Getting the Most from Your Rehab Travel Career

Part VIII: Arrival and Getting Started

Now that the hard work of finding your next assignment and negotiating your rehab therapy travel job is complete, you need to get started on the job and be prepared for anything that comes your way. The key to a successful PT, OT or SLP travel assignment is preparation and in this article, we'll help you cover the bases of arrival and your first week. We'll talk about getting settled in your housing, acclimating to the local area, and finding your groove in your new travel job.

First Things First – Housing

The most important detail to get ironed out when you arrive at your destination is to get settled in your temporary housing. There’s a great degree of comfort in knowing where you’ll lay your weary head. It must be a place in which you can relax. It is important to arrive early so you can move in well before you start work. MDI Medical allows occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech language pathologists to move in two days early. This provides plenty of time to unpack and settle in. Make sure your housing is as it was described. It should be safe, clean, comfortable, and equipped with the supplies promised. Remember to complete your walk through document and write down or notify your housing coordinator if there’s anything that could be charged back to you after you move out.

If your housing leaves something to be desired, contact your housing coordinator or your recruiter BEFORE taking possession of the apartment. Check to make sure that basic utilities are available (water, gas & electric, sewer & trash.) If anything hasn’t been handled, call your housing coordinator immediately. They should be on call 24x7 in case of an emergency and they can almost always help resolve the situation quickly.

It’s important that you feel safe and comfortable in your new home away from home. Talk with your housing coordinator about any special needs you may have (cable, internet, or perhaps you travel with a pet and need to be on the first floor) well in advance. These arrangements can and should be handled before you arrive.

Finally, contact the leasing agent before you arrive and get instructions for obtaining your keys, particularly if you expect to arrive after normal business hours. Make sure you have their emergency numbers as well. Your housing coordinator should provide you with a list of business and after hours contacts for your apartment complex, and it’s a good idea to carry the phone number of your assignment supervisor in case you run into any complications that could impact your first day.

Get to Know Your Surroundings

Try to develop a familiarity for the area and identify when to expect traffic congestion. Perhaps you can even discover a shortcut or two. Head to the local supermarket and pick up what you’ll need for your first few days.

Don’t forget ‘play time’, either. Find the local movie theater, shopping malls, and parks. There are many wonderful scenic drives in just about every city. Seek them out for those times when you’re not working. Look for local community newspapers and find out what’s happening in the area. Nearly every city has a wide variety of local events and hot spots that can satisfy just about any interest.

Starting Your Assignment Off on the Right Foot

One of the best things you can do when starting a new assignment is to go in with an open mind. As you know by now, you’ll work with many different people, in different situations and you’ll be exposed to a variety of cultures.

Embrace these differences and commit to learning from them. While on a travel rehab therapy assignment you may not be a full time employee of the hospital, however you are most definitely a part of the team. You may be asked to attend team meetings and to provide input into daily operations. Remember, your experience in a variety of different settings is valuable. It is important to respect how things are done at your assignment facility, but do take advantage of opportunities to share what you’ve learned on the road. Most supervisors and coworkers will truly appreciate what you bring to the table.

Make New Friends & Build Effective Working Relationships

Your supervisors and coworkers can also become your best marketing tools for your next assignment. If you work to build strong relationships on each assignment, you’ll find that great references are easy to come by. Every rehab therapy staffing firm uses references, and you’ll find these relationships to be extremely valuable to you in the long run. Your coworkers may also become people that you can refer to your staffing company if they develop an interest in traveling, and these referrals can add up to sizeable referral bonuses in the future.

Keep Your Recruiter Informed

In addition to informing us if something goes wrong, make sure your recruiter knows when they’re getting it right. Beyond just a pat on the back, which we all love, positive feedback lets us know the type of service you expect. This helps us to make sure we’re looking in the right places for your next assignment and doing whatever we can to make this an enjoyable experience for you.

Quick Tips for Starting Your Assignment Off Right

• Maintain an updated file of your credentials for your recruiter.
• Plan to arrive 24-48 hours before you’re required to start work.
• Create an arrival plan, get settled & handle the necessities before your first day.
• Map & drive the local area – find your best routes to work, play, and activities of interest.
• Keep important names & contact information handy – your mobile device is a great resource.
• Arrive early for your fi rst day and ask lots of questions.
• Make sure you bring a picture id – most of your new supervisors will ask to see this before you begin work
• Call your recruiter, share your experiences & and resolve issues early.
• Use downtime on the job effectively – get to know your coworkers.
• Start thinking about your next assignment far in advance. Is this an assignment you could extend?
• Don’t be a stranger – make sure you stay connected to your supervisors and coworkers after the assignment.

MDI Medical has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of ApprovalTM. Certification recognizes MDI Medical's dedication to providing rehab therapists that are qualified to provide safe, high-quality care to patients.