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What strategies do you use to create an inviting atmosphere for your patients when they come in for an appointment?

Creating a Welcoming Clinic: How Kate Edwards Prioritizes Patient Comfort

Hey everyone, this is Kate Edwards and the question I'm answering is what strategies do you use to create an inviting atmosphere for your patients when they come in for an appointment? So the first thing is I designed my clinic to be inviting and not feel like a clinical space. We have we actually have a water feature on the wall that's pretty calming, we have comfortable chairs in the waiting room and good lighting, we have lots of magazines that are organized, not all over the place and not out of date, but we also have books and water and kind bars and a whole bunch of different things even in the lobby. But then when they come into an appointment, especially their first one, we sit down and we sit right in front of them talking face to face and ask them lots of questions and we don't rush anybody and we want to make sure we truly understand what's going on with them so that we can help them to improve and get well. So I think that it has to do with how we communicate from the time that we answer the phone to that first appointment to the very last as well as the environment we've created for them to walk into.

To create an inviting atmosphere for patients when they come in for an appointment, I design my clinic to be inviting and not feel like a clinical space with comfortable chairs, good lighting, magazines, books, water, and healthy snacks. I also make sure to communicate with them face-to-face and ask lots of questions, instead of rushing them.

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To create an inviting atmosphere for my patients when they come in for an appointment, I employ several strategies. First and foremost, I have designed my clinic to feel welcoming and not like a typical clinical space. We have a calming water feature on the wall, comfortable chairs in the waiting room, and good lighting. The waiting area is organized, with up-to-date magazines, books, water, and snacks like kind bars available for patients.

During the appointment, especially the first one, I make sure to sit down face-to-face with the patient and engage in a conversation. I ask them a lot of questions and take the time to truly understand their situation. Rushing is not an option, as I want to ensure that I can help them improve and get well.

Creating an inviting atmosphere goes beyond the physical environment. It also involves effective communication, starting from the moment we answer the phone to the first appointment and throughout the entire patient journey.

By combining a welcoming physical space with attentive and personalized communication, I strive to create an inviting atmosphere that puts my patients at ease and helps them feel comfortable and cared for.

Are there any unique challenges that come along with providing care for athletes or performing arts professionals?

The Unique Challenges of Caring for Athletes & Performers: Sleep, Schedules, & Travel

Hey everyone, the question I'm answering is, are there any unique challenges that come along with providing care for athletes or performing art professionals? And I would say absolutely. If you want to sleep and work regular hours, that's just not going to happen. So actually right now, I am in a hotel room because I am in Florida at training camp for my elite runners and I just finished training and I think it is 930 at night. So I usually like to be in bed by now, but I'm up so here I am answering questions. But I think that some of the unique challenges are definitely timeline and sometimes you have to work around their schedule. I wouldn't say sometimes, I guess all the time. So that's something too, but then also they're traveling a lot and they've got a lot going on. So what you give them, it has to make sure it can translate to no matter where they are. They don't have a typical set routine like a lot of people who have a nine-to-five job. So you have to change their exercise programs, work with them on some of the other things. I always say like sleep and nutrition planning and mental health and all of the above. So I think there are a lot of challenges, but it's really awesome and I love every second of it.

Providing care for athletes and performing arts professionals comes with unique challenges such as working around their schedule, having to change their exercise programs as needed, and making sure the care provided can translate to any location. Sleep, nutrition, and mental health are all important considerations.

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Providing care for athletes or performing arts professionals comes with unique challenges. One major challenge is the irregular schedule and long hours involved. For instance, I am currently in a hotel room in Florida, attending training camp for elite runners, even though it's late at night. Flexibility is key as you have to work around their busy schedules and accommodate their travel commitments.

Another challenge is ensuring that the care provided can be implemented regardless of their location. These individuals don't have a typical nine-to-five routine, so exercise programs, sleep, nutrition planning, and mental health support must be adaptable and accessible wherever they are.

Despite these challenges, working with athletes and performing arts professionals is incredibly rewarding. The opportunity to support their well-being and witness their growth is something I cherish.

How do you help patients stay motivated and engaged during their rehabilitation process?

Setting goals and involving patients: The key to successful rehab

Hey everyone, Kate Edwards here. The question I'm answering is how do you help patients stay motivated and engaged during their rehabilitation process? And I would say in the beginning of our time together, we set goals together. And so as we're going through and they're improving, we go back and we look at those goals and we look at, you know, where we were when they first came in to where they are now. And a lot of times you'll forget when you start to feel better about the things that you couldn't do. So it's not uncommon for one of my runners to, you know, not be able to walk or maybe only be able to run a mile when they come in and then they're training for a half marathon and they're at 10 miles, almost pain-free, and they're kind of frustrated that they're not at that 13 miles pain-free. So it's really helpful when we can say, hey, do you remember that you couldn't walk before? And I will even sometimes go back in their chart and read back to them the things that they've said. So I think that that helps, but them being involved in the care and helping make decisions and having timelines, I think all of that really, really helps with the rehab process.

To help patients stay motivated and engaged during their rehabilitation process, I set goals with them. We look back at these goals to track progress and remind them of how far they have come. Additionally, involving them in the care and helping make decisions and having a timeline helps the rehab process.

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To help patients stay motivated and engaged during their rehabilitation process, I begin by setting goals together at the start of our journey. As they make progress, we revisit these goals and compare where they were when they first came in to where they are now. It's common for patients to forget how far they've come as they start feeling better.

For example, a runner may initially struggle to walk or run just a mile, but later on, they may be training for a half marathon and running 10 miles almost pain-free. They might feel frustrated that they're not yet at the full 13 miles without pain. In these moments, it's helpful to remind them of their initial limitations and how much they have improved.

Sometimes, I even go back to their chart and read aloud the things they've said about their progress. This serves as a powerful reminder of their achievements and motivates them to keep going.

Additionally, involving patients in their care, allowing them to make decisions, and providing clear timelines can greatly enhance their engagement and motivation throughout the rehabilitation process.

What experiences have shaped your beliefs about how physical therapy should be practiced?

Physical therapy experiences across different locations shape beliefs.

Hey everyone, Kate Edwards here. The question I'm answering is what experiences have shaped your beliefs about how physical therapy should be practiced? So I have been a physical therapist for a long time. I did an orthopedic residency. I was one of the first people in the United States to do an orthopedic residency and I think the locations in which I practice it practice have also impacted how I practice. I practiced, I saw what PT was like in the Boston area. I saw what it was like in the Chicago area and now I live in Atlanta and in all those places I was around really incredible therapists so I was very very lucky and a lot of those therapists had advanced degrees and they had specialty degrees and all of that so I feel very lucky. And then when I came to Atlanta, the second practice that I was in Atlanta was a one-on-one cash-based practice and once I went there I would never go back because I saw that you could spend one hour with one patient and not be distracted by seeing more than one patient at a time and really focus your attention and give the best care possible to that particular patient. So I think that practice shaped how I built my current practice a lot but I think just being around a lot of different therapists who were manual therapists, good educators, very intelligent and passionate about the profession really helped.

Experiences throughout my career as a physical therapist, such as my orthopedic residency, seeing what PT was like in different areas of the US, and working in a one-on-one cash based practice have all shaped my beliefs about how physical therapy should be practiced.

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The experiences that have shaped my beliefs about how physical therapy should be practiced include my orthopedic residency and the various locations in which I have practiced. I had the privilege of working with incredible therapists in Boston, Chicago, and Atlanta, many of whom held advanced and specialty degrees. This exposure to highly skilled practitioners influenced my approach to practice. Additionally, when I moved to Atlanta, I joined a one-on-one cash-based practice where I could dedicate one hour of focused attention to each patient without distractions. This experience solidified my belief in the importance of providing individualized care and giving patients the best possible treatment. Being surrounded by manual therapists who were excellent educators and deeply passionate about their profession also played a significant role in shaping my beliefs about how physical therapy should be practiced.

Do you have any strategies for working with difficult or challenging patients?

Kindness: The Key to Working with Difficult Patients

Hi everyone, this is Kate Edwards. The question I'm answering is, do you have any strategy for working with difficult or challenging patients? Well, I'm from the north but I moved to the south and what I learned in the south is that you kill them with kindness and it's actually true. So if there's a difficult patient, I think they're difficult because they've had something happen along the way. Maybe they didn't have health care providers that listen to them. Maybe they really don't know who they are. Maybe they're really depressed or sad. So first I start with asking questions and I just understand that there might be something else going on and I try to be as kind as possible. And then usually when you really get to know them and they trust you and you don't just write them off, then they start to open up and they become much less challenging. I'm the person that gets sent a lot of the difficult patients, I'd say, in the city that I work in and usually that's what works and I end up loving my difficult patients in the end.

When working with difficult or challenging patients, try killing them with kindness. Ask questions to better understand why they may be difficult and don't write them off. Showing empathy and getting to know them can help build trust and make them less challenging.

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When it comes to working with difficult or challenging patients, I have found that a strategy of kindness is effective. Having moved from the north to the south, I learned the value of killing them with kindness, and it truly holds true.

Difficult patients may have had negative experiences in the past or may be dealing with underlying issues such as a lack of understanding about their condition or feelings of depression. To approach these patients, I start by asking questions and recognizing that there may be more to their behavior than meets the eye. I strive to be as kind as possible, understanding that building trust and showing genuine care can make a significant difference.

As I get to know these patients and they begin to trust me, they often open up and become less challenging. In fact, I often find myself being assigned the difficult patients in the city where I work. Through this approach, I have developed a deep appreciation for these patients and have seen positive transformations in our relationship.

So, when faced with difficult or challenging patients, remember the power of kindness and understanding. It can lead to meaningful connections and positive outcomes.

How has the rise of telehealth changed the way physical therapists interact with their patients and each other?

Telehealth transforms physical therapy practices and patient accessibility.

Hey everyone, Kate Edwards here. The question I'm answering is how has the rise of telehealth changed the way physical therapists interact with their patients and each other? I would say in my practice, I don't really use a lot of telehealth. My clients tend to like to come into the office. However, if they are coming from a few hours away, which they often do, we can do check-ins. And so we'll have like a regular appointment and then maybe instead of them coming back in a week or two, they'll come back in a month and then we'll use that telehealth appointment as a check-in to modify exercises, to answer any questions that they have, kind of see what their movement patterns are like, maybe work with their training. So I think that it's changed our practice a little bit in that we don't have to have people drive as far as often. And that's just my experience. I'm sure it's very different in other clinics. And then in terms of how other PT's in my practice interact with each other, I don't think that's changed for us at all.

Telehealth has changed the way physical therapists interact with their patients, allowing them to have check-ins to modify exercises and answer questions without needing the patient to drive in. It hasn't changed the way physical therapists interact with each other.

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The rise of telehealth has had some impact on the way physical therapists interact with their patients and each other. In my practice, I don't heavily rely on telehealth as my clients prefer in-person visits. However, for those who live a few hours away, we utilize telehealth for check-ins. Instead of them coming back in a week or two, we schedule a telehealth appointment after a month to modify exercises, address questions, assess movement patterns, and provide training guidance.

This approach has reduced the need for patients to travel long distances as frequently. However, it's important to note that this is just my experience, and other clinics may have different practices.

As for the interaction among physical therapists in my practice, I haven't noticed significant changes due to telehealth. Our communication and collaboration remain largely unchanged.

Kate Edwards, PT, DPT, OCS answers your Musculoskeletal questions. See all the advice Kate Edwards, PT, DPT, OCS has and get answers to your own Musculoskeletal questions.

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Kate Edwards is a physical therapist, author, speaker & educator helping to widen the lens on treating and caring for endurance athletes. Endurance athletes and those who care for them often believe that the definition of success depends on the physical performance of their bodies and how well they do at a race. Through 12+ years of successfully treating thousands of frustrated athletes while navigating her own injuries and health struggles, Kate knows and believes that an athlete's success is so much more than their body or their sport. She also knows that connecting with the whole athlete requires the tools, knowledge, clarity, and confidence to grasp the complexities and depth of what these people need to perform and be well within and outside of their sports.

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