What Is a “Patchwork Career?”

Melissa Gill – Founder/CEO of OSSPT

Until about six months ago, I had never heard the term “patchwork career.” It came up during a conversation with Justin Moore, the CEO of APTA, while we were discussing the business model of OSSPT. He casually remarked, “Oh, that’s a patchwork career model.”

The phrase immediately caught my attention—it put a name to something I had seen developing in the physical therapy profession for years. More and more PTs are leaving clinical practice, and even healthcare entirely. The reasons are familiar:

Overwhelming Paperwork – PTs didn’t sign up for a career in documentation, yet insurance demands making paperwork an exhausting part of the job.
Limited Career Progression – Unless you want to move into management, growth opportunities are scarce.
Salary Caps – The traditional healthcare model offers little room for financial advancement.
Lack of Autonomy – Many PTs feel disheartened working hard for someone else without real control over their careers.
Few Non-Clinical Career Pathways – There aren’t enough visible examples of PTs leveraging their skills in fields like IT, product development, sales, or operations.
Poor Work-Life Balance – A full patient load takes a toll on both the mind and body.

Sound familiar? If you’re a PT looking for a new path, you’re not alone.

Justin and I discussed how a patchwork career is one where professionals blend multiple roles—whether in different settings or entirely different industries—to create a sustainable and fulfilling career. This approach offers variety, better work-life balance, and often higher hourly rates. As we spoke, a light bulb went off—OSSPT is the perfect home for those pursuing a patchwork career!

At OSSPT, we embrace and support PTs seeking to build a career that aligns with their passions and financial goals. We’re not just recognizing the shift—we’re actively creating opportunities to make it possible.

But the conversation doesn’t stop there. My next question to the APTA on a national level was: How is the APTA supporting the PTs pursuing a patchwork career?

Their response? They want to help PTs stay in the field, but since this is a relatively new concept (at least in how it’s been formally identified), they’re still figuring out how to offer support. So, I posed a bigger question:

Is the APTA here to support all PTs and the profession as a whole, or only its members?

Let that sink in. Their answer was that they exist to support all PTs, though members naturally receive more resources. As a member and someone on the APTA-MN board, I want to make sure that promise holds true—because this shift is critical for the future of our profession.

Now, I turn to you: What support do you need to thrive in a patchwork career? How can OSSPT and the APTA better serve you? Let’s keep the conversation going—it’s time to shape the future of PT together.

Want to learn more about OSSPT’s careers? Email Tiffany Vreeman @ tvreeman@onsitesolutionspt.com or check out our careers page https://onsitesolutionspt.com/about-us/careers/