We have started taking annual survey of National Academy of Osteopathy graduates of the diploma in osteopathic manual practice program. Here are some highlights of the survey done on our Canadian alumni in 2015:
Average age of NAO graduates (2015) in Canada:
25% are 18 to 30
37.5% are 31 to 40
25% are 41 to 50
12.5% are over 50 years old.
Gender:
37.50% are females
62.50% are males
Type of Employment
61.5% of NAO graduates in 2015 were self employed, working
in their own clinics. 30.80% were employed by others.
Type of Practice
66.7% worked in a multidisciplinary clinic. 11.1% worked
in a medical office.
Practice Name
88.9% considered where they work a private health clinic.
22.2% also considered their workplace a wellness center.
Osteopathic Techniques
100% of NAO graduates used osteopathic osteoarticular joint
mobilization technique and muscles energy techniques. 77.8% used osteopathic
soft tissue therapy. 44.4% used cranial osteopathy and visceral manipulation.
22.2% used positional facilitated release technique & lymphatic drainage.
11.1% used still’s technique, strain/counterstrain, manual mechanotherapy,
balanced ligamentous tension technique, and others.
Osteopathic Diagnosis
100% of NAO graduates used palpation in 2015. 77.8% used static joint
plan and mobility testing.
Previous Health Background
55.6% of NAO graduates did not have previous health education
background when they started osteopathic education. 44.4% were health professionals in other fields such as massage
therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic, kinesiology, athletic therapy and
medicine.
Other Services
11.1% of NAO graduated manual osteopaths in 2015 also
offered acupuncture services and weight loss program. 22.2% offered exercise
program and kinesiology taping.
Working With Other Health Professionals
In 2015, NAO graduates worked as manual osteopaths alongside
of a number of health professionals in the same location including, a family
physician (11.1%), physiotherapist (33.3%), massage therapist (77.8%), chiropractor
(22.2%), homeopath (11.1%), athletic therapist (11.1%), & naturopath
(22.2%).
Hourly Fees
56.5% of NAO graduates in 2015 charged $81 to $100 per hour
for one hour of osteopathic care.
Annual Income
11.1% of Canadian NAO graduates in 2015 had annual gross income
of over $150,000. 11.1% had annual gross income of $100,000 to $149,999. 33.3%
had annual gross income of $90,000 to $99,999. 22.2% had annual gross income of
$80,000 to $89,999.
Clinic Expenses: Rent
75% paid rents of lower than $1000 per month.
Clinic Expenses: Malpractice Insurance
50% of NAO graduates paid $100 to $500 per year for
malpractice insurance.
Clinic Expenses: Association Membership
75% of NAO graduates in 2015 paid between $100 to $500 for
association membership.
Patient Increase
33.3% of NAO graduates in 2015 who had prior health
education before starting osteopathic education (such as massage therapists, physiotherapists, athletic therapists
& chiropractors) saw an increase of 20 to 30 more patient visits per week
after they become manual osteopaths. 33.3% saw an increase of 6 to 10 more patient
visits per week after offering osteopathic services in their clinics.
Income Increase
100% of NAO graduates in 2015 (with previous health
education) reported that their annual gross income has increased after they started
offering osteopathy in their clinics.
Annual Income Increase
33.3% of NAO
graduates with previous health background prior to starting osteopathic education (such as massage therapists,
physiotherapists and chiropractors) reported an annual increase of 31 to 40% in
their annual gross income after they started offering osteopathy.
33.3% of NAO graduates with previous health education reported
an increase of 21 to 30% in their annual income.
Retail
22.2% of NAO graduates sold retail items in their clinics
(such as nutritional supplements, support hose, orthotics, etc).
Clinic Income: Insurance
44.4% of NAO graduates in Canada received (in 2015) 61 to
100% of their annual income from extended health plan insurers (private health
plans).
Clinic Income: Cash
33.3% of NAO graduates in Canada received (in 2015) 91 to
100% of their annual gross income from cash patients.
Clinic Income: MVA
22.2% of NAO graduates in Canada in 2015 received 11 to 30%
of their annual income from motor vehicle accident insurers.
Overall Satisfaction With Osteopathy
88.8% of NAO graduates in Canada were completely satisfied
(5 out of 5), while 11.1% were very satisfied (4 out of 5) with their career as manual osteopaths. 100% of alumni surveyed were happy with their choice to
become manual osteopaths.
Overall Satisfaction With National Academy of Osteopathy
93.8% of Canadian NAO graduates in 2015 were happy with the
osteopathic education they received at NAO.
Referral to NAO
98.2% of NAO graduates would refer NAO to others who wish to
study manual osteopathy.
