2022 Holiday Gift Ideas for On-the-Go Clinicians

By Alex Lin, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist, Central Texas

As clinicians who complete house calls for the older adult population, we spend a lot of time on the road. The holidays are getting close, and we are all looking for useful gifts for our favorite clinicians, colleagues, clinical instructors/fieldwork educators, or anyone who spends a lot of time on the road! This gift guide is perfect for those who spend the majority of their time going from point to point to our patient’s homes. 

The following guide is categorized into the following categories:

• The Foodie
• The Clean Freak
• The Napper
• The Prepared

The Foodie

Every traveling clinician knows meals on the go are part of the job. But if your favorite clinician is tired of the same old PB&J, these gift ideas will be right up their alley.  

Soup Thermos

The cold weather is upon us and who wouldn’t love a warm bowl of soup to push you through a tough, chilly day? Whether it’s their favorite chicken noodle soup or beef stew, this thermos keeps temperatures hot throughout the workday and is a perfect gift in time for the holidays.

Portable Lunch Warmer

There are only so many cold-cut sandwiches and wraps a clinician can have on the go. Even grabbing those delicious gas station taquitos for the umpteenth time gets a bit boring and may be burning a hole in their wallet. This portable lunch warmer can plug into the auxiliary power outlet, “cigarette lighter,” or a standard outlet where microwaves are not available.

Travel Coffee/Tea Press

This is another option for those who love their freshly brewed coffee or loose-leaf tea. All you need is your coffee grounds or tea leaves and some hot water.

For those coffee purists out there, there is an espresso option as well.

Gift Card

One of my favorite gifts from a colleague or patient was very simple. Every clinician will appreciate gift cards to a favorite coffee shop (Dunkin, Starbucks, Tim Hortons, or even better support your local favorite). They can be easily picked up at your local grocery store or even online. 

Another option is a gift card to the closest gas station or a subscription to Spotify or Audible for the best tunes or podcasts on the road.

The Clean Freak

House call schedules can be hectic, and it’s easy for your car to easily turn into a cluttered mess. These gifts help even the busiest clinician stay organized and tidy as they roam from appointment to appointment. 

Trash Bin

Everyone has a spot to put trash in their car, but it’s usually not in a container! This portable bin can be simply strapped to the back of the center console or headrest for easy access. No more stuffing wrappers in the door pocket!

Portable Hand Sanitizer Container

This is the perfect way to minimize clutter in the car to safely travel between appointments. This reusable container is perfect for those who eat between appointments and maintain their hygiene when restrooms are not convenient.

Portable Hand Vacuum 

It’s easy to track dirt, leaves, and grass throughout the day. This portable vacuum can really make a big difference in keeping the car clean and tidy. It can be plugged into the car and has a 16 ft range to reach all the way to the trunk if needed.

Seat Gap Filler

If you’re like me, you can find almost anything in between the gaps between the seat and the center console. Say goodbye to trying to pick up all the popcorn, chips, and nuts that somehow always end up in the crack. This specific gap filler one is the most basic and comes with 2 extra cup holders.

Front Seat Organizer

This is perfect for the mobile clinician who needs to change different items out of their treatment bag depending on their patient needs. It can also be easily transformed into an over-the-shoulder bag for appointments.

The Napper

Sometimes you need to take any opportunity you can to grab a little shut-eye between house calls. While grabbing some quick zzz’s in the car is never as good as being in your own bed, these gift ideas certainly help make the occasional car nap a bit more comfortable. 

Car Neck Pillow

Sometimes, mid-afternoon naps can do wonders for a long day on the road. But we’ve all been there, waking up from long car rides or flights with a wobbly head resulting in a sore neck. A neck pillow is great for short power naps between appointments. This one specifically wraps around your neck to provide additional support as opposed to traditional neck pillows.

Lumbar Support Cushion

This is a simple back cushion for those long commutes or when traffic gets unusually terrible. It works by strapping around the front seat and adds additional support to typical bucket seats made for modern cars

Heated Blanket

To match the neck pillow, this USB-powered heated blanket is perfect as temperatures drop or for a little added comfort during those quick power naps.

Driving Gloves

Unless they have built-in steering wheel heaters, these gloves will make the first 10 minutes of the commute a lot more bearable. These gloves also have touchscreen capabilities, so someone can still operate a smartphone mounted in front of the car (be safe!) during their commute.

Car Window Screens

When taking naps in the car, the feeling generally goes one of two ways: you either feel too exposed with your windows down, or it feels too stuffy and claustrophobic with the windows up. Don’t even get me started on all the bugs and insects that can join in on your nap.

This window screen can easily slide into the door frame and acts as a barrier between a clinician’s napping zone and the outside world.

The Prepared

It never hurts to be prepared — especially if you spend so much time in the car and away from home. These gifts are great for any clinician’s peace of mind as they drive from appointment to appointment. 

Dash Cam

Motor vehicle accidents are far too common these days and safety is a priority when extensive traveling is part of the job. I recommend these dash cams to everyone who has ever been nicked, rear-ended, or wrongfully cut off that may have caused an accident. Better to show proof of an accident than to rely on a “he-said-she-said” situation. This cam specifically has a collision detector so it will notify the device not to override any new footage that is being recorded at the time of a collision.

Emergency Jumpstarter

This emergency jump starter also comes with USB/120V charging ports and a tire pump for any roadside emergencies. It also comes with an LED light for any after-hour emergencies. This is a must for every car, but especially for on-the-go clinicians who need to make it to that next house call no matter what. 

Handheld Radio

Another useful device that I hope nobody will have to use. These radios will be useful to tune into any inclement weather or natural disaster announcements. It can also help charge your phone briefly for emergency calls via solar power or the hand crank. It also functions as another flashlight and can emit flashing signals.

Temperature Controlled Organizer

Whether you are trying to keep objects hot or cold, this organizer can help with just that. I like to drop by the grocery store to pick up last-minute items throughout my workday. These insulated storage containers are perfect for those times when clinicians need to run a quick errand between appointments. This specific organizer also has other pockets and containers to maintain a sense of organization when shopping or holding anything loose.

There you have it! Any of these items would be a great gift for those clinicians always on the go to treat our older adult population. If any of the above ideas don’t seem to be a good fit, the FOX Shop is always a reliable source for gift ideas for our clinicians!