October is National Physical Therapy Month!

During the month of October, there are many healthcare-related observances. Breast Cancer Awareness is usually the first thing that comes to mind for many, but October also celebrates Emergency Room nurses, Respiratory Care, and of course, Physical Therapists. Physical Therapy is celebrated all October long, and it’s a time where we can thank the healthcare professionals for the incredible work they do.

Our Allied division staffs several PTs and PTAs, so this month we wanted to reach out to a few of them to learn about their journey as therapists and as travelers.

Meet Brian and Meghan! This traveling duo has been on the road in their RV for the past 7 months. They both have a deep love for their patients and the work they do. Their recruiter, Mary Springer, helped us get connected with them to dive deeper into their profession and their travel careers.

Why did you get started in this profession?

Brian and Meghan are both athletes. In high school, Meghan hurt herself playing volleyball and required physical therapy to heal. She said, “My PT gave me my senior year of volleyball back and ever since I knew I wanted to become a PT myself.” As for Brian, he has always wanted to be able to help people return to the sport they love.

What is the best part of being a physical therapist?

For this answer, Brian and Meghan both agreed that helping their patients reach their physical goals is what makes their job so rewarding.

“The best part of being a physical therapist is seeing patients reach their goals and the impact we have on that aspect of their lives as PTs.” – Brian

Brian and Meghan were both working full-time as therapists for about 2 years before making the decision to travel. Everyone has a “why”, so what was theirs?

Why did you decide to start traveling?

Both Brian and Meghan wanted to see all the country had to offer while working. The financial perks of traveling were pretty enticing as well!

What’s the best part of traveling?

The best part of traveling for many healthcare professionals is the ability to go all of the places they never had before. Brian personally loves trying new foods, meeting new people, and immersing himself into new cultures. Meghan has loved the ability to see the country while doing what she loves.

“We’ve been able to see more of the country in the past 6 months than we ever have working full time.” – Meghan

For some, the idea of making the switch to a travel career can be scary and overwhelming. It helps to hear first hand from a traveler what their experience has been like and if they’d recommend it to someone else.

Would you recommend travel to someone who is on the fence about it and why?

Both Brian and Meghan responded with a resounding “Yes!” Here are their reasons why:

“Traveling has been one of the best decisions we have ever made together. You get to meet new people and learn new techniques from PTs all over the country. You get to see new places every 3 months and you get a pretty significant pay increase while doing it. It’s the best!” – Meghan

“Traveling opened my mind to different ways of therapy practice and forced me out of my comfort zone. Seeing different parts of the world while getting paid to do so makes it an easy decision for me.” – Brian

Thanks, Brian and Meghan for sharing your journey with us! We wish all of our Physical Therapists a Happy Physical Therapy Month!

Providing Cutting-Edge Support

The past several years have created systematic shifts in the way healthcare facilities operate. Demand for care and staffing is constantly fluctuating. In an effort to meet this need, Uniti relies on Healthcare commercial intelligence (HCI) to effectively match facility staffing needs with qualified travelers. HCI is a new category of software that organizes the web of data surrounding healthcare systems. This information helps our recruiters identify staffing gaps and find the right candidates to fill each role. It also helps us equip our travelers with the information they need to hop on an assignment and hit the ground running. Uniti COO, Chris Sund provides insight into how Uniti is using HCI to provide cutting-edge service to its facility partners. 

If you are interested in learning more about Definitive Healthcare visit their website https://www.definitivehc.com/. If you are a facility looking for a partner who can integrate into your systems and provide instantaneous support please contact our team for more information!

Long-Term Care Staffing Solutions With Heart

Uniti Med is excited to announce the launch of its Long-Term Care staffing team. The team was founded in response to a desperate need for long-term care professionals. According to the National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) 99% of nursing homes and 96% of assisted living communities said they are facing some degree of staffing shortages post-pandemic. Fifty-nine percent of nursing homes and 30% of assisted living communities characterized their staffing situation as “severe.” This shortage has forced most facilities to reduce new admissions and put even more stress on existing direct service providers. 

Uniti Med is determined to solve this staffing problem by working with long-term care facilities to develop innovative staffing strategies to fill the gaps in their workforce.

Kelsey Leland, Director for Long-Term Care, explains how Uniti Med is going the extra mile to keep seniors happy, healthy and cared for during this difficult time. 

If you are a long-term care facility looking for a dedicated team to help supply the talent you need to fulfill day to day operations, please fill out our long-term care facility contact form to learn more.

The Ultimate Nursing Side Hustle

Looking for a nursing side hustle?! One of the biggest benefits of becoming a traveler is flexibility. Bounce around, live where you want, take time off between assignments or pick up a side hustle to maximize your downtime. Uniti Med Traveler and Recruiter, Mackenzie had been traveling for 2 years. Like so many nurses, she had gotten burnt out at bedside during the pandemic and was looking for respite from the hospital. That’s when she was introduced to Uniti Med Partners and an amazing nursing side hustle. Mackenzie started by helping a few friends find their next travel nursing assignment but her list of travelers continues to grow.

“I’ve always been able to easily make friends with travelers in the past, there’s a camaraderie to it,” MacKenzie said. “Now, I can give them advice on traveling, recruiters, different companies, and my insider experience. If they choose to work with me as their recruiter, it’s great because our relationship is much more than just recruiter and nurse, we’re friends!”

Mackenzie is currently working at the hospital and doing recruiting on her days off. “One thing I’ve really enjoyed traveling and recruiting with Uniti, is the ability to treat my coworkers! I’ve bought pizza, brought in Crumbl cookies, small things like that. I just try to spoil them for all of the hard work they are doing!”

If you are a nurse looking to travel, we can connect you with an experienced recruiter who has been in your shoes. They can guide you on the right assignment based on personal experience. If you’re looking for a nursing side hustle contact us to learn more about becoming a traveling recruiter.

How Does a Travel Allied Health Salary Compare to a Perm Position?

In the medical staffing industry, supplemental staffing continues to be in high demand.  As opposed to their full-time counterparts, Allied Health travelers can travel the country, make significantly more money, and maximize their income by having few living expenses. Uniti Allied is here to give you the support and transparency you need to make the leap from full-time employee to a rewarding career as a traveling Allied Health professional. 

But what is the average travel Allied Health salary? Our team did a comparison of a permanent Allied Health salary compared to a travel Allied Health salary across various specialties. The increases were substantial!

According to ZipRecruiter, the average respiratory therapist salary is $67,000, while the average travel respiratory therapist salary is closer to $100,000. This is almost a 50% increase for hitting the road! The average rad tech salary is $61,119 while the average travel rad tech salary is $90,995. 

In every instance the traveler is making 14%- 50% more! This number also doesn’t include the savings that many Allied Health professionals experience through housing stipends, allowances and benefits. 

“Typically, when I qualify a candidate in the respiratory or therapy field, I hear that they’re making anywhere from $1,200 – $1,600 per week at their perm positions,” said Sean Albright, Uniti Allied Recruiter. “My current travelers are making between $2,200 – $3,500 weekly. And I regularly see rates from $2,500 – $3,000 around the country.”

Need More Tips on How to Become an Allied Health Traveler?

Traveling assignments usually last 13 weeks, giving technicians and therapists both variety and flexibility. If you are interested in learning more about transitioning from a permanent to travel Allied Health job we can help! Our recruiters and logistics specialists will help you find the perfect position, housing and required licenses. Contact us today to start reaping the benefits of the traveler lifestyle!

8 Helpful Tips for First-Time Allied Health Travelers

Any Allied health professional will tell you that they had questions, doubts, and fears before they made the switch to travel. How do I get started? Where do I find jobs? How can I find the right recruiter and company for me? It can all be overwhelming and intimidating. Fortunately, we have you covered! If you are looking to start traveling, here are 8 tips to follow.

1.) Talk to Fellow Travelers

Chances are you have already met one at your staff job, or an old acquaintance has been traveling for a while and you’ve been following their adventures on social media. When it comes to answering questions big or small, you can’t do much better than asking someone who is already traveling. They’ll be able to suggest companies or refer recruiters to you that have helped them get started. Reaching out to someone who has been in your shoes is a good place to start.

2.) Be Flexible

The truth is, you might not get your first choice for the first assignment, and that’s okay! Be prepared to adjust and don’t be too rigid about the location, pay, and facility that you want. A lot of veteran travelers say that their favorite assignments have been in cities they never thought they would visit. Keep an open mind and stay calm if things don’t go the way you planned.

3.) Pack Light

Travel assignments are only 13 weeks long, so only pack what you’ll absolutely need and leave behind what you can live without for a few months.

4.) Explore

This is a big reason so many Allied health professionals start traveling in the first place – to see places they never have before. When you’re off the clock, make sure to check out the local eateries, breweries, and popular recreational activities. Make the most of your stay!

5.) Make Friends

Many travelers make lifelong friends while on the road. Find out what you have in common with the other therapists in your facility. Engage in small talk and suggest grabbing a coffee after your shift. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! Traveling can be lonely, so making connections on assignment can help you feel more at home.

6.) Be Ready to Adjust

While the job itself doesn’t change from facility to facility, your method of operation may be different. Some hospitals use different systems, and some give less training time than others. You already have the skills and experience to do your job correctly, but you may need to shift to different ways of doing that job. Be prepared!

7.) Plan Your Housing Arrangements

Each city will have varying price points and locations for housing. What’s your weekly take home and how much do you want to spend on housing? Do you want to live close to the facility, or are you willing to make a longer commute? Do you have pets, and if so, does your new home allow them? Your recruiter can help you with this, but also do your own research to find the right fit for you.

8.) Remember, It Isn’t Forever

Sometimes, an assignment isn’t what you thought it’d be. Remember that you don’t have to work there forever. Like we said, 13 weeks passes by faster than you think! There’s always another job, another city, and a new experience waiting for you.

Need More Tips on How to Become an Allied Health Traveler?

Travel healthcare can be scary. You are uprooting your entire life and are leaving a comfortable permanent position for a temporary one. That’s why it’s important to find a recruiter and agency that you trust to take care of you. A good recruiter will always have your best interests at heart and will be there with you every step of the way. You’ll never know until you take the plunge!