One of the most annoying aspects of physical therapy school was all the multiple-choice tests. In retrospect, they helped prepare me to pass the NPTE, but at the time, I found them annoying. Unsurprisingly, I loved every chance I got to write in grad school, but unfortunately, these opportunities were few and far between.
Judging from my PT school’s curriculum, you’d think writing well isn’t an important skill for a physical therapist. And I think many PT school applicants believe that after they complete the PTCAS personal statement, they’ll never have to write another essay again. But five years in the field has shown me otherwise. Written communication is overwhelmingly important for all healthcare professionals, physical therapists included. I even went on the Healthcare Education Transformation podcast to discuss this!
On a basic level, almost all physical therapists write notes. These notes must be coherent so you can read them and remember what you did in a given session, so another therapist can understand them and take over for you if needed, so the insurance company (if applicable) can comprehend what you did, and a doctor or other healthcare professional (if applicable) can make sense of your treatment and the patient’s progress.
Besides these notes, there are several other times writing is necessary. I often write letters to doctors to communicate details or ask questions about patients beyond what goes into my usual documentation. I may suggest imaging, discuss a patient’s progress, or note something unusual.
I also write notes to suggest children be temporarily excused from physical education or to announce they are cleared to return to sports. I send letter to employers advocating for my patients to receive special accommodations at work, such as standing desks or other equipment.
Poorly written letters can distract from your overall message, and make you seem unprofessional and uneducated – not the impression you want to give off as a doctor of physical therapy.
So, take any opportunity you can get to improve your writing. Take an extra English class, read more, and practice!