false 2009-02-13T11:50:28-08:00 <p>After working in outpatient physical therapy clinics for 8 years, I joined with the growing opinion that physical therapists should own PT clinics.&nbsp; However, after the fallout from 9/11, lending institutions were wary of new businesses, and hesitant to loan money to fund start up businesses.&nbsp; Not only did the financial environment not foster hope and promise in new businesses, the practice environment for physical therapists in Texas did not provide solid footing for starting a business.&nbsp; In Texas as in most states, physician referral is required for treatment in a physical therapy clinic.&nbsp; Therefore, business volume in physical therapy is subject to physician influence, preference, knowledge and subjectivity.&nbsp; Unless a physical therapists knows personally a physician or group of physicians, it is difficult to build a new clinic because patient volume must come from physician offices.&nbsp;Also,&nbsp;insurance regulation and requirements as well as state law and governance&nbsp;are yet&nbsp;other roadblocks to beginning a business as one must comply with&nbsp;regulations governing physical therapy practice.&nbsp;Nonetheless, I secured an SBA loan in November of 2004, and opened&nbsp;our doors in December 2005.&nbsp; I actually began preparing physicians in advance of our opening about 6 months prior by cold calling and handing our brochures.&nbsp; This was met with skepticism and doubt and many pointed out that there were already 3-4 existing PT clinics in Flower Mound, Texas.&nbsp; I stated that we rose above the norm in physical therapy, and were committed to personal, evidence-based care of the patients and our emphasis was in one-on-one attention in the clinic.&nbsp; With some trepidation, but great confidence in our plan, we saw an average of 2 patients a day the first month of January of 2006.&nbsp; By the end of 2006 we were averaging 15 patients a day with over 540 referrals for the year.&nbsp; By the end of 2007, we were averaging 25 patients a day, with over 640 referrals and by 2008, 32 patients a day, and over 800 referrals.&nbsp; I have had to add staff therapists, and front desk help, but I have had the fortune of hiring great people who love to work.&nbsp; That being said, we again are on pace to continue growth and will need to expand operations by 2010 at the end of the current lease.&nbsp; The grant would allow us to continue to meet the physical therapy needs of the local community and raise the level of standards of care in the area.&nbsp; Our patients&#39; comments are available at <a href="http://www.jointsinmotionpt.com">www.jointsinmotionpt.com</a>.</p> bIuwpEs1yqllvkab8P4pmk false true false 2009-02-13T11:50:31-08:00 0 true 0 false false false 1 Striving to serve against all odds 2009-11-07T13:43:46-08:00 arWrlCs1mqllvkab8P4pmk JIMPT 459 0 dY1Ghod6ZhRBWr3AL8abBw