City Spotlight Sonoma, California

 

This week the City Spotlight is in remarkably beautiful Sonoma, California and we have tons of physical therapy jobs, occupational therapy jobs and speech pathology jobs.

 

Located in the heart of one of the world’s premier wine producing regions, Sonoma is conveniently located fewer than 30 miles north of San Francisco. Boasting over 200 esteemed wineries, scenic coastline and beaches, the numinous Russian River, magnificent redwoods, 21 challenging golf courses, a thrilling road course and drag strip, more than 40 spas, enthralling museums, shopping, galleries, assorted festivals, farm markets and incredible eateries.

 

Upcoming featured events in gorgeous Wine County….

 

October 12, 2008 Oktoberfest

 

Join the celebration and enjoy German folk dance performances, German food and dancing to the music of a live band.

October 18, 2008 Harvest Moon Winery Dinner

As the days grow shorter and the evenings begin to chill, our tastes turn to hearty foods and big, rich wines. Our Harvest dinner is full of comfort foods dressed up in the creative way the only a Chef can do.

 

November 1, 2008 A Wine & Food Affair

 

A Wine & Food Affair has become the premier event for the Russian River Wine Road! Join us for a weekend of wine and food pairing in the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys.  

 

It's been 7 weeks of planning & 2 weeks of madness, but we're finally in our new space. The big things went well: our database & phones are working.

But it's the small things that are driving me crazy: an access control system & a break room table that are delayed. A paper towel holder that can't seem to be installed. A men's room sign that keeps falling off. 

How about you? Are there little things in your speech language pathology jobs or occupational therapy careers or physical therapy jobs that just drive you nuts? What's the biggest pet peeve of your current assignment?

Occupational Therapy Jobs:
Occupational Therapist            Near Austin, TX            In/Outpatient Mix

Occupational Therapist            Salinas Valley, CA       Inpatient Acute


Physical Therapy Jobs:
Physical Therapist                  Salinas Valley              Inpatient Acute

Physical Therapist                  San Jose, CA              Inpatient Rehab


Speech Language Pathology Jobs:
Speech Language Pathologist        Merced, CA            SNF within Hospital

Speech Language Pathologist        Modesto, CA          SNF within Hospital

The first question everyone asks about the acquisition is: what will happen to MDI Medical?

MDI Medical is operating as a separate division, just as we always have. Rather than being owned by MDI Group Inc., an IT staffing company, we are now owned by Cirrus Inc., a health care staffing company. Our management team is the same, and everyone who was employed by the "old" MDI Medical is employed by the "new" MDI Medical.

Our new owner, Cirrus Inc., also owns Cirrus Medical Staffing, a top-10 ranked nurse staffing company. Cirrus Inc. also owns Medtivia, a health care staffing company that specializes in bringing Filipino health care professionals to the U.S. in occupational therapy jobs, PT jobs, speech therapy jobs, and nursing jobs. I am proud to be associated with such great companies in the health care staffing industry.

How will this affect you? Well, first and foremost, it will mean more therapy jobs due to a larger client base. Beginning in October, it also means weekly pay! And, beginning next payroll, it means 2x the match on the 401k. (More on this later.)

I have worked with a lot of Speech Language Pathologists since I have started placing traveling therapists her at MDI, and there are several things that every SLP should keep in mind while looking for an assignment. Typically, the market for speech language pathology jobs is weighted toward school-based SLP jobs and skilled nursing facilities. In some areas, we see hospital positions for SLP travelers, but there are things you need to keep in mind if you're looking for your next assignment in a hospital.

Most acute care hospitals require an SLP that is familiar with MBS. MBS, or Modified Barium Swallow, is a technique that many of our acute care hospital assignments utilize on a daily basis. If you do not have experience with MBS, help your recruiter represent you properly by letting him or her know what skills you have that are similar such as other swallowing studies) or how much experience you have observing MBS if you don't have much hands-on time with them.

Another skill you can gain major points for having while looking for travel therapy jobs is experience with Vital Stim. If you have a lot of experience with Vital Stim, you will have a better chance at landing that clinical position.

I understand a lot of SLP travelers out there work in the school systems during the winter and pick up assignments for the summer breaks. Keep these requirements in mind next time you're looking for your next speech therapy job, they could save you a lot of time in the long run.

Hello everyone!

I currently have a Speech Language Pathology opening on beautiful Galveston Island in Texas! This is a hospital position, and requires at least 1-2 years of hospital experience. It's primarily inpatient acute care, but will require occasional coverage in outpatient as well. The patient population ranges from PEDS to Adults. MBS experience a must.

Galveston Island is located 50 miles from Houston,TX, and is surrounded by beautiful, sandy beaches. This is a historic island which boasts an amazing downtown area full of restaurants, shopping, and theater. If you are looking for your next great Speech Language Pathology job, look no further!

I think we all have varied tolerances for change. I know people who crave change & those who resist it.

Most travelers like change. One of our speech language pathology travelers says that she craves variety in the speech language pathology jobs that she chooses. She chooses SLP jobs based on settings, caseload, and location.

So, here's a question for those therapists who want to travel but are reluctant to take the plunge: when you start your new speech therapy jobs, what tips do you have to adjust to the change? 

Perhaps you're an SLPA and you come across one of our jobs for Speech Language Pathologist and Assistant. You call and inquire about the assistant position only to be told that MDI Medical doesn't place Speech Language Pathology Assistants. Why would we have a job posting for a job that doesn't exist?

Technically, that isn't our fault. All of our jobs are posted on Absolutely Healthcare's website and are divided into 5 categories: Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants and Speech Language Pathology and Assistants. From there, other job sites pick up the job posting to post on their site and the same is done to our website. Every time we post an SLP job, it is automatically listed in the Assistant category too.

Why don't we place SLPAs?
 
Unlike PTAs and OTAs, there's no national board nor certifying body that regulates SLPAs. There are a few programs that offer training & education, but most receive on-the-job training. Since it's relatively easy for a client to train their own SLPAs, they don't need us to find them.

I was just talking to my Occupational Therapy Assistant in Maine (yep-the one that was just recently licensed and blogged about).  Guess what his plans for the weekend are...lobster fishing.  How cool is that?!  I don't think that I have ever met anyone that has done that before.  He explained a little bit about how it's done so I told him he better take some pictures and send them in so I can see it for myself.  I will post them here if he sends them in!

How cool is it that travel therapy jobs afford you the chance to experience different cities and settings.  You could take one of our many OT jobs in Arizona one day and then three months later be on your way to another one of our OT jobs in Baltimore.

We not only staff Occupational Therapy jobs, but Physical Therapy jobs, as well as Speech Language Pathology jobs also.

Don't delay, begin you rehab jobs with MDI Medical today!

One of MDI Medical's physical therapists in CT is sadly ending his employment on Friday. Unfortunately, we didn't have the right physical therapy jobs in the location he was seeking. We hope to work with him again for his next physical therapy contract. (Hi TB! We'll miss you.)

This PT wanted to take over his current MDI Medical housing at the end of his assignment. Unfortunately, this creates a sticky situation. Here's why:

When we sign leases for travelers taking physical therapy jobs, speech language pathology jobs, or occupational therapy jobs, the liability is on MDI Medical. The lease is in our name & we pay the deposits. The same is true for furniture and utilities. I'd like to tell you about two situations that happened a couple years ago:

Learning experience #1: a physical therapist was on assignment here in Atlanta. We usually don't set up cable tv, but we did this time. At the end of the assignment, the PT asked for everything to be transferred to her name. We agreed, then 10 months later, we received a cable bill for $729 in pay per view charges. We learned that MDI Medical was still responsible for the cable box, even though we transferred the service in her name. (It wasn't the PT who ran up the bill; we think the box was lost or stolen.)

Learning experience #2: An occupational therapy assistant in California wanted us to change the lease to her name after her assignment. We filled out the forms, but when she moved out a year later, we were stuck with damage charges. She said the damages were caused while she was on assignment with us, not afterwards. The apartment complex said they never did a walk-through when the lease was transferred because her personal effects were still in the unit. (I personally think they decided that they were more likely to get money from MDI Medical than the COTA.) They found a loophole in the lease transfer form and came after MDI for the damages.

As much as we'd love to help you after your assignment, there is a business reason we cannot transfer your lease, furniture, and/or utilities to your name. We must close the utilities accounts completely, return all equipment, do a walk-through inspection with the complex (which requires your moving out), and return the rental furniture to the warehouse (so they can assess the furniture's condition).

The alternative would be to decrease pay rates to cover possible extra housing losses, and no one wants that. To keep your pay rates high, we work very hard to control unnecessary costs. And this includes controlling risk and liability.

So please understand why we cannot transfer the housing into your name at the end of an assignment. Trust me, if we could, we would.

Speech Language Pathology Jobs from MDI Medical

Philadelphia, PA - Great Skilled Nursing facility seeks motivated folks for SLP jobs! Work while also enjoying all the acitvities that the 6th most populated US city has to offer.

Sonoma Valley, CA - Urgent need for a Speech Language Pathologist in the birthplace of California's wine industry. Just 45 minutes north of San Francisco.

Saulte Saint Marie, MI - Top-notch Speech Language Pathology professional wanted in the place where Michigan was born! Enjoy rushing waterfalls, majestic forests, rocky coastlines with small fishing skiffs and buckets of bait.

Highlands, NC - Award winning dining, cultural arts, unique shopping and many outdoor activities await you as you work and enjoy what Highland, NC has to offer.

What to Look For
So you're looking for great occupational therapy careers, PT jobs or your next speech therapy job, and you're wondering what you should look for from your rehabilitation therapy staffing firm.  Here are two key things you should look for:

Plenty of Jobs
First and foremost, make sure the company you’re talking to has plenty of jobs in the right areas and settings.  Not all companies will have exactly what you’re looking for, but if they have a large number of opportunities that change frequently, they can probably find the assignment you’re seeking.  MDI Medical has over 2,000 occupational therapy careers, PT jobs, and speech therapy jobs to choose from.  Check them out at www.MDIMedical.com or with the links on the sidebar to the right.

Recruiters You ‘Click’ With
A great recruiter can make the difference between achieving your career goals and letting them slip away as distant memories.  While working on contract can be one of the most fulfilling career choices, it can also be difficult.  You may not be treated the same as full-time staff.  You may be expected to do more, and you may be excluded from decisions.

This is where your recruiter comes in.  A great recruiter can make a good assignment great, and can even help turn a boring one into something much more enjoyable for you.  Great recruiters will learn about your goals, motivations, preferences and decision-making style.  Ideally, your recruiter will be able to anticipate which jobs you’ll be interested in before they even talk with you about them.   A great recruiter will know about market conditions, hot markets, and compensation and won’t hesitate to share this information.  

It’s also important that you enjoy your recruiter.  If you don’t, work with someone else, even if it’s another recruiter in the same company.  This person is your lifeline; you need to enjoy talking with them.  Want to meet some of our folks?


Responsive & Friendly Staff
Is your recruiter listening or selling?  Are they responsive to your questions and requests?  What about after hours numbers in case of emergencies?  Will the recruiters and housing coordinators give you their cell numbers in case you need them on the weekend?  

It’s also important that you’re working with a friendly staff.  Call into the main number and ask for credentialing or housing.  How friendly is the receptionist, benefits coordinator, or payroll department?  If their employees are happy, you’ll likely be treated very well.

Good luck, and let me know at cberk [at] mdimedical [dot] com if MDI Medical can be of assistance to you in finding allied health jobs that suit you.

Do you know we have literally HUNDREDS of travel rehab jobs? 

Not a traveler? That's ok: many clients will also interview local contractors for these openings. Here's a sampling of physical and occupational therapy jobs that came in today:

Occupational Therapy Careers
COTA Jobs: 
near Austin TX - Mixed hospital setting
South Carolina (only a few hours from Atlanta) - Inpatient/outpatient mix
Dayton OH - Acute care

Occupational Therapy Jobs:
Connecticut - School, Pediatrics experience required
Northern California - Inpatient Acute
San Antonio TX - home health

Physical Therapy Jobs
Colorado Springs, CO - inpatient/outpatient mix (this job will go FAST!)
Indiana - 100% outpatient (this won't last long either)


Oops, I was just going to stick with OT & PT today, but I'd be remiss if I didn't include our RED-HOT Speech Therapy Jobs.

Speech Language Pathology Jobs
Southern California - school district


See something you like? Call an MDI Medical recruiter at 888-416-7949 or click on the "contact us" page.

Every week I'll be spotlighting a different state. I'll tell you where to stay and what to do. This week is Georgia, and we have tons of physical therapy jobs, occupational therapy jobs, and speech language pathology jobs here on our website.

Where to Stay

Atlanta: What is there to say about Atlanta? Atlanta has everything!
 
Athens: Hope you like college sports! Athens is the home to the University of Georgia and they love their football. Athens also has a great music scene.

Savannah: Want to be by the water? Savannah is known as "America's first planned city" and is home to Food Network's Paula Deen.

Macon: Want a slower pace? Head down to Macon where the southern hospitality flows.


What to Do

Explore Atlanta.

Visit Callaway Gardens.

Visit MDI Medical(I can give you directions!)

Head to the beach.

Rest by the lake.


Available Positions in Georgia

OT  Jobs

Albany. LTC/SNF setting                                                                                   
Atlanta. Inpatient brain injury experience.                                                      
Tifton. LTC/SNF setting                                                                                      

PT Jobs

Albany. LTC/SNF setting
Atlanta. Acute
Atlanta. Outpatient and acute                                                                   
Columbus. Outpatient
Lawrenceville. LTC/SNF setting                                                              
Macon. Inpatient.                                                                                        
Marietta. Acute care
Marietta. Outpatient setting.                                                                      
Milledgeville. LTC/SNF setting                                                                
Warner Robins. Inpatient acute care.                                                     
Woodstock. LTC/SNF setting                                                                   

SLP Jobs

Blairsville. Hospital position                                                                             
Dublin. Outpatient
Marietta. Acute care   

Don't forget to use the form on the right side of this blog to sign up to receive our jobs in your inbox!

Here at MDI Medical, I get lots of physical and occupational therapy professionals asking me to spell my name. Just today, someone looking for speech language pathology jobs went down the list:

"Shnite-zer?" They ask.

"Sh!t-zner?" (I can't even write the word to get this blog uploaded.)

"Snit-zer?"

And then the inevitible, "Is that German?" The more creative people tell me to "buy a vowel." It used to be funny. The first 5 times.

The thing is: we don't have much choice in our names. Or our corporate email addresses. So after spelling "mschnitzer at mdimedical dot com" and answering all the usual questions for the millionth time, it hit me. Why don't we have easy-to-remember email addresses for the people that you email all the time?

So, for your convenience, here you go:

Payroll:  payroll [at] mdimedical [dot] com
Benefits:  benefits [at] mdimedical [dot] com
Housing:  housing [at] mdimedical [dot] com
Credentialing:  credentialing [at] mdimedical [dot] com
Hours:  hours [at] mdimedical [dot] com - for emailing your hours or confirming timesheet receipt
Billing:  billing [at] mdimedical [dot] com - for client invoicing questions

Take it from someone with an unusual last name: this will be much easier to remember.

While you're out there looking for PT jobs, OT jobs, or SLP jobs, I've been looking for ways to make your travel life a little easier. (oh, and if you're looking for physical therapy jobs, speech language pathology jobs, or a great occupational therapy career, check out our website where we have over 2,000!)

There's nothing I hate more than a refrigerator full of leftovers. I don't like eating the same thing over and over but no one else is there to eat it! I recently went online and found some recipes designed for one person. Here are a few of my favorites.

Quick Italian Turkey

1/2 tsp. olive oil

1 4 ounce turkey breast fillet

1/2 cup spaghetti sauce

1/2 cup shredded fat-free mozzarella cheese

1-1/2 tsp. Parmesan cheese

Heat oil in a heavy nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add turkey and season with salt and pepper to taste. Sauté 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until just cooked throughout. Pour spaghetti sauce over turkey and cook until sauce is hot. Serve turkey with sauce and cheeses sprinkled over the top.

Quick Chicken Cacciatore

1 skinless boneless chicken thigh, cut into 3 inch pieces

1-1/4 tsp. olive oil

1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced

1 clove garlic, minced

7 ounces canned crushed tomatoes, with purée

1/2 tsp. Italian herb seasoning

1-1/2 tsp. lemon juice

Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Heat oil in a heavy nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Sauté chicken 3-4 minutes, turning frequently, until browned. Remove and set aside. Reduce heat to medium and sauté mushrooms and garlic in same skillet 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until mushrooms begin to brown. Stir in tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Return chicken and any accumulated juices to skillet. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer, uncovered 5-6 minutes, until chicken is cooked throughout. Stir in lemon juice before serving.

Pasta and Salmon Salad

2 ounces small shell pasta

2 ounces canned salmon, drained and flaked, bones discarded

1/4 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped

2 Tbs. plus 2 tsp. celery, thinly sliced

2 Tbs. red onion, chopped

3 Tbs. fat-free honey dijon salad dressing

Cook pasta in a large pan of boiling water 8-10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water and drain again. Combine pasta, salmon and next 3 ingredients in a bowl. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently.

Don't forget to sign up to receive our jobs in your inbox!  Just use the form on the right side of this page.

It was a crazy Monday morning. Traffic was extraordinarily bad, and I was rushing to MDI Medical's Monday morning staff meeting. It's the meeting where we talk about all of our Physical Therapy Jobs, Occupational Therapy Jobs, Speech Language Pathology Jobs, and all of the SLPs, OTs, COTAs, PTs, and PTAs that we need to place in these jobs. It's really embarrassing if you're late, so I was one of those crazed commuters, trying every shortcut in the book to get to work on time.

At 8 a.m., I got a text message from one of our Physical Therapists who is on assignment in Baltimore Maryland (hi RM!): "School closed to to power outage and flooding. I'm here already." 

You can guess my state of mind, and my short fuse, so I hurriedly texted back: "Ask about working Acute today."  

Beep beep beep. "Supv not here today. Don't have her number." 

I called our Account Manager. He was on his way to the office and didn't have the client's phone number with him. (Pretty typical: our Account Managers have way too many clients to carry around everyones' numbers.) When Joseph got to the office, the client didn't answer, so he had to email. Eventually, the client reached the PT, but not until waited an hour for reassignment.

So, travelers & contractors, here is my tip of the day: ask your on-site supervisor for his/her cell phone number. Program it in your cell phone.

Direct communication with the client shouldn't replace communication with your travel company, but on days like these, it makes life a lot easier.

What's your favorite tip for communicating with clients during travel assignments?

How is MDI Medical is different than other medical staffing companies?

I've been trying to formulate a direct, succinct message all week. I could go on and on about the caliber of our recruiters, account managers, and support staff-- specifically, how they go the extra mile for our clients and therapists. I could talk about our exclusive jobs, our amazing loyalty rewards programs & other perks, and how our compensation programs are tailored to each therapist's specific needs, When I was finished, I think my mental list of "differentiators" was 15-20 items long.

But, you know, other companies have strong recruiters, good perks, and flexible compensation. Maybe not as good as MDI Medical's, but still...

I think one of the most unique things about MDI Medical is this:

We have the jobs & perks of a big company and the personal service of a small company. But we don't place Nurses. And we don't place Physicians. We are one of the few companies with great resources focused solely in Therapy.

Why does this matter? Ask any therapist who's worked for one of those big, national nurse staffing companies or physician locum tenens organizations. Their forms are tailored to someone else. Their vernacular is different. Even the company strategy is different.

Could you imagine working with a recruiter who didn't know the difference between acute and subacute rehab? How productivity is calculated? What daily progress notes are? Why assistants don't do Evals? Don't laugh: I've interviewed recruiters from competitors who weren't able to answer these very basic questions.

MDI Medical is committed to great employees, strong clients, and above-average:
Physical Therapy jobs,
Physical Therapy Assistant jobs,
Occupational Therapy jobs,
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant jobs, and
Speech Language Pathology jobs.

Sure, maybe one day we'll develop a recruiting strategy for other specialties for Allied Health jobs. But, for the near future, the only doctors on our roster are DPTs! Our clubhouse is exclusive: No Nurses or Physicians allowed.

With a clear understanding of who you are and what is important to you, goals become quite clear.  Of course, your goals will change over time as you discover more about yourself, accumulate different experiences and meet new people.  However, in order to narrow your focus and set your sights on the initial target, a few early career goals are important.

It is also helpful to categorize your goals.  Outline professional goals, personal goals, time frames for each, and think about how often you might revisit them.

Professional Goals
•    What type of healthcare settings do I prefer?
•    What assignment length is appealing to me for a rehabilitation job?
•    Am I willing to travel long distances or would I prefer to work my SLP jobs locally?
•    What allied health job skills would I like to acquire?

Personal Goals
•    Why am I working on contract?  To maximize income to pay off debt?  How much &
     by when?
•    What is most important to me on my first assignment?  To see the country?  Test the
     waters before making a permanent move?  Stay close to family & friends?
•    Do I prefer to find a great occupational therapy assignment and stay there for the
     long term or is it important to me to move around?
•    Will my travel therapy jobs be year-round or only during specific times?
•    What locations are important to me?

The only right answers to these questions are your answers.  If the reasons for pursuing the career you’ve chosen aren’t truly yours, then the life you create won’t be yours either.  Define your goals.  By taking this step, you’ll be amazed at the clarity with which you can begin your career and chart your success.

Want to find some great physical therapy jobs, speech therapy jobs, or that one of a kind occupational therapy career?  Use the search tool on the right or simply visit our MDI Medical website.

I'm moving after 14 years in the same house. I've been packing all weekend, and the movers come tomorrow.

I have a new appreciation for travelers who pack up and move every 13 weeks.

Some of MDI's therapists traverse the country for travel Physical Therapy Jobs, Occupational Therapy Jobs, and Speech Language Pathology Jobs. Others move across the state. But all rehab travelers have one thing in common: packing up their belongings every few months.

Last fall, I was talking with a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) who's been with MDI Medical for 2 years. I was setting up her housing in Arizona; her previous assignment was in Kentucky. She told me about loading up her car for the trip and mentioned her heavy winter coat.

Why would you pack your winter coat for an assignment in Arizona?!?! I asked.

Where else would I leave it? she replied.

It was an eye-opening conversation. I began to wonder how many other travelers pack their entire world -- everything they own -- when they travel between assignments. I always assumed that travelers have a "home base"... a place they call home between assignments... but that's not always the case.

The SLP? She's off to Oregon for her next assignment. I don't think she'll need her winter coat there, either, but who knows? Maybe she'll choose someplace cold on a future assignment. (Hi J.S.!)

So, as I'm packing up everything I own, I wonder: What are your packing tips?  Do you have a favorite gadget/product that assists with your move?