How the FOX Emerging Professionals Mentor Program Helped Me Become a Better Clinician

By Jordan Hoffman, PT, DPT
SLC Lead Clinician, Pennsylvania

It’s my first visit as a new clinician. There’s no clinical instructor watching from ten feet away and I’m not in a clinic. I’m in the patient’s home. Sounds a little bit stressful right? Luckily, as a clinician with FOX Rehabilitation, I had access to the support and mentorship I needed to ensure my career got off to the best start possible through FOX Rehabilitation’s Emerging Professionals Mentor Program, or EPMP. 

What is the FOX Emerging Professionals Mentor Program?

FOX Rehabilitation’s EPMP program is a 6-month mentorship program that helps newly graduated clinicians get their footing as they embark on their new career. Each new clinician is paired with an experienced mentor to guide them through caseload expectations, goal setting, and confidence building.

Being involved in EPMP started before I even stepped foot in my first patient’s home. I had already been in contact with my mentor and regional quality assurance liaison about the expectations of the program. It eased my anxiety of completing my first treatment session alone. That’s because I knew that if anything came up within the session, I had people that I could email, call, or text. 

My Experience in the EPMP Program

When I first told classmates, professors, and family members that I was accepting a position with a private practice that provides outpatient therapy within the home-setting after graduation, many asked if that was a good idea. They asked if I wouldn’t feel nervous with no support around me. That certainly proved not to be the case with FOX.

My first week started with orientation and then treatment sessions. A great thing about the slow ramp-up period was that I was not just seeing new patients that I had to evaluate. I took over patient’s from another clinician. It was great to not have to write 3-4 evaluations during my first week. 

As the first month progressed, I was seeing more and more patients per week thanks to the ramp-up of productivity that is part of the program. My regional quality assurance liaison and mentor were  reading my notes for the first two or three weeks to make sure I was documenting correctly, and eventually I was able to sign off on my notes without having them review. 

I also had weekly meetings and phone calls with my mentor, sometimes lasting up to an hour or more. During these meetings I would ask questions about documentation, scheduling, and how to provide the best clinical care to patients. My mentor and regional director also shadowed treatment sessions to provide feedback and suggestions to promote my clinical growth and comfort. But the great thing was that it didn’t feel like it did as a student. Having my mentor and director there felt more collaborative. 

Throughout my time in the EPMP, I was able to communicate with my regional quality assurance liaison and regional director about documentation, patient adherence, and any general questions I had. As the months went on, there were fewer phone calls and more texts with my mentor. That’s because I felt more comfortable dealing with difficult situations as a new clinician. 

I had 3- and 6-month sit down meetings with my regional director to make sure I was feeling supported as a new clinician — and I was. I have now been a clinician with FOX for almost a year and a half and I can confidently say that I have felt nothing but support throughout my time in the Mentor Program and that continued after.

Learn More About FOX Rehabilitation’s Emerging Professionals Mentor Program

The Emerging Professionals Mentor Program not only made me feel comfortable and competent as a new clinician, but also helped me foster a relationship with my mentor, regional quality assurance liaison, and regional director. Learn more about the EPMP through other clinicians’ experiences.