Current COTA Job Status
What does the future hold for COTA jobs? Will there be a job for every future COTA? Will salaries remain stable or will future Medicare reimbursement cuts affect pay rates?
I have to admit, the COTA job market is no longer what it was 10-12 years ago. Back then, you could expect a phone call almost daily from a recruiter (head-hunter) trying to convince you why their company was better. If the phone calls weren't enough, in the daily mail there was usually a postcard or two from other recruiters trying to get you to sign up with them. I remember one day when a recruiter cold called our therapy department, and when I answered asked me if I needed a job! When I told him "No", he had the nerve to ask if anyone else in the department was seeking employment. He got hung up on.
In the past month, I think one postcard has come in the mail. I haven't heard from a head-hunter in more than two months. Of the three who were looking to find me a new position at the beginning of 2008, not one found an offer even worth scheduling an interview. I don't think I'm too picky; all I wanted was a full time position that will keep me working 40 hours a week. From the offers received recently, most only had part-time hours, were way too far away, or even though hired as full-time did not guarantee hours. And I thought unfair labor practices were a thing of the past!
For a LTC position, another factor that keeps me from considering the job is the annual Medicare review. If a facility has had a poor review in the past couple of years, I usually won't consider them. Sign-on bonuses make me really scrutinize the offer. I have found that places that offer a sign-on bonus usually have one or more problems; the facility is in a bad section of town, the facility is located way out of town, the caseload consists mainly of dementia and Alzheimer patients, the discharge rate is low, or there is little carry-over of therapy recommendations for long term residents (which is usually the facility that has a poor annual Medicare review).
As much as I still see a need for therapy now and in the future, I think that from now on we are going to work as the caseload dictates. If you get more patients, you work longer hours. If the caseload drops, you go home early. Medicare changes looming in the horizon may affect therapy in the future too, possibly resulting in higher productivity guidelines and/or reduction of benefits. Either one is bad news to therapists.
There are still a few good companies out there though if you're in the job market. There are a few who guarantee your hours, even though that may require traveling between two facilities during the day. Some other places just stay that busy, or have a good referral source or a good admissions manager to keep the rehab wing full. Finding one of these choice positions might just take some time though, so remain patient.
Until next time, hope all your thoughts are good,
Tim