The experience of providing physical therapy in a changing health care environment.
OBJECTIVE
The changes in the health care environment during the last decade have had an impact on the roles and responsibilities of all health care professionals. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experience of staff physical therapists during a time of systemic change within a large urban academic medical center.


METHODS
Participants were 5 physical therapists working in various clinical settings within the medical center. The participants were interviewed and asked the question "Over the past 4 years, there have been major changes in your work environment. What has it been like for you working as a clinician during this time of change?" Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to find thematic patterns of responses.


RESULTS
Four common themes emerged in which participants described experiencing loss of control, stress, discontent, and disheartenment. A fifth theme showed that despite these negative feelings, participants were able to "find the silver lining" in their daily work lives (ie, they were able to find positive aspects of their professional lives despite the perceived unpleasant changes with which they had to cope).


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides insight into the experiences of a group of staff physical therapists during a time of systemic change in their work environment. Although the themes reflect largely unsettling and negative experiences, there seems to be an underlying ability to find affirmative aspects of work.
Blau
Rosemary
R
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Bolus
Sarah
S
Carolan
Terrence
T
Kramer
Daniel
D
Mahoney
Elizabeth
E
Jette
Diane U
DU
Beal
Judy A
JA
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007325:Institutional Practice / Q000639:trends*; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008875:Middle Aged; D009511:New England; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010814:Physical Therapy Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D024382:Professional Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D017132:Workplace