Should I be tipping at this "therapy and conditioning" location?
November 7, 2022 4:30 AM Subscribe
I wouldn't tip a medical provider, which is what I meant to see. But this location has mixed purposes that are throwing me off.
My shoulder has been hurting on and off for months, and it recently got worse. I selected a physical therapist from my health insurer's provider directory, and got an order from an NP (because my PCP left their practice). With this order, my insurance covers the PT, and I have a $20 co-pay. The person I'm seeing (along with her intern) is listed as "Doctor of Physical Therapy, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, Certified Sports Yoga Coach, Owner." So far, that all points pretty clearly (I think) to "no tip."
But, this is the place. Unlike when I had PT once before, at a hospital complex, it looks like a gym. It offers massages and personal training along with PT. My visits have been very long, and while they've been shoulder-focused so far, I think they'll end up helping beyond just my shoulder. When I arrive, I tap a Square terminal for my co-pay, and the screen shows tipping options. I've been tapping "No tip."
I've gone for two sessions so far, and I think I'll be going 1-2x/week for a number more weeks.
- Session 1 was an intake. I was there about 90 minutes. The physical therapist asked a bunch of health-related intake questions, and felt/rubbed my shoulder without it being a full massage.
- For session 2, I was there nearly 2.5 hours. I was coached through some exercises by the physical therapist and her intern while they were also switching off to coach other individuals. It was a total of 30-45 min of actual activity, interspersed with instruction and some waiting. Then, after I lay on a spiky half round thing for a while, the physical therapist thoroughly massaged my shoulder. I was given some homework exercises to do.
Both times, I was there a lot longer than the activities involved would have to take if it were efficient, but on the other hand, it is great not to be rushed.
Is a tip called for? I'd think not, both because it's meant to be medical and because the person I'm seeing is listed as Owner. But the private-pay services, the gym atmosphere, and the tipping prompts on the terminal have me wanting to double-check. If I should be tipping, would I base the amount on some percentage of the private-pay rates they list on their website vs. just on my co-pay? And would I chip in some more to cover the two sessions I've already had without tipping?
My shoulder has been hurting on and off for months, and it recently got worse. I selected a physical therapist from my health insurer's provider directory, and got an order from an NP (because my PCP left their practice). With this order, my insurance covers the PT, and I have a $20 co-pay. The person I'm seeing (along with her intern) is listed as "Doctor of Physical Therapy, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, Certified Sports Yoga Coach, Owner." So far, that all points pretty clearly (I think) to "no tip."
But, this is the place. Unlike when I had PT once before, at a hospital complex, it looks like a gym. It offers massages and personal training along with PT. My visits have been very long, and while they've been shoulder-focused so far, I think they'll end up helping beyond just my shoulder. When I arrive, I tap a Square terminal for my co-pay, and the screen shows tipping options. I've been tapping "No tip."
I've gone for two sessions so far, and I think I'll be going 1-2x/week for a number more weeks.
- Session 1 was an intake. I was there about 90 minutes. The physical therapist asked a bunch of health-related intake questions, and felt/rubbed my shoulder without it being a full massage.
- For session 2, I was there nearly 2.5 hours. I was coached through some exercises by the physical therapist and her intern while they were also switching off to coach other individuals. It was a total of 30-45 min of actual activity, interspersed with instruction and some waiting. Then, after I lay on a spiky half round thing for a while, the physical therapist thoroughly massaged my shoulder. I was given some homework exercises to do.
Both times, I was there a lot longer than the activities involved would have to take if it were efficient, but on the other hand, it is great not to be rushed.
Is a tip called for? I'd think not, both because it's meant to be medical and because the person I'm seeing is listed as Owner. But the private-pay services, the gym atmosphere, and the tipping prompts on the terminal have me wanting to double-check. If I should be tipping, would I base the amount on some percentage of the private-pay rates they list on their website vs. just on my co-pay? And would I chip in some more to cover the two sessions I've already had without tipping?
I would not tip in this situation. In my area, the code of ethics would prohibit the therapist receiving tips.
A lot of physical therapists will rent space at a facility like this, because opening your own brick-and-mortar PT studio is prohibitively expensive. The facility likes it because after PT is over, many of the patients continue on as clients of the gym.
It's also quite possible that the facility just uses a generic Square terminal intended for restaurants, without modifying the tipping options (either innocently, or because they know they'll get more money this way). If you do tip, the money will be going to whoever owns the studio, not to your therapist.
posted by basalganglia at 4:50 AM on November 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
A lot of physical therapists will rent space at a facility like this, because opening your own brick-and-mortar PT studio is prohibitively expensive. The facility likes it because after PT is over, many of the patients continue on as clients of the gym.
It's also quite possible that the facility just uses a generic Square terminal intended for restaurants, without modifying the tipping options (either innocently, or because they know they'll get more money this way). If you do tip, the money will be going to whoever owns the studio, not to your therapist.
posted by basalganglia at 4:50 AM on November 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
Do not tip medical professionals.
posted by jacquilynne at 4:56 AM on November 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 4:56 AM on November 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
This sounds like a medical service and I would act accordingly - no tip.
posted by Stacey at 4:59 AM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Stacey at 4:59 AM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
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