Do This First If You Want To Open A Cash Based Practice
affiliate links included in post
If you want to open a cash based practice, there are a lot of skills that you need to know and I’m not just talking about your physical therapy skills you use to treat patients.
In PT school, we are taught a lot of things, but if you are like me your business class in PT school looked like this: do a group project on finding a niche, realize that reimbursement is terrible and you will never break even based on rent and equipment purchases…write off entrepreneurship as a pipe dream.
Until, being an employee sucks the life out of you and you start looking at alternative options.
Thankfully, these days there are options like cash based PT businesses renting rooms with other clinicians, doing mobile based care, and owning their own clinics.
The biggest problem that I hear people mention when they start talking about opening their own cash based clinic, is that they aren’t sure how to make the jump. In my professional opinion there are a few options:
Have a super amazing spouse who is willing to fund your life so you can take a risk and start your own business
Save 6 months + of living expenses and jump off the deep end to go all in, all at once
Work part-time in a non-conflicting job to fund your minimum monthly revenue number (what you need to hit the bare minimum of your bills + food + minor expenses) and use the open days to work on your business — Academia is a good way to do this
Have online revenue to either act as your part-time job or to decrease the amount of pull from your savings (this might mean you could have 3 months of savings if you were also pulling in 1-2k/month online, etc).
My favorite options include #4 + any of the others (truthfully, I have done a combo of all of them myself). Having online income, specifically in the area of your cash based practice (or as an income stream to help pay off student loans, etc) has a ton of different benefits, here are some of my favorites:
Learn marketing, sales, and content creation skills while still having an income (your full time job)
Takes the pressure off learning all skills at once (getting clients + business details like LLCs + sales/marketing)
Increases your variability in income streams, if you have a slow client month you can pivot to increase sales/revenue in the online space
Builds trust and credibility with potential new clients
Increase demand to work with you specifically, after clients watch youtube or online content they will want to work with YOU based on how you teach and your personality
Create scaleable income with online products like courses, books, blogging, or affiliate income
There are infinite reasons to add #4 and online business as a part of your cash based physical therapy (or SLP/OT/Chiro, etc) strategy. The best reason, though, is because it ends up compounding both your income and your impact. You can only treat so many humans, but you can impact so many more if you have an online presence.
Okay — great — so how does one add online income into the mix?
By getting the right online business coaches + a platform in which to SELL digital products.
Thankfully, I have an absolutely easy solution to that for you: my personal online business coaches Caroline & Jason Zook who run Wandering Aimfully an un-boring business coaching program with lifetime access and an online course hosting platform (which you can use for courses, memberships, or as a checkout for digital products like downloadable e-books or pdfs).
For full disclosure, Caroline & Jason are not physical therapists — they are online business owners with backgrounds in multi-million dollar creative entrepreneur businesses, graphic design, and creative digital art businesses. I chose them to be my mentors based on their business values, their personalities, and the value they bring with their membership.
Here is why I chose them over traditional cash based physical therapy mentors:
Caroline is honest about emotional impacts of business & Jason is action focused, together they create a sustainable business dynamic. Push-Push-Push mentality of online business does not fit who I want to be or what I want to create, so I chose differently.
They have a lifetime model of coaching, community, and resources — you get access to anything they have ever created and ever will: this itself is an insane value but it also allows you to grow at your own pace. It took me 6 years to create my first online course using the included platform Teachery.co (yep, you get it for free!) but I was still doing, creating, and learning business skills and using it for other things in the meantime. I never felt pushed to do or be any specific type of online business owner — I had the opportunity to evolve as I grew in skill and mindset and pick products that worked for me.
I save $50+/month every month for infinity on hosting my four online courses, which pays for your lifetime membership in 3-5 years. Teachery.co (the course platform like kajabi or teachable) is included in your Wandering Aimfully Unlimited Membership.
The speak in ways that are fun, interesting, and connect with me. If you are curious about how they explain business check out their youtube (their calm business encyclopedia is my favorite!) or podcast (it feels like they are real humans who talk about business in a fun way).
Wandering Aimfully Unlimited, is stock-full of value for someone who is looking to create an online income to have a diversified physical therapy business and create a world-wide impact. It will not give you the ins and outs of starting a cash based physical therapy business, but it will allow you to have a means to create your brand, diversify your income, avoid client burn out, and decrease your money stress.
teachery.co is an online course platform that can also be utilized for selling digital products, as a membership site, selling online courses, or many other creative ways. Teachery.co prides itself on being customizable and is owned by Caroline and Jason Zook. Without a wandering aimfully coaching membership, teachery.co is currently priced at $49/mo, making the WAIM coaching program infinitely more valuable.
Curious about how Wandering Aimfully Unlimited
will help you go from employee PT to Online Business PT?
Use Caroline and Jason’s Signature 5 Step Process to make sure you’re setting up your business in a sustainable way.
An online course that takes you on a week-by-week, 6-month journey to help you transition from client work (traditional PT) to running a successful digital product business (online courses, digital downloads, books, etc).
online group coaching calls to teach you specific skills you’ll need
for a successful online business and online course.
Everything you need to set up an online course in Teachery even if you’re at the beginner level
(like I was!).
BONUS
For those of you who are still really interested in learning about starting a cash based business, you’re in luck!
As a bonus for those who enroll in Wandering Aimfully Unlimited through my affiliate link (any of the buttons or linked here) you will receive a one hour online coaching/chat session where you can ask me literally any questions you have on starting a mobile cash based business. I will also send a personalized pdf on resources I think you would love so your journey is even easier.
Once you finalize your purchase, email me your receipt and I will send you the link to schedule an online business consult ($75 value)! If you are just interested in business coaching, you can schedule those at anytime here.
Added Bonus Content that you might find interesting:
How I used Wandering Aimfully Unlimited + Teachery.co in my cash based pediatric physical therapy business
I have been listening to the Wandering Aimfully live or recorded coaching sessions and implementing their strategies from email marketing, offer creation, sales strategy all known as their marketing bridge to increase my online income streams, in a way that feels sustainable and well thought out.
I use their philosophies to help create youtube content in a sustainable way, slowing down if I need to, but continuing with the intention that slow, consistent content creation is more valuable than burning out. I chose youtube based on its SEO (search engine) model vs social media (low lifespan of content, non-searchable).
My strategy is to create long-form content available in a library that is evergreen (lives for a long time and is solution focused). My customers find my content when they have a problem to solve: baby isn’t crawling — now what? They often binge all my videos on a topic and often find me through searching youtube or google.
I created four free online courses through Teachery.co as bonuses for my Tummy Time and Learning to Roll book, for a way to share more organized youtube videos for subscribers, to convert individuals onto an email list for email marketing, and as a way to promote proactive strategies for families in Boise who are looking for pediatric physical therapy services or have developmental concerns on tummy time, rolling, sitting, crawling, and walking.
I use a QR code on my business card to link directly to my online course page (which you can view here) giving families and providers an easy way to share information as well as build trust and promote my expertise in pediatric physical therapy. All online courses were created using made for you templates and graphics via picmonkey and canva (happy to share how to do this via the online business consult bonus!).
My future business plans for Wandering Aimfully Unlimited + Teachery.co include:
Build out paid webinars for Infant Educators including live in services birth-5 years old
Nurture the email list that is built from my learning to roll, learning to sit, learning to crawl, and learning to walk free courses
Use the courses to sell the Proactive Play Book Series: Tummy Time + Learning to Roll, Learning to Sit, Learning to Crawl, and Learning to Walk
Watch the replay/live business coaching sessions on video or via the private podcast.
Take some of the art courses that Caroline has made including ipad lettering for beginners.
Continue to build connect with other really unique online business owners in the slack channel + use their fun series of check ins “WAIM OF STONES” to stay on track with all the to-dos.
Use the free courses to promote my cash based PT business via my business card + QR code
Open Enrollment Ended?
I have a secret way in — but you have to let me know you’re interested,
kind of like a secret speakeasy knock but in this case you put your info in the form below
& I send all the details via email ;)
In Home Pediatric Physical Therapy Near Me
We know finding a good pediatric physical therapist to come to your home is more difficult than it should be. We want you to feel comfortable getting the care and education you and your child need, in the most convenient way possible. Yes, that means we’re cool with you drinking your morning coffee in your pj’s while we see your kiddo.
To make that as easy as possible, we’ve curated a list of In Home Pediatric Physical Therapy near you. The list has been vetted to only include people we’d want in our own home for a bbq or birthday party.
If you’d like to learn more about any specific Physical Therapist on this list, check out to see if they have done an interview with Dr. Lauren Baker, on her youtube channel.
If you cannot find a therapist in your area, email us and we will reach out to our network of Pediatric PTs to see if we can connect you with one (and then add them to our list).
*if there is not an in home pediatric PT in your area, see this post for my recommended clinic based therapists (some may do in home therapy as well!).
United States: Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington DC | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming
Alabama
Birmingham, AL — Dr. Katie Dougherty, PT, DPT, CLT — Physio Baby Therapy and Wellness
Arizona
East Valley Phoenix, AZ — Dr. Bonnie Soto, PT, DPT — Be Well Bebé
East Valley Phoenix, AZ — Dr. Amanda Dudek, PT, DPT, ATC — PT Mama
Gilbert, AZ — Dr. Tirsa Baker, PT, DPT - Renewed Play Physical Therapy — interview link
Scottsdale and Phoenix, AZ — Dr. Erin Dinnie, PT, DPT, COMT - Moving Together Physical Therapy — interview link
Scottsdale and North Phoenix, AZ — Dr. Stephanie Murillo, PT, DPT — email via Stephaniemurillopt@gmail.com
Scottsdale and Phoenix, AZ — Dr. Nikki Robinett, PT, DPT— Moving and Grooving Physical Therapy
California
Encinitas, CA — Michelle Schiewe — Ohana Physical Therapy
Livermore, CA — Dr. Rhea Schmidt, PT, DPT — Grow Well Physical Therapy — interview link
North Los Angelos, CA — Dr. Judy. J. Wang, PT, DPT, PCS — Lil Peanuts Physical Therapy
San Fernando Valley (Los Angelos), CA — Shlomit Bercovich, MPT — Mobile Pediatric Physical Therapy by Shlomit
Orange County, CA — Dr. Taylor Henderson, PT, DPT — BloomWell Pediatric and Perinatal Physical Therapy
North County San Diego, CA — Dr. Hope Reyes, PT, DPT - Moving Munchkins Physical Therapy
San Diego County, CA — Dr. Alicia Coffroth, PT, DPT & Team — Abilities Pediatric Physical Therapy
Tulare County & Visalia , CA — Dr. Lynzie Asuncion, PT, DPT — More About You Pediatric Physical Therapy and Wellness
Whittier, CA — Dr. Hazel M. Legaspi, PT, DPT — Dr. Legaspi Synergy Physical Therapy
Colorado
Denver, CO — Dr. Brita DeStefano PT, DPT, PCS - Progress Through Play — interview link
Connecticut
Fairfield/New Haven County, CT — Dr. Marcy Fernandes, DPT — Benchmark Pediatrics (PT, OT, SLP)
Shoreline, CT — Dr. Kali Penders, DPT — Costal Kids Physical Therapy (SLP, OT, PT)
Florida
Fort Lauderdale, FL — Dr. Alicia Teeters, PT, DPT — Leap Pediatric Therapy and Sports Medicine
Jacksonville, FL — Dr. Beverly I Reyes PT, DPT, DMI cert — The Sensory DPT PLLC
Jacksonville, FL — Dr. Erin Whitmarsh PT, DPT, PCS — Grow Strong Physical Therapy
Miami, FL — Dr. Brittany Aquart, PT, DPT, PCS — Lemon City Collective
Ocala, FL — Tricia Rogers Steffy, PT — Pivot Rehab LLC (email)
Space Coast or Brevard County, FL — Rachel Williams, PT — Sandy Toes Pediatric Physical Therapy
Weston, FL — Dr. Lindsey Bragg, PT, DPT — Jump Start Physical Therapy and Training
Georgia
Atlanta, GA — Jagruti Hambir, PT, MHS, CIMI — Babies and Beyond Physical Therapy
Atlanta, GA — Dr. Haley McDonald, PT, DPT, PCS — Pathway Pediatric Therapy
Atlanta, GA — Dr. Brittany Zis PT, DPT — Mother and Baby Wellness Collective
South Atlanta, GA — Dr. Kim Baugh, PT, DPT — Babies First, LLC
Idaho
Boise, ID — Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC - Dr. Lauren Baker In Home Pediatric Physical Therapy
Indiana
Indianapolis, IN — Dr. Kelsey Keefer, PT, DPT — Kidtensive PT
Iowa
Des Moines, IA — Dr. Katherine Connor, DPT — Hatch Physical Therapy
Kansas
Wichita, KS — Dr. Brittany McGeary, PT, DPT - Grow Physical Therapy — interview link
Maryland
Bethesda, MD — Terryl Averbach Rosenberg, PT — Kid Networks Pediatric Physical Therapy
Massachusetts
Boston, MA — Dr. Karen Tanso, PT, DPT, PCS — Inchstones PT
Boston and Worcester, MA — Dr. Jenna Raheb, PT, DPT, PCS, CPST — Raheb PT
Middlesex, Essex, Worcester county, MA — Jocelyne MacDonald, PT — L.E.MacDonald Physical Therapy
North Shore, MA — Meagan O'Neill, MSPT, CIMI-2 — Ahoy Baby Physical Therapy and Wellness
Missouri
Kansas City, MO — Dr. Lauren Abelson PT, DPT, NCS — Function Forward Physical Therapy
Kansas City, MO — Dr. Katie Shipley, PT, DPT — Nurturing Touch Physical Therapy and Wellness
New Hampshire
Bedford, NH — Dr. Brenda Sacino, PT, DPT, — Playful Progress Pediatric PT & Developmental Wellness
New Jersey
Chester/Mendham, NJ — Dr. Carina Torres, PT, DPT, PCS - Little Champions Physical Therapy
Millburn, NJ — Dr. Sarah Riale PT, DPT, BSPTS — Kinetic Studio PT
Northern, NJ/Hudson, Bergen, and Passaic Counties — Dr. Vaishali Parmar, PT, DPT, MBA — Mobile PhysioCare
South Jersey/Cherry Hill, NJ — Dr. Nikki Galluzzo PT,DPT — Little Feats Physical Therapy
New York
Buffalo, NY — Dr. Alyssa Whitfield PT, DPT — Move to Learn PT
Carmel, NY — Dr. Yelena Bregman, PT, DPT — Inspiration Physical Therapy PLLC
Long Island, NY — Dr. Roulla Savva, PT, DPT — Tracking Miles Physical Therapy
Suffolk County, Long Island, NY — Dr. Taylor Jensen, PT, DPT — email via Taylor.jensen25@gmail.com
Syracuse, NY — Dr. Brittany Schuler PT, DPT, CBIS, NCS — email via Minimilestonesppt@gmail.com
North Carolina
Charlotte, NC — Dr. Kelsey Miles, PT, DPT, C/NDT — Move Pediatric PT
Ohio
Columbus, OH — Dr Amy Newkold, PT, DPT — Baby Moves Physical Therapy
Oklahoma
Stillwater, OK — Dr. Kayte Lynch, PT, DPT — Fit To Be Kids Pediatric Physical Therapy (email)
Pennsylvania
Montgomery County, PA — Dr. Anna Bolshin, PT, DPT - Loving Touch Physical Therapy — interview link
Philadelphia Main Line, PA — Dr. Lisa Schwarcz, PT, DPT, PCS, RYT — Homebody Therapy and Wellness
South Carolina
Charleston, SC — Dr. Savannah Wise, PT, DPT — Wise Little Movers Physical Therapy
Mount Pleasant, SC — Dr. Erika Espana, PT, DPT & Team — Mastering Milestones
Tennessee
Kingsport, Johnson City, TN — Dr. Whitney Castle, PT, DPT, DMI certified — Royal Pediatric PT & Wellness
Nashville, TN — Dr. Kristen DeMura, PT, DPT — Pediatric Physical Therapy of Nashville
Texas
Austin, TX — Dr. Kristi Hammerle, PT, DPT, CBS — Year One Wellness
Austin, TX — Dr. Jennifer Gaewsky, PT, DPT — Physical Therapy For Infants
Austin, TX / Bastrup, TX — Dr. Samantha Eaton PT, DPT — Hatched Physical Therapy
Austin, TX — Dr. Katie Kennedy PT, DPT, PCS, NTMTC, CEIM — Strive Pediatrics
Austin, TX — Dr. Carolyn Zuiker, PT, DPT — Boost Babies
Dallas, TX — Dr. Amie Dougherty PT, DPT, DMI certified — Milestones At Play Physical Therapy & Wellness
Dallas-Fort Worth & Denton County, TX — Dr. Jena Schultz, PT, DPT, PCS — Driving Development
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX — Kristen McConnell, MSPT — PhysiTots Pediatric Physical Therapy
Houston, TX — Physio Baby Team — Physio Baby Therapy and Wellness
Houston, TX — Dr. Caitlin Keller, PT, DPT, — Unconstipated Kids — interview link
New Braunfels, TX — Carissa Tracy, MPT — PEARL Pediatric Therapy, PLLC
North Texas (Argyle, Denton, Justin) — Dr. Alexandria Gentry — Jumping Jacks Physical Therapy
Virginia
Alexandria, VA — Dr. Allison Kops PT, DPT — The Baby PT
Northern, VA — Dr. Hannah Williams PT, DPT — Little Steps Pediatric PT
Richmond, VA — Dr. Emily Rosenberger, PT, DPT, ITPT — Expanding Reach Physical Therapy
Washington, DC
Bethesda, MD — Terryl Averbach Rosenberg, PT — Kid Networks Pediatric Physical Therapy
*if there is not an in home pediatric PT in your area, see this post for my recommended clinic based therapists (some may do in home therapy as well!).
Virtual Consult Specialties
Scoliosis or Movement — Dr. Sarah Riale PT, DPT, BSPTS — Kinetic Studio PT
International
Tokyo, Japan — Nydes Ishiwatari, Physiotherapist / Physical Therapist
Search for a Specialist
TMR Trained Physical Therapists via Branchly
Pediatric Pelvic Floor: Unconstipated Kids
DMI Trained Physical Therapists
10+ Pediatric Physical Therapy Intake Form Examples and Templates
10+ Pediatric Physical Therapy Intake Forms and Examples including: Online Parent Consultation Consent Form, Online Parent Consultation Intake Form Template, Online Parent Consultation Documentation Template, Pediatric PT Covid-19 Waiver Example, Good Faith Estimate Example, Informed Consent for Pediatric PT Example, Example Medicaid Release Form, Pediatric PT Intake Form Template, Pediatric PT Practice Policies Example, Pediatric PT Privacy Policies (HIPPA) Example, Release of Information Form Template, Youtube Video Release Template, Pediatric PT Evaluation Template, Pediatric PT Progress Report Template, and SOAP Note Template
Hi, I’m Dr. Lauren Baker, PT, DPT, ATC, MTC, and I run a cash based mobile pediatric physical therapy business. I’m literally obsessed with this style of therapy, having a flexible schedule, and all the things that come along with not having the barriers that a traditional insurance based clinic has.
That being said, starting out was kind of hard at first, mostly because I wasn’t quite sure what I was doing — but also because there was SO MUCH to create: intake forms, consent forms, and documentation templates.
After a year+ in business, I feel like I have it mostly under control from an administration standpoint and thought I would share my intake, consent, and documentation forms with other Pediatric PTs who want to move into the cash based mobile peds PT business too.
You see, some people might think that by sharing these forms I’d be creating more competition for myself — but I see the opposite. I see a world where babes are treated in the comfort of their own home with therapists who are able to treat them compassionately and with a high level of energy and support because they’re not burnt out.
So to me, that means we’ve got to convince more peds PTs to take the plunge (& the risk) — which results in making the whole process less scary.
This is my goal in sharing these forms. I hope they help.
Disclaimer: I created these forms myself as well as from some standard language provided by Simple Practice. As of 2022 they have not been reviewed by a lawyer. Use them at your own risk and I highly recommend consulting with a lawyer prior to using them.
Here are all of the forms you can download and use for free:
Online Parent Consultation Consent Form
Online Parent Consultation Intake Form
Online Parent Consultation Documentation Template
Covid-19 Waiver
Good Faith Estimate
Informed Consent for Pediatric PT
Medicaid Release Form
Pediatric PT Intake Form
Pediatric PT Practice Policies
Pediatric PT Privacy Policies (HIPPA)
Release of Information
Youtube Video Release
Pediatric PT Evaluation Template
Pediatric PT Progress Report Template
SOAP Note Template
Using Pediatric PT Intake and Documentation Forms
For full disclosure, these pdf forms are in the format directly downloaded from my all in one system (EMR + online scheduler + credit card payment). I use Simple Practice, which I absolutely love because it is an all in one system that makes sending, e-signing, scheduling, and getting paid something I honestly barely even spend brainpower on.
You can use these forms to create your own in Simple Practice and if you are looking for an all in one system you can sign up for Simple Practice here. You’ll receive $100 off & I will also receive $100 if you sign up using that link.
I currently utilize the $99/month option but you could get started using the $69/month option. The one thing I do dislike about Simple Practice is that they included the google calendar sync in their 99$/mo pricing tier, which I absolutely need. Otherwise, I would still be in the 69/mo category. I would recommend others start with 69/month unless they absolutely need google sync.
Simple Practice does have its own app so if you have fewer patients or are okay with carrying over your appointments to your google calendar manually, it might be worth it to save $30/mo. You can do everything I do with the $69/mo plan.
are you a pediatric PT with a mobile peds business?
If you are a pediatric PT who operates a cash based or mobile business and are interested in being interviewed on my youtube channel, please reach out here. I love sharing mobile and cash based peds PT businesses.
Pediatric Physical Therapy Equipment and Supplies
Pediatric Physical Therapy Equipment and Supplies
This post contains affiliate links, please see my disclaimer for more information.
Lauren is the owner of Dr. Lauren Baker In Home Pediatric Physical Therapy and provides paid 60-minute online parent consultations for individuals with additional questions internationally. For scheduling please click here.
Some of my favorite pediatric physical therapy tools, toys, and supplies to build fine/gross/cognitive skills.
Top Favorites:
6 Ways To Make Pediatric Physical Therapy Documentation Quick and Easy
Pediatric Physical Therapy Documentation is very different than adult orthopedic and neurological physical therapy documentation because when you’re working with kids, the interventions you are completing are play based, functional, and take more critical analytical skills to produce documentation that is authoritative and skilled. Often in PT school, Student Physical Therapists are taught adult based Physical Therapy Documentation and left to learn Pediatric Physical Therapy Documentation on their own. Here are 6 ways to make pediatric physical therapy documentation quick and easy, along with a resource at the end that will help you enhance your Pediatric Physical Therapy Documentation skills with ease.
This post contains affiliate links, please see my disclaimer for more information.
Take notes during your pediatric physical therapy session
Taking notes is a huge time save when you’re completing pediatric physical therapy documentation. Pediatric PT sessions move really quickly and if you are not taking data in real time, it is quite easy to forget which leg lead when going up the stairs and which leg lead when going down the stairs (especially since they’re often opposite).
Taking notes ensures that you have specific data to go back to when you start your SOAP note, Evaluation, Progress Note, or Discharge. It also ensures that it’s as accurate as possible. While taking notes during sessions is helpful from a productivity stand point, it isn’t always realistic, and going off memory is difficult, time-consuming, and generally inaccurate (especially if you check out the data on witness accuracy, I cannot imagine PT accuracy is that much different a few hours after an appointment or even a day later).
When you go to write a SOAP note off of a pre-written note, there is a much higher likelihood of its accuracy, it also works as a cue for your brain to remember more details for the note like the specific exercise the child was doing, the position they were in, and what activity you did before and after the one you jot down.
Create your own shorthand abbreviations for your PT data
Taking down notes for pediatric physical therapy documentation does not have to take that much time, especially if you create your own written language for data points that you use for specific circumstances. Abbrevations used in pediatric documentation that is official such as SOAP notes typically must be either spelled out in advance ie BL (bilateral) then use BL for future sentences in the note or they must be universally recognized by the medical community.
When you write your short hand notes in a small notebook, however, you can write whatever you want down that is quick and easy as long as you know what it means. Personally, that means using abbreviations including arrows up/down for ascending/descending stairs, LLE up arrow if the left leg led while ascending stairs, or LLE down arrow if the left leg led when descending stairs. Other common abbreviations I use are: RGP (recirpocal gait pattern), STGP (step to gait pattern), sit <> st (sit to stand and stand to sit transitions), etc. There is freedom for you to create whatever abbreviations help you, including using fractions for successful trials/total trials ie 4/5 would mean that 4 times the child completed the trial successfully, but you completed it a total of 5 times; therefore the child was unsuccessful 1/5 times.
Time yourself to make pediatric physical therapy documentation quicker.
Writing pediatric physical therapy documentation notes, progress notes, evaluations, discharges, IEPs, etc can take different amount of lengths depending on the child, the circumstance, whether there are on-going legal concerns, and/or depending on the detail required by insurance companies, doctors, bosses, etc. I do find that it is extremely helpful to time myself when typing SOAP notes and other styles of notes.
I find that SOAP notes can take me anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on my level of detail and length of the session. If you’re just starting out as a PT student, it might take you 30 minutes per SOAP note and multiple hours for an evaluation. It’s important to build a time goal into your documentation skills as this is a specific skill set needed to maintain both productivity and also your sanity. If it takes you 30 minutes to write a SOAP note ever single time you see a patient, your workload will double and you will likely be very unhappy.
Using timers and the Pomodoro principle where you are writing for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break can increase your effectiveness and focus. Note also that if you distract yourself by googling something or checking your phone it will take you 15 more minutes to focus, during which time you could have another note written.
Understand what goes where
Learning the differences between subjective, objective, assessment, and plan data and information can be tricky in the pediatric physical therapy documentation world. Ideally, subjective information is information gathered prior to the start of the appointment and history of what happened since the previous visit, usually given via a parent or teacher report. It can also include upcoming concerns, dates, or information.
Objective information is data-driven and activity-focused, it includes specific interventions done in the PT session or evaluation and the data collected. In pediatrics it is a little harder to tease out the objective and assessment data from each other. If you need additional resources including prompts for sentence structure and questions to help you figure out what is objective and what is assessment, the book The Ultimate Guide to Pediatric Physical Therapy Documentation will be a helpful resource for you.
Create key phrases to use for your pediatric documentation
Having specific key phrases that you go back to in order to get your point across and make sure that you are not missing anything can be really helpful to systemize in your brain. Examples include a signs and symptoms (sx) statement in your assessment section to note pediatric physical therapy impairments in the documentation. For example, a child who is struggling with crawling and has a medical diagnosis of developmental delay may have a signs and sx statement that looks like this, “Johnny presents with signs and sx consistent with a medical diagnosis of developmental delay and gross motor concerns that are resulting in delays in crawling including decreased strength in core, hip and shoulder girdle muscles as well as decreased motor planning necessary to attain independent mobility.”
Other examples of key phrases include, “Skilled PT is necessary in order to xxx,” at the end of the assessment paragraph of each SOAP note or a specific phrase in the Plan section that includes, “continue with Plan of Care (POC).”
Buy The Ultimate Guide to Pediatric Physical Therapy Documentation for Student Physical Therapists and PTs Transitioning into Pediatric Practice book.
There are so many specific nuances of documentation in the pediatric world that are required in order to have your interventions sound skilled and authoritative. It is important that documentation shows the expertise that the Pediatric Physical Therapist brings to their interventions and differentiates the intervention from play based activities that the parent is able to do on their own.
If you’d like more information on how to master Pediatric Physical Therapy Documentation, please check out The Ultimate Guide to Pediatric Physical Therapy Documentation for Student Physical Therapists and PTs Transitioning into Pediatric Practice on amazon.
You’ll Learn How To Document:
Pediatric Physical Therapy Evaluations
Progress Notes, Treatment Sessions, and Discharges
In both the school and medical model settings (outpatient and hospital based)
It’ll include examples of:
Understanding PT documentation
Expressing interventions as skilled
Differentiating between objective and assessment data
Simple sentence structures and examples
Includes both medical model (outpatient) and school based documentation (including goals)
Examples of letters of medical necessity, incident reports, IEP, and discharge statements