Written by the Summit Professional Education Team, experts in continuing education for healthcare and allied professionals
Why Staffing Challenges Are Holding Your Clinic Back
Your clinic’s success depends on the strength of your team. Skilled physical and occupational therapists drive patient outcomes, clinic growth, and overall reputation. But today, clinic owners face a growing challenge—hiring and retaining top talent.
According to a recent APTA workforce survey, 34% of physical therapists are considering leaving the profession due to burnout, excessive workloads, and administrative burdens. High turnover isn’t just disruptive; it’s expensive. Losing a single experienced clinician can cost a clinic $50,000 or more in recruitment, lost productivity, and training expenses.
Many clinics are stuck in a constant cycle of hiring and losing staff. But with the right retention strategies, you can build a workplace where PTs and OTs thrive—ensuring stability, profitability, and exceptional patient care.
What’s Causing Burnout in PTs and OTs?
Burnout is driving many skilled therapists away from clinical practice. Studies show that up to 60% of rehab professionals experience symptoms of burnout, including emotional exhaustion, lack of motivation, and reduced job satisfaction.
Top Causes of Burnout in PTs and OTs:
- Overloaded Patient Schedules – Many therapists treat 12+ patients per day, leading to exhaustion and reduced quality of care.
- Heavy Administrative Work – Documentation, insurance claims, and compliance tasks can add 3+ hours of extra work daily.
- Limited Career Growth – Without clear advancement opportunities, clinicians seek jobs elsewhere.
- Emotional Fatigue – Working with patients who experience slow progress or chronic pain can be mentally draining.
- Inflexible Work Hours – Rigid schedules make it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Burnout doesn’t just impact therapists—it affects patient outcomes, clinic efficiency, and revenue.
Proven Strategies to Attract and Retain Top PT and OT Talent
While competitive salaries help, they aren’t enough to keep therapists engaged. Successful clinics invest in work-life balance, career development, and a supportive workplace culture to retain top talent.
- Reduce Workloads to Prevent Burnout
- Some clinic owners believe that reducing caseloads is unrealistic. However, clinics that optimize workloads see higher retention rates and better patient satisfaction.
- How to Reduce Therapist Burnout:
- Clinics that optimize workflows, improve reimbursement strategies, and leverage technology to reduce administrative burdens see better retention and patient outcomes—without sacrificing financial stability.
- Hiring administrative support for scheduling and insurance paperwork can reduce therapist workload, but documentation remains the therapist’s responsibility. Clinics can streamline some paperwork with efficient EHR systems, voice-to-text tools, and structured templates—allowing therapists to focus more on patient care while maintaining compliance.
- Use AI-driven EMR systems to speed up documentation and reduce time spent on charting.
- Offer flexible scheduling like four-day workweeks or hybrid telehealth options.
- Clinics that balance workloads report lower turnover and better clinical outcomes.
- Competitive Compensation That Goes Beyond Salary
- A higher paycheck may attract candidates, but long-term retention depends on benefits and growth opportunities.
- Retention-Boosting Compensation Strategies:
- Student loan repayment assistance to ease financial burdens.
- Continuing education stipends for specialized training and certifications.
- Performance-based bonuses tied to patient satisfaction and clinic success.
- Clinics offering education incentives and advancement programs see 20% higher retention rates than those that don’t.
- Provide Career Growth Opportunities to Keep Employees Engaged
- A major reason PTs and OTs leave is the lack of professional development. Many feel they hit a ceiling and move on to larger healthcare systems or non-clinical roles.
- How to Support Career Development:
- Leadership tracks for therapists interested in management roles.
- Financial support for certifications in areas like manual therapy, neurology, or sports rehabilitation.
- Mentorship programs to help new hires integrate and grow within the clinic.
- Clinics that offer clear career paths not only retain staff longer but also attract high-performing therapists looking for stability and growth.
- Build a Supportive Workplace Culture
- Some clinic owners focus solely on productivity, overlooking the impact of workplace culture on retention. Research shows that a positive, collaborative environment reduces burnout and improves job satisfaction.
- Steps to Strengthen Clinic Culture:
- Recognize employee achievements through team meetings, bonuses, or personalized thank-yous.
- Foster open communication by scheduling monthly one-on-one check-ins.
- Promote teamwork instead of enforcing strict productivity quotas.
- Clinics with strong workplace culture see 40% lower burnout rates compared to those with poor support systems.
- Prioritize Work-Life Balance to Prevent Turnover
- Some clinic owners worry that offering flexible schedules will hurt productivity. In reality, work-life balance leads to higher job satisfaction and stronger employee retention.
- How to Promote Work-Life Balance:
- Offer part-time or hybrid work options for increased flexibility.
- Encourage mental health days and ensure staff feel comfortable using PTO.
- Provide on-site wellness programs like mindfulness sessions or ergonomic training.
- Clinics that prioritize therapist well-being experience lower absenteeism and stronger long-term commitment from employees
Common Concerns About Retention Strategies
Some clinic owners hesitate to invest in retention programs, citing financial or operational concerns. Here’s why these strategies pay off in the long run:
- “We can’t afford to reduce caseloads.” – High turnover is more expensive. Recruitment, training, and lost productivity cost far more than hiring support staff or optimizing schedules.
- “Higher salaries should be enough.” – Research shows that career growth and workplace flexibility are bigger drivers of retention than salary alone.
- “We’re too small to offer career paths.” – Even small clinics can implement mentorship programs, specialization incentives, and leadership roles to retain top talent.
Investing in retention isn’t just about keeping employees happy—it directly improves patient care, revenue, and clinic growth.
Take Action: Secure Your Clinic’s Future with a Stronger Team
Staffing issues don’t have to be an ongoing struggle. Clinics that invest in employee retention strategies create a competitive advantage—improving patient outcomes, reducing turnover, and increasing profitability.
Key Takeaways for Clinic Owners:
✅ Reduce workloads and administrative burdens to prevent burnout.
✅ Offer meaningful benefits, including education stipends and loan repayment.
✅ Create career advancement opportunities, even in small clinics.
✅ Build a culture of support, recognition, and open communication.
✅ Prioritize work-life balance to retain top therapists.
Now is the time to act. Assess your clinic’s retention strategies, make meaningful improvements, and build a workplace where PTs and OTs want to stay.
Want expert insights on improving retention in your clinic? Let’s connect and find the right strategy for your team. CLICK HERE
About Summit Professional Education
Summit equips Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and SLPs with better continuing education courses that provide CEUs while impacting patient outcomes. Find high-quality on-demand CE along with the largest offering of live options — including live webinars, live streams, and in-person courses. Want to deep dive on a topic? Summit offers hundreds of 6-hour courses for the most in-depth learning!