How do I see which physio clinic services are delivered by assistants?

Start with the records. Ask for a report of recent services grouped by provider role: therapist, assistant, or other staff. If the clinic cannot split them out, ask how it does track who treated the patient.

Then compare the report with the schedule. Does one therapist appear to be treating many patients at once while assistants carry out most of the exercises? That arrangement may be fine in a well-run clinic, but you should know how it works and who is responsible for each patient. Ask how supervision happens. Who writes the plan, who checks progress and how are changes recorded? Ask the staff, not only the owner, and note whether their answers match.

Next, look at the people. Assistants who are skilled and well-liked can be hard to replace. Ask about their pay, training and plans to stay. Your accountant can show how the mix of roles affects the clinic’s costs and earnings. Ask, finally, how the clinic describes these services to patients on its website and at the front desk. What patients are told should match what actually happens. Ask also how services delivered by assistants appear on receipts and insurance claims. If there is a mismatch, raise it with the seller and your lawyer before you proceed any further.

Key takeaways

• Get service records grouped by who delivered them.
• Ask how supervision and treatment plans are documented.
• Check whether assistants plan to stay and what they are paid for their role.