Advice?

[maxplanck]

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I would like to provide free PT service for people who need help in poor communities, and work part time doing PT work for people who have the means to pay in order to support myself and pay for my insurance.

Does this sound like a plan that is actually viable? The only major problem I can think of is affording insurance which follows me out of my place of employment, to cover times when I'm providing free PT service.


I have not enrolled in a PT education program yet, I'm just trying to think and plan carefully before I make any moves. I plan to practice in Illinois and Wisconsin, in the US. I'd appreciate any advice that you have to offer.

 

[johncronejr]

That is an admirable goal. I don't know that you would have to look at doing it for free though. I am sure there are avenues to serve the impoverished areas and still get paid since many of them will likely have Medicaid coverage. You could look into working for the states Human Services Departments.

If you find a population that you would like to serve which has no type of government assisted insurance, you could consider starting a non-proft service of your own which would allow you to collect donations to help cover the essential costs you may incur.

 

[MotionDoc]

you will absolutely have the opportunity to give back, and many clinics allow their PTs to provide pro bono care on their own time under the clinic insurance and using the clinic resources...

With that said, I would recommend any PT get their own insurance - even if under a clinic's coverage. In the case of a malpractice suit, the clinic will not look for your best interests, rather the best interests of the clinic, and the two do not always align. For example, they would settle when you would continue to fight, and you would be left with the professional damages (sans the payout cost).

 

[MinnDasota]

Practices only cover malpractice that involve the company itself. If you're going to go off on your own, you definitely need to supplement with personal malpractice.

 

[maxplanck]

How much does personal malpractice insurance cost?

 

[truthseeker]

Practices only cover malpractice that involve the company itself. If you're going to go off on your own, you definitely need to supplement with personal malpractice.

I am an athletic trainer, my primary employment is as a physical therapist. The hospital I work for has me covered for the stuff I do at work AND when I cover high school events since even though I get paid by the school (barely) I still represent the hospital. A traditional employer might allow you to work 25-30 hours per week for them and still cover you for treating probono with the rest of your time. Good publicity. they might even let you use their facility.

 

[MinnDasota]

I am an athletic trainer, my primary employment is as a physical therapist. The hospital I work for has me covered for the stuff I do at work AND when I cover high school events since even though I get paid by the school (barely) I still represent the hospital. A traditional employer might allow you to work 25-30 hours per week for them and still cover you for treating probono with the rest of your time. Good publicity. they might even let you use their facility.

I think it depends on what and where you do your pro bono (especially since you represent the hospital...much different in private practice). When I'm with the US Snowboard team, I need to have my own malpractice. When I do some other events, the events themselves cover malpractice. But according to my boss, my malpractice at work only covers anything associated with work. With direct access, it makes sense to have separate malpractice these days (hopefully i will never have to use either!)