How do you handle PT assessments in terms of payments?
Do you include assessments as part of a package? Are your assessments free/included with other purchased sessions? Do you charge for a session for your assessment? Do you have clients who don’t want an assessment (even though they should have one)? Do you require one? Any help on this topic would be great!
Hi Kelly,
I start every client with a package that includes an assessment and three sessions. This is paid at the time of the assessment. I have never had a situation where a client did not want it. I would not train a client without one.
My rationale for this is that if a client only wants an exercise program, that I should be reasonably sure about proper exercise selection after an assessment and having observed the client a few times. So if that is all they want, I am still compensated for the time it takes for the assessment and the work to put it together.
My subsequent billing is not in packages but I charge clients at the end of the month for the sessions they had with me.
Karin Singleton
www.meltnc.com
Hi Kelly,
I include assessments as part of a package and do not charge clients an extra fee. The assessments give you a baseline from which to plan their programming and progression, and I personally feel it should be included in the fee of their package (but that’s just my opinion!)
You may have clients who feel intimidated or embarrassed by assessments–and you may have clients who won’t actually need a comprehensive evaluation. You may have clients who are motivated to change by the results of their assessment. Each client is different and you will have to determine the proper assessments for them. However, at the very least you should require a completed health risk appraisal and any medical clearance if necessary.
That being said, I do try to gather as much information as I can in order to plan their program. I always try to make a client feel comfortable and explain the reason for the assessment (a starting point for their program), as well as how we can use the information to track progress in the future. Some of my clients enjoy going back to review the initial assessment results because it shows them how much progress they’ve made.
I hope this information helps you!
Christine
Hello Kelly Serfas Bower,
I charge an hourly rate for the initial assessment as I would for a training session. The time it takes me to go over all the information and do research if necessary, design a program and print it out takes more time that I am not being compensated for. This is a huge step which cannot be avoided.
With that being said, the client is not forced to do anything against their will; but, I do need their past and present history to take care of them properly.
Are you referring to physical assessments in particular? Once again, the client is boss with gentle nudging from me; but, no pushing.
Take care,
Natalie
NAPS 2 B Fit
Hi Kelly,
If a client buys sessions, the assessment is complimentary. If not, then I charge my regular hourly rate. There are some clients who don’t want to have an assessment done on them mostly because they are embarrassed, but I need to know where they stand and what type of improvements they need. An assessment is also a good starting point and I use it as a measurement tool.
Best,
Harris
I charge my assessments as an hourly rate, as I do all my sessions, rather than packages. I’ve never had a client refuse an assessment as I explain its their baseline. Baselines are neither good, nor bad, they’re just a starting point, giving me a better understanding as to where we need to start and where they are starting in regards to reaching their goal. Afterall, if we don’t know where we’re starting from, how will we know how far we’ve come?