Striving to serve against all odds
After working in outpatient physical therapy clinics for 8 years, I joined with the growing opinion that physical therapists should own PT clinics. However, after the fallout from 9/11, lending institutions were wary of new businesses, and hesitant to loan money to fund start up businesses. 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. In Texas as in most states, physician referral is required for treatment in a physical therapy clinic. Therefore, business volume in physical therapy is subject to physician influence, preference, knowledge and subjectivity. 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. Also, insurance regulation and requirements as well as state law and governance are yet other roadblocks to beginning a business as one must comply with regulations governing physical therapy practice. Nonetheless, I secured an SBA loan in November of 2004, and opened our doors in December 2005. I actually began preparing physicians in advance of our opening about 6 months prior by cold calling and handing our brochures. This was met with skepticism and doubt and many pointed out that there were already 3-4 existing PT clinics in Flower Mound, Texas. 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. 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. By the end of 2006 we were averaging 15 patients a day with over 540 referrals for the year. 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. 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. 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. 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. Our patients' comments are available at www.jointsinmotionpt.com.
Don't give up. If you have a service that you can do better than anyone else, then go for it, despite what anyone says. You must fight through the inertia of starting the business, but it is well worth it once you've done it.
