As physical therapist practices in America face staffing shortages, kids are 'suffering,' say experts

Outpatient physical therapist practices are experiencing severe staff shortages, according to a recent report by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). PTs weigh in on the situation.

The report is based on survey responses from 133 outpatient physical therapy practices across the U.S., which include 2,615 clinics and some 11,000 full-time employees, ranging from support staff to PTs. The survey was conducted between May 25 and June 16. "We go into physical therapy with a major desire to improve the lives of the people we serve … and the rewards at the end make meeting the costs of living and paying off student debt difficult at best."

The pandemic may have accelerated the staffing shortage, but only 1.7% of owners of physical therapy practices cited COVID-19 as the primary reason for leaving, per the press release.