Episode #12
Skills That Travel: The Ins And Outs Of Travel Physical Therapy
Travel PT is the fastest way to find out what kind of clinician you are. Most new grads jump in blind. Dr. Payne Harrison explains how to do it right. In this episode, we break down what a travel PT career actually looks like, from contract math to holding your clinical standards in clinics that don't share them. What we cover: Staff first or travel first. A year as a staff PT buys you mentorship and a slower caseload ramp. New grads can still make travel work if finances or goals demand it, but the lack of onboarding hits hard. How to evaluate a contract. Target $2,000+ per week, then factor in housing costs, state income tax, and reimbursements for licensure and moving. What to ask before you sign. Patient volume, onboarding, documentation systems, and protected documentation time. Compare 401(k) match timelines too, since some agencies match 4% immediately and others make you wait 6 to 12 months. You are never locked in. Switch agencies between 13-week contracts. Keeping your standards on the road. Active care, strength and conditioning, and education over modalities and passive treatment. Plus how to adapt from young athletes to older post-op patients, and how to track progress with baseline tests like the 30-second sit-to-stand and plank holds when the clinic has no high-tech equipment. If you're weighing travel PT or already on the road, this is the playbook. Social Media: Rehab2Perform R2P Academy Dr. Payne Harrison
