Spooner float therapists are vital members of our Spooner team. They support our clinics at every level. We talked to Spooner float therapist Jared Messinger, PT, DPT, about his experience as a float therapist.
What is a float therapist?
A float therapist is a physical therapist who treats and works at various Spooner clinics throughout the company assisting a clinic that needs coverage. Common reasons a clinic needs coverage would include clinic growth and an increase in patients, if team members are out on vacation or maternity/paternity leave, or if a clinic is short staffed.
A float therapist is a leading role in the company. We are able to witness a variety of clinics and their teams; we can see what works well and maybe some things that could be improved. We mentor new technicians, new therapists, and assist clinic directors.
What made you decide to become a float therapist?
I became a float therapist in July of 2021. I had been a physical therapist for three years at that time, and two of those years had been working at the Spooner Scottsdale clinic. I had great mentorship there which prepared me well for a role like this.
I love that fact that this position allows me to be adaptable. I am able to experience different clinics and share my knowledge with others. I love being able to work at different locations and experience the challenges they each have. I feel that this has helped me grow as a professional and has helped me develop my interpersonal and communication skills.
What has your experience been like?
The experience has been great. There’s certainly challenges with having to adjust going in and out of different clinics, but it makes the experience more interesting and has helped me learn so much about teamwork and how to be a good team player. I’ve met so many great therapists and people. I’ve learned so much from being able to collaborate with a variety of therapists that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet. Everyone has been welcoming and willing to assist in any way that I needed to help my transitions go smoothly.
What I most love about this job is being able to travel between clinics. For me, I’m not someone that wants to stay in the same building or space forever. I love going to different places and accepting new challenges to help wherever I can. It’s very rewarding seeing and hearing how much other co-workers appreciate me coming in and helping out. It makes me feel valued and like I’ve made a difference.
How do you provide personal, individualized care as a float therapist?
It doesn’t matter that I’m a float therapist. For any therapist, treatment is always patient centered, and I provide personalized care to allow patients to achieve any goals they have. Yes, there can be challenges because, more likely than not, the patient will not see me for the entirety of their care. It’s important that, as a float, I am up front right away about this at their evaluation. If this is an issue, I’m always providing solutions and other options to make sure they have a great experience. This goes for personal treatment as well. I always look to find what the patient is successful with and build off of that. I continue to create and promote a positive environment because that’s what people will most respond to and be consistent with.
Schedule an appointment with a Spooner therapist today!