Patient Job Dissatisfaction...What Can You as a PT Do?
As clinicians we can pick out patients who are dissatisfied with their job, their co-workers, their supervisor, etc. You can appreciate that no matter how amazing your mobs or multifidus training are, you are going to have a tough time returning that patient back to work!
So what can you do? Let me quote a sentence from this excellent paper.
“…stronger workplace communication and accommodation efforts are needed. Another strategy would be to encourage re-examination of career goals or vocational counselling (an option generally discouraged within Workers? compensation systems).”
I can appreciate discussing a career change can be quite challenging, but it may be the only solution to ever returning to any kind of work!
Try asking your patients bluntly… “On a scale of 0 to 10, how satisfied are you with your current job?” Zero being, not satisfied at all / I hate my job and ten being extremely satisfied / I love my job.
From the response to this simple question, you will be able to set more realistic goals and not waste time and resources purely using manual therapy or modalities!
Inform the patient of a great book specifically aimed at those dissatisfied with their job/career. The book is titled, “Live your Dreams: Doctor?s Orders” available on www.dreamsforreal.com …
changing job/career may be the only real solution to their persistent disability!
Posted on: May 21, 2008
Categories: Relevant Physical Therapy Articles
