Physical therapy practices invest significant time, money and effort in employee development. Given the significance of the investment in its employees, the practice should consider how to protect this investment. In many jurisdictions this can be accomplished through an employment agreement containing a restrictive covenant, often referred to as a "non-compete". To learn more about…

As a practice grows, it often finds itself with file cabinets full of employee related records and asking the question "Can I ever throw this stuff out?". While certain records can be discarded, it is important to remember that there are state and federal requirements for the retention of employee related records. For a user…

In the physical therapy market place, private practitioners and others are continuously analyzing the practice’s finances in an effort to maintain and increase overall compensation. One area that tends to be overlooked in this analysis is the potentially significant benefit available through a properly drafted and qualified retirement plan program. To read more about the…

When a physical therapy private practice "hires" a physical therapist to provide professional services, questions often rise as to whether the individual is an independent contractor or an employee. It is important that the individual be properly classified for a number of reasons, including potential liability imposed by the Internal Revenue Service in the event…

When most people hear the term "expert" in the medical legal context, they think of a well educated professional on a courtroom witness stand trying to persuade a jury in a certain direction. While this scenario is one role that the expert physical therapist may play, physical therapists may also serve in an expert capacity…

As physical therapy private practice or any other business entity begins to grow, the need for a tool to handle personnel decisions on a regular basis and assist with the legal compliance requirements increases. This tool frequently takes the form of a written employee manual. When drafting an employee manual, there are a number of…