DVR at home.  I tell you what…that thing is awesome!  For about a week my wife and I were in love…yes in love with this new fangled thing.  We started recording all kinds of shows and were just enamored by “how much time we were saving” and how we could finally “take control” of our tv time.  Well, let me tell you that thing is evil!  I watched more junk on tv in October than I have in 2 years.  We would sit down after a long day, not communicate much if at all and then watch show after show.  Mindless complexity!

You have to understand, I have a bunch of small kids at home, a couple of companies to help lead, football coach, church activities, etc…  I don’t need anymore complexity.  I have decided that for the next two months of 2009 I am going to simplify my life and time.  I cleaned my truck, my office and my house (still working on garage – long story).  I took my boys camping in the woods this weekend.  I am listening to cd’s in my car regarding raising up virtuous boys (teaching them about the simple things of life and the most important).  I am planning my time better, saying no more to complexity and enjoying some quiet time.

That is my soap box for the month – choose simplicity!

Gobble Gobble,
Clint

My thoughts this month turn towards the end of the year race. Like most people it always seems like time speeds up come October first. Halloween will be here in minutes, Thanksgiving a few hours later and then Christmas a little later. This also seems to be the case at work. Everyone has a ton to do and time is running out.

While there is still tremendous dissonance in the marketplace, healthcare, politics, war, & unemployment I urge everyone to finish strong. I am a firm believer that there are seasons in life and good can come from all of them. I heard it said multiple times this week, “I feel like a hamster trapped on a wheel” where tons of effort, activity and work are going into things but very little return is coming back.

Just know that nearly everyone on the planet feels that way at some level and that collectively we will get off the wheel and start moving forward again. It may not been really soon or really fast but a turn is coming.

Think of it as the cool air that is coming. It is refreshing, invigorating, and relaxing. Here at our company, we have embraced the notion of fighting the good fight and finishing strong. I invite you to take a minute to watch this video.

We all need encouragement and what beats “Eye of the tiger”? I especially liked learning about Sir Ernest Shackleton – one of the greatest adventurers of all times. He led an expedition to the Antarctic to be the first to cross the Antarctic by foot. While the goal was not attained due to the forces of nature their story is remarkable. This kind of sums it up;

“On August 30, 1916 after 22 months of being stranded on a barren rock in sub zero temperatures, the crew of the Endurance was rescued. All twenty eight crew members survived the ordeal and most were quick to credit the strong faith of their leader as the catalyst in their survival”.

As you learn about how they survived and imagine the fortitude it took to live, it inspires you to overcome whatever challenge you face right now – and to persevere for what may seem like an eternity. For if you do you will surely win on the other side. To learn more click on this link.

There are three months left in this year. Pull up your boot straps, count your blessings and finish strong!

Until next month!

Clint

We have all heard it or have said (or are currently thinking it). Take this job and shove it is another popular phrase we have all heard. Well, this month we are more than humbled to win our second Best Place to Work award. This time Florida Trend Magazine named us the 13th best small company to work for in the state.

• http://www.floridatrend.com/article.asp?aID=51439  
• http://www.floridatrend.com/article.asp?aID=51456. 

Now, I’m not saying we don’t have any employees who aren’t happy with their jobs here, but what I am saying is that I am thankful for all those employees that took the time to complete voluntary surveys on their experience here. That is what makes this award so special. First, it validates and confirms why we built the company to begin with – to serve others and create a great employment experience. Second, it is very unusual to have “temporary” employees take part in these types of surveys. I think that gets to the core of our culture. We are very intentional about including everyone in our strategy, operations, and the actual employee experience. Working with our company is not a transaction – it’s a relationship.

So, the point of the blog is really to say thank you to all of our employees and to challenge anyone reading this to identify a company that cares about them. From a recruiters perspective you can identify good places to work through a variety of ways.

• Ask the employees of a company if they like working there & why not just the hiring manager (smart, huh?)
• Ask questions of a hiring manager like what is their annual employee turnover rate and why it is what it is
• Ask them why the company was founded and what motivates leadership (are they owned by a huge private equity company only concerned about selling the company in 1 year?)
• Ask them how they involve employees in creating culture
• Find out if they ever won any significant awards relating to community service, best place to work, etc.

Everyone wants the basic things out of their career – to make meaningful money (median wage in 2008 was about $32k last year), have some purpose in what their doing (which is a combination of the actual work they do, the impact it has on someone and the company itself), and to be challenged.

If you say it the other way, it makes the point clearer – people don’t want to earn below average pay, have no purpose or impact on the lives of others and to be bored.

I hope you already have a great work experience going on – if not, start looking for one before it is too late.

Until next month!