For many, the field of traveling physical therapists seems like a glamorous one. You get to meet new people every day, visit exciting cities like New York or San Diego, all the while doing what you love most-helping others on their road to recovery. But like everything in life, there is another side-one that's not so exciting. 

Being on the road can be challenging. It requires time away from loved ones, various hotels, and a lot of quiet time to yourself. When faced with a difficult problem, it is easy for traveling PTs to feel like they have no one to vent to, seek advice from, or just chat with. Luckily, one company saw the problem and quickly sought out to discover a solution. 

Hire Methods staffing firm, a faith-based recruiting company in Jacksonville, FL, had an idea for a mentor program for traveling PTs. Hire Methods is the parent company of Medical Methods, a full service health care recruiting firm specializing in rehabilitation therapy (physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, rehab management and directors of rehabilitation), general clinical (medical assistants, billers, coders, front and back medical office staff) and allied specialties (radiology, cardiology and pharmacy). Co-founded by Clint Drawdy and Chad Perce, Medical Methods is the backbone of an exciting mentor program.

"We developed the program after several years of hiring new grads and/or newer therapists and realizing that they really needed mentoring while on contract and travel assignments," stated Drawdy. "Our commitment is to always make a successful placement for both our client and our employee and this program really helps ensure that our therapists can thrive in an assignment."

ADVANCE recently sat down with Michelle Peters, PT, DPT, who works as Medical Methods' traveling PT mentor. She explained how the program works, the problems facing traveling PTs, and how she's there to help. 

ADVANCE: Michelle, thanks so much for talking to us. Tell me a little but about how you became involved with Medical Methods?

Peters: I became involved when my husband and I moved to Jacksonville. As my husband was starting a new career in the insurance field, he called on the owners of Medical Methods and found out that they recruited therapists. My husband ended up doing business with them and they hired me as a PT contractor. I have been working with them on and off for nearly four years now.

ADVANCE: How long have you been working as a mentor?

Peters: I have been a therapy mentor with Medical Methods since September 2008. 

ADVANCE: What are your thoughts about the field of traveling PTs?

Peters: For the most part, therapists who travel are in a certain season of their lives that give them the freedom to travel. Sometimes, however, the fear of being alone or isolated may deter a therapist from exploring this route. My hope is that this therapy mentor program will provide a bridge for these therapists and help them feel and know that they are not alone.

ADVANCE: What is the most common difficulty for traveling PTs? 

Peters: One of the most frequent issues I discuss with traveling therapists is the fact that they are the only physical therapist or occupational therapist at the facility. Many times the traveling therapists feel isolated or alone. My job is, in a sense, to be that 'other therapist' who is there with them, encouraging them and lending them a listening ear. 

ADVANCE: Do you find it difficult to give advice?

Peters: When giving advice, I pull from my years of experience and study of good communication skills and conflict resolution. Most of my advice is geared towards how to deal with other staff members or how to resolve a conflict between the therapist and the client.

ADVANCE: You mentioned you have a good study of communication skills. Can you elaborate?

Peters: During my graduate studies in physical therapy at Duke University, a classmate and I did our research on mentorship and the importance of mentorship in physical therapy. We had the privilege of interviewing a dozen certified specialists in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area of North Carolina. Certified specialists are recognized physical therapists with advanced clinical knowledge, experience and skills in a special area of practice. Although we interviewed a relatively small sample of specialists, we discovered that every single subject mentioned having a mentor that they feel positively contributed to their professional development. It was also interesting to me that some of the therapists mentioned mentors who were not themselves therapists, but who still contributed to the subjects' professional development as physical therapists.

ADVANCE: You also mentioned that you give advice on conflict resolution. Is this a topic you hear from traveling PTs often?

Peters: I have heard therapists vent about frustrations with other staff members or rehab directors and feel better simply because they were able to tell someone. I recently spoke to a veteran therapist who was dealing with pressures from the corporate side of the facility. She tried to communicate to her rehab director that the expectations of her were too much to deal with in the allotted amount of time they allowed her to work. Although the rehab director admitted to the reality of her complaint, he was not helpful to resolve the issue. I spoke to this therapist several times during this ordeal and she was very appreciative that I was there to listen to her side of the story. 

ADVANCE: Was the issue ever resolved?

Peters: I advised her to continue doing her best to meet the expectations of the facility, while still maintaining her integrity in everything that she did. 

ADVANCE: That is good advice. Do you ever find it difficult to keep in touch with the therapists?

Peters: Currently, I contact each therapist by phone after communicating with Medical Methods about their current status and location. I usually touch base with each therapist on a monthly basis. However, each therapist knows that they can contact me by phone or email anytime.

ADVANCE: So phone or email is the primary mode of communication?

Peters: Yes, that's correct. At this time, I only contact therapists that the staff at Medical Methods feels could benefit from my communication with them.

ADVANCE: What issues would Medical Methods find appropriate for your advice?

Peters: I discuss topics such as their contracting/traveling experience, their relationship with the client/management/staff, their relationship with Medical Methods and any clinical issues that may arise. I actually speak with both traveling physical therapists and occupational therapists. If a clinical issue with the occupational therapists arises, I advise them to seek another occupational therapist for clinical guidance.

ADVANCE: Do you find it difficult to relate to those seeking your advice?

Peters: As a physical therapist, I have worked in many different settings. I have worked in pediatrics, home health, acute settings, skilled nursing facilities and outpatient orthopedics. Having worked in these settings, as well as having the opportunity to work as a contractor, helps me to relate to the traveling therapists I communicate with on a regular basis.

ADVANCE: You have a wide background to pull experiences from. Do you find it challenging to balance your professional and personal life?

Peters: I currently work part-time as a mentor so I have the time to balance in my personal life. I am 33 years old and have been married for 9 years to my wonderful husband, Mike. We have four children ages 2, 4, 6, and 8 whom we home school. We are also very active in our local church.

ADVANCE: Medical Methods and their parent company, Hire Methods, are faith-based as well, correct?

Peters: Yes. The idea behind Medical Methods was to create a best place to work for both internal and contracted workers and to do it with Christian principles.

ADVANCE: How do you handle a situation that is highly unethical or unprofessional?

Peters: First of all, my motto is always "Do the right thing." Our hope is that our therapists are never put in an unethical or unprofessional situation. However, if I came across a situation that was unethical or unprofessional, I would help refer the therapist to their state statutes and regulations and to their professional scope of practice. I would immediately work with the other staff at Medical Methods to quickly resolve the issue and take any action that may be necessary for that particular situation.

Medical Methods is looking to grow in the future and welcomes applications every month. To find our more information, including how to become involved with the traveling PT mentor program, contact Clint Drawdy or Dean Medley at Medical Methods at 904-398-4133.

Lauren Himiak is a freelance writer for ADVANCE.