Home Health & Hospice Week

Tired of a high therapist turnover or frustrated, unproductive new hires? A mentoring program for new recruits may have crossed your mind. But is it just feel-good fluff that takes up more time?

The experts don't think so. "Mentoring is absolutely necessary for a new graduate entering the work force," says physical therapist Ron Barbato, administrative director of rehabilitation services for Ephriam McDowell Health in Danville, Ky. "There really is no substitute for experience when it comes to navigating the dynamics of providing therapy in the challenging healthcare environment."

"When a therapist graduates, he is expected to be an expert; however, expertise requires knowledge and experience," points out PT Steve Passmore of Healthy Recruiting Tools in Murray, Ky. "The graduate should not be coddled and led along," but having someone to "discuss difficult patients with" is very beneficial, he says.

Mentoring programs are a "good thing," says PT Pauline Franko of Encompass Consulting and Education in Tamarac, Fla.

Extra perk: You may find that giving veteran therapists the opportunity to be mentors boosts their morale, too.

Mentoring programs are a great concept, agrees PT Lynn Steffes of Steffes & Associates in New Berlin, Wis., but many providers "try to implement it without real insight into what it means or how to maintain it ... that is an area we should explore more."

"Seek out the seasoned veterans and those that have proven themselves as leaders and educators, and are themselves confident in their ability and specialty," Barbato advises.

Tip: "I strongly believe that the position of mentor should be a voluntary position," Barbato adds. "Mentoring takes time, effort, and energy, and the individual must understand that to give the individual a good mentoring experience."

"Rehab companies I was associated with had rehab consultants to work with all the therapists on clinical choices," Passmore recalls. "We chose therapists with a passion for their profession and years of experience to be clinical consultants."