Why Did I Become a PT?

I have 2 children. One is a recent college graduate and the other a college sophomore. I find it hard to understand why many colleges have done away with the Undecided major. They force young adults (basically large babies) to chose their career path at 17 or 18 years old. So how did I chose this path? Its exactly the story today's colleges like to hear.

I had foot surgery at 16 years old. What is now an out patient procedure back then was major surgery and required 3-4 days in the hospital. On Day 2 an adorable PT came and taught me how to use crutches to walk and navigate stairs. My mother looked at me and said. "You like science. You should be a PT." And that was it! It was a done deal. I worked as a tech in the PT department of a hospital and went off to college a pre-PT major.

Luckily, it turns out, I loved it. I like physiology and anatomy. I like kinesiology (the study of movement). I like helping people/I'm bossy and telling people how to do stuff really floats my boat! I'm goal oriented so I like a job where you have a list of objectives and you try to meet them. I like working with people and I like being active. I could never have sat at a desk all day.

I come from a sports oriented family. I originally thought I'd go into sports medicine. WRONG!!! I fell in love with the brain and the neurological system instead of the "Jock". I love analyzing movement and helping tell the body how to do it. First steps is my favorite milestone - whether it's a child or an adult recovering from a neurological event. I use these skills in my everyday life all the time. I cuddle friend's babies and teach them to move. I watched my daughter do gymnastics and saw the nuance needed to do bars or tumble or vault and stick the landing. I watch my husbands frustration with his golf swing (no, I cannot teach golf effectively but it would be great if I could). I watch people walk at the mall and imagine their weaknesses by their deviations. How and why we can move is a mystery. And that's why I became a Physical therapist and remain in practice 31 years later.

I recently chose to escape the red tape of the American healthcare/insurance system and provide fee for services or cash pay services. The benefits are many for myself and the clients. I get to provide services to families that want them, not just families that insurance deems need them. I get to schedule appointments quickly, instead of waiting weeks for approvals from insurance companies to come through. I spend valuable time with clients. I don't have mountains of paperwork to do each night. (I do write valuable notes on each session which keep record of our progress.) I'm able to provide personal care for each child. I am not limited by agencies or administrations that limit my time and micromanage my productivity. I return all my own calls. I don't have a maze of answering machine options and 1-2 business days to possibly return your important call. I don't waste valuable time initiating treatment. Babies are changing daily and milestones begin to pile up as the weeks go by. I evaluate within 1-2 days of getting your call (or at your convenience) and begin giving you peace of mind quickly.

If you have concerns about your little one's gross motor development feel free to contact me any time to have a chat about options. Wait and see is an outdated option. The quicker you take action the easier it is to move past this stage and on to bigger things.