Every other year, the Canadian Physiotherapy Association brings together physiotherapists, academics, researchers, business owners and students under the same roof. This year congress entitled Montreal 18 was cohosted by AQP, OPPQ and the CPA. During the three-day event, participants attend a wide range of sessions, hear an update on recent research, improve and learn about the latest trends in physiotherapy and business. As a participant and exhibitor this year, here are the top 4 take-aways.
1. Network – The Centre of all Activities
Your colleagues from across the country attend the Congress so what better way to expand your network than to attend and connect with those you otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet.
After all, your network is your net worth.
Your social capital, or your ability to build a network of authentic personal and professional relationships, is the most important asset in your portfolio.
This year the PPD hosted a special clinic owners meet-up to give the opportunity for the community to mix and mingle over a drink and some poutine. Special guest, Jimmy McKay from PT Pintcast hosted the event, and asked some raw, honest questions of a few brave participants including Karim Meghji.
2. Contribute to the conversation – What is the future of the profession
Following on the excitement of Dave Walton’s work with the PhysioMoves Canada project there continues to be a lot of conversation about the future of the profession and what’s in store since it is clear we lack a clear unified voice and brand for the profession.
Turns out Dave is an amazing auctioneer as well as a physiotherapist and academic.
3. Keep up to date with your area of practice
The Congress is a hub of information. Whether you are interested in business, ortho, oncology, pelvic health, global health, neurology, seniors health – and the list goes on – you can attend multiple sessions to satisfy your interests.
A theme that continues to come up at conferences in the past year and a half is that we’re spending too much time on yesterday’s problems and too little time changing the game.
Karim discussed with Jimmy during the clinic owners networking session the importance of a patient experience mindset as well as a positive financial mindset.
In Darryl Yardley’s eye opener session, he presented the 3M strategy – marketing, managing your practice and mechanical pain.
The session focused on how to grow the bottom line of any practice or clinic and dropped some knowledge bombs including:
- Get a mentor
- Measure patient experience metrics (KPIs)
- Engage your community and provide value – sometimes this means doing stuff for free too
- Drive your reputation and create campaigns to get Google and Facebook reviews
4. Have a big, hairy audacious goal (BHAG)
The keynote presentation by Bernard Petiot, the VP of Casting & Performance at the Cirque de Soleil, shared 3 key messages:
- Have an audacious mission
- Creators don’t think linearly: maintain the tension between different ways of thinking, be open-minded and manoeuvre at the edge of knowledge
- Be strongly committed to whatever you decide you want to do
Congress has passed and won’t be back until 2020, BUT there are many opportunities to learn from others and network. Even though we can’t meet face-to-face you can access a free replay of a webinar myself, Allan Macdonald and Tanja Yardley recently ran. These 2 are PROS when it comes to networking and building connections. This is your opportunity to ask them anything and start a conversation with the two leaders in our industry.
See you there!
