Written by: Dr. Katie Wadland, PT, DPT, Board-Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist

Owner: Healthy Aging Physical Therapy

Why I Call our Staff my 'Team'

When I first started hiring therapists to join me at Healthy Aging Physical Therapy, I had a vision for something different. I never wanted a traditional workplace with a rigid hierarchy where a boss dictates orders and employees follow along. That just didn’t sit right with me (also, seemed kinda lonely…). Instead, I imagined a co-op-style environment—one where we all work together, share responsibilities, and create a thriving ecosystem of care, both for our patients and for one another.

I wanted to create an environment without closed-door meetings or red tape, with a culture of transparency and kindness where we could work together through challenges and also celebrate our wins. While I didn't know exactly what I was doing in many ways, I felt pretty clear in this path, and I’ve found that this philosophy has shaped how we operate and led to strength in our reputation. We all contribute to both our wins and our challenges, and that philosophy has shaped everything about how we operate.

From the very start, I made conscious decisions to build a workplace culture that reflects this team-oriented approach:

Our meetings aren’t “Staff Meetings” — they’re Team Meetings because we all have a seat at the table. We meet not only to review updates and discuss patient care but also to review practice finances as a team so we are all on the same page. We take turns teaching each other—sharing responsibilities for monthly in-services and journal reviews.
Our 1:1 meetings aren’t “Performance Reviews” — they’re Mentorship Meetings, focused on growth, not judgment. They’ve become a time to check in, to see how things are going both professionally and personally, and set goals together to move forward over the next year.
Our compensation model isn’t based on traditional raises (which are often either absent or so small they barely feel meaningful in healthcare). Instead, we have a profit-sharing bonus model where all disciplines (therapists, trainers, office managers) share equally in our collective success—because we’ve worked equally hard to get there.
I support and encourage co-treats, shadowing, and other learning opportunities as paid time so we can learn from each other, improving patient care and learning from our best resources — our own teammates.

Over the past five years, these intentional choices have evolved into a culture that I am so grateful for—one that I can feel in every interaction with our team and our patients. But what’s even more incredible is that this culture isn’t just a feeling anymore. It’s showing up in tangible, objective ways, and I see it every single day in the way our team steps up for each other and our patients.

Here are just a few ways I've seen this team-oriented culture manifest:

Leveraging Each Other’s Strengths – Our clinicians actively seek each other out for consults and co-treats, ensuring that every patient gets the benefit of multiple perspectives. Some of our therapists are ortho rock stars, while others (ahem…me) are more specialized in neurorehab, wheelchairs, and vestibular therapy. Instead of staying in our silos, we share our knowledge so that we all grow professionally — and our patients receive the best possible care.
Going Beyond Patient Care – I often overhear (or 'over-read' in our chats and emails) that our therapists go above and beyond their typical duties. Our therapists frequently step in to help with office tasks and phone calls, and they take the time to care for their patients in ways beyond the duties of therapy. Whether it's taking the time to water their plants each week, bringing holiday-themed decor to use for balance activities, or spending those extra few minutes to really get to know their to patients, these are the skills you don't learn in school — but they are the qualities that make the Healthy Aging experience so special.
Sharing Knowledge – Whether it's helping a teammate learn to write a letter of medical necessity, sharing resources, or meeting up for a “pizza and transfers” party, our therapists share their time and knowledge because they want to improve their skills for their patients and learn from each other.
Supporting Each Other in Good Times and Bad – Whether it’s celebrating a wedding, a new baby, or supporting a team member struggling, I've seen our therapists organize gifts and care packages. They cheer each other on when someone earns a new certification or reports a 'win' with a patient. Small gestures like this make a big impact and reinforce that we are more than coworkers—we are a team that genuinely cares about each other.
Stepping Up When It Matters – When someone on our team is sick or on vacation, others jump in to cover patients outside of their usual territories. There’s no grumbling, no reluctance — just a shared commitment to making sure our patients receive consistent care.

What This Means for Our Patients

All of this translates into amazing patient care. When a team operates with trust, collaboration, and mutual support and respect, this gets passed on to the patient experience. They receive more comprehensive, well-rounded treatment, benefitting from a group of clinicians who are constantly learning from and helping each other. I say it all the time, and I truly mean it—happy therapists = happy patients.

While our model is rooted in 1:1 patient-centered care, what many don't realize is that behind that '1' is 18 teammates working together to encourage their success. And that’s what makes Healthy Aging Physical Therapy different. And the results speak for themselves — just take a look at some of our recent testimonials and reviews from our Healthy Aging community!