Signs it is time
- You turn away new patients every week.
- Your waiting list is longer than two or three weeks.
- Admin regularly takes more than a few hours a week of your own time.
- Missed calls are costing you patients.
- You cannot take leave without losing income you need.
Receptionist or physio first?
- If you are full of patients and turning people away, a second physio adds capacity and income.
- If you are drowning in calls and admin, a receptionist (even part-time or virtual) frees your time for more patients.
Many practices automate first, with online booking, reminders and an AI receptionist, and then hire a physio. See handling calls.
Do the numbers
A second physio needs a room, a caseload and a fair arrangement, often a percentage of fees. A receptionist is a fixed wage. Work out how many extra patient visits each hire needs to pay for itself.
Set up before they start
- Systems written down, so they can follow them.
- Their own login with only the access their role needs.
- Their own column in the diary and online booking.
- A plan for their first patients: referrals, waiting list, your overflow.
See staff timesheets and leave for rosters and hours.
Start small
A part-time receptionist or a physio two days a week is a gentler start than a full-time hire.
Before hiring, make sure the solo setup is working. See running a solo practice and managing your patient load.
Frequently asked questions
When should a solo physio hire help?
When you are regularly turning patients away, missing calls, or spending many hours a week on admin.
Should I hire a receptionist or another physio first?
A physio if you have more patients than time; a receptionist if admin and calls are the bottleneck.
Can software replace a receptionist?
Partly. Online booking, reminders and an AI receptionist handle much of the work, but some practices still benefit from a person.