💼 Should Practitioners Be Paid for Admin Time?
Every MSK practitioner knows that the time spent with patients is only part of the job. What often gets overlooked — by clinics, patients, and even ourselves — is the invisible workload that happens after the treatment couch is empty.
From writing patient notes and SOAP summaries, to sending referral letters, updating GP reports, writing insurance claims, or just answering emails — admin takes time. And time, as we all know, is money.
But should admin time be factored into how practitioners are paid?
🕰 The Hidden Hours No One Talks About
Many associates report spending anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours a day on admin tasks that aren’t paid for.
That might include:
Writing detailed clinical notes
Following up with patients
Communicating with insurers
Completing reports for medico-legal cases
Preparing for upcoming patients
If you add that up, that’s several unpaid hours every week — which could mean a significant drop in effective hourly earnings.
💷 “It’s Just Part of the Job”… Or Is It?
Some clinic owners argue that admin is part of being a responsible practitioner — a professional duty baked into the role.
But many associates feel differently. After all, if a clinic expects practitioners to handle large caseloads and maintain detailed notes or correspondence, shouldn’t that time be reflected somewhere — either in pay, treatment fees, or flexible scheduling?
There’s no universal answer, but it’s a conversation worth having.
⚖️ Finding the Balance
A few potential approaches that MSK clinics use include:
Built-in admin time: Scheduling 10–15 minutes between patients for notes and calls.
Paid admin blocks: A set hourly rate for admin tasks or specific projects.
Higher fee splits: Compensating for unpaid admin time by offering a larger income percentage.
Shared admin roles: Clinics hiring assistants or receptionists to handle non-clinical paperwork.
Each model has pros and cons, and much depends on the clinic’s structure, workload, and ethos.
🗳 Have Your Say
We’d love to know what you think — should practitioners be paid for admin time?
