Meet Kara Swinney

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kara Swinney a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kara, so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?

I often hear of physical therapists who are looking to leave the field after a few or many years of practice due to burnout. The current health care system has many road blocks to being able to provide quality care while maintaining desired work-life balance. I have experienced this feeling of burnout myself in previous positions throughout my career. Usually it was related to feeling dissatisfied with current policies, leadership or work schedules within an organization. My burnout would become compounded when I would attempt to make changes to my situation by speaking up, which were usually met with resistance or lack of action. When improvements to my work life were beyond my control, I began to feel helpless which exacerbated the burnout. I knew I needed to make a change when my values no longer aligned with that of the organization.

Striking out on my own to open Austin Pediatric PT, was scary at first but I realized that I had all the tools I needed to create the work life balance I craved. I was able to have the autonomy and control over every aspect of my day by opening a solo practice focusing on what mattered most to me, helping children with developmental disabilities. I could cut through all the red tape and get back to basics by working with families directly and have the most impact with my patients. I became a pediatric physical therapist to be a clinician not a manager, so I do not plan to expand by hiring other staff members. This is intentional so that I can focus on what I love to do, which is help babies and children progress in their motor skills and increase their independent mobility.

The flexibility to make my own schedule is the most valuable part of owning my own practice. As a member of the sandwich generation, with two teenagers and aging parents, I can be present for school events as well as attend doctors’ appointments. My husband, Matt, is also an entrepreneur and one of our favorite things to do as a family is to take month-long road trips during the Summer. Not having to ask for time off from a boss is great, but before you jump into private practice remember that when you don’t work you don’t get paid. This trade of guaranteed salary plus PTO for autonomy is worth it to me, but it may not be for everyone.

Being a lifelong learner is the other piece that has prevented me from burning out after 25 years in pediatric therapy. I discovered Cuevas Medek Exercises about 5 years ago and have pursued certification and mentorship with my instructor in Toronto. I feel re-energized when I return from a trip that has sharpened my skills. CME keeps my brain and my body active during each hour-long treatment session. The positive results, ranging from increased head control to independent walking, provide evidence that what I am doing is making a difference. The satisfaction I derive from my work in a setting that allows me the freedom to practice how and when I want is irreplaceable. I hope that my children are able to find work that lights them up and allows them to have the life they want as they transition into college and young adulthood. Afterall, isn’t a life well-lived what we all ultimately want?

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My practice is currently focused on weekly appointments, but I do offer the occasional intensive therapy block. Intensives are helpful for families who don’t have access to Cuevas Medek Exercises in their area, so they can travel in for a week or two to receive daily therapy. I also use intensives with weekly patients if we are on the verge of uncovering a new skill.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I recently identified three attributes that ring true for my professional identity. This was a process that my teenage son went through to look at strengths and career curiosities. The three traits that I connected with most were Focus, Woo and Empathy. Focus, in this context, relates to setting session goals and long-term goals, then evaluating throughout the session whether or not the chosen exercises will move us toward these goals. I wasn’t sure what Woo meant until I read the description and it resonated with me. Woo is meeting new people and finding fulfillment when a connection is made. One of my favorite parts of my job is developing relationships with families during our weekly visits. Finally, Empathy is something that is important in order for me to be good at my job. I do not know what it is like to have a child with a disability, but I try my best to see their perspective and support their choices by providing information that could be useful to them. I did not realize how important connection would be to my career, but I am pleasantly surprised to realize what a big role it plays in my daily life. This connection, along with seeing positive results, brings me so much joy and fulfillment every day. I am grateful to have found meaningful work that I can continue to do as my kids prepare to leave the nest.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

I am currently looking to increase the number of new patient referrals that I am receiving. As a sole practitioner, I rely on current and past families to refer their friends to my practice. This has been a fairly steady way to fill my schedule, but I am also reaching out to local physicians to develop relationships as well. This type of self-promotion is not something that comes naturally to me but I am putting myself out there to make new connections and seeing positive results.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://austinpediatricpt.com
• Instagram: @austinpediatricpt
• Facebook: @austinpediatricpt

Image Credits

Roy Muyinza