The Ins and Outs Of Successful Physical Therapist’s Private Practices

The Ins & Outs Of Successful Physical Therapist’s Private Practices

Private Practice for the Physical Therapist can seem overwhelming and challenging. There’s the business plan, the continuous marketing and insurance billing, and long hours. Many physical therapists are well-trained in their trade but not on the business side. Here are some simple steps to initiate your own private practice and learn about the ups and downs from the successful pros.

Steps to take to initiate a private practice:

• Figure out WHY you want to have a private practice. As an owner of a successful private practice, Chris Chorak, PT, Owner/Founder of Presidio Sport & Medicine in San Francisco and co-creator of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team-In-Training Triathlon program, spends about 25% of her time actually treating patients. The majority of the time is spent marketing, managing the staff, staying up-to-date with new regulations, and taking care of the business.

• Know that you have something special to offer, as you have to differentiate yourself to succeed, informs Ann Duffy, MA, PT, owner of Duffy & Bracken Physical Therapy located in the Financial District of New York City.

• Duffy also recommends knowing your target population: What area are you located in? What is needed and wanted by the public? Are there other physical therapists already present?

• Chorak advises to join the American Physical Therapy Association and join their private practice section to get valuable and necessary tools.

Recommended Personality Traits:

• Strength and Confidence are a must, affirms Chorak. Focus on what you do best and put your self out there! You will need to love to talk about your clinic/practice in order to market your self to the top.

• Hard-working and Creativity are key, asserts Duffy. Being able to delegate work to others to grow your business and thinking outside of the box are essential. Passion can help create that special place in order to deliver all the potential one has.

Positive aspects of private practice:

• Both Duffy and Chorak emphasize Empowerment. Empowering their staff by providing bonuses and further education is extremely rewarding.

• Creating an environment where people can receive excellent care is a huge plus with Duffy.

• Client satisfaction is number one with Chorak. “I love when people come back and talk about a great experience they had with a staff member they dealt with.”

Challenging aspects of private practice:

• Insurance! Duffy explains the challenges dealing with low-paying insurance companies and the huge amount of paperwork. Some insurance companies do “retroactive reviews” which requires the PT to give the money back after performing the treatment. Understand your insurance policies/procedures and stay on top of all changes.

• Staffing! Chorak describes the importance of finding the right team of staff members that are able to take your vision, follow it, and help grow your practice.

Making a difference in people’s lives is what drives both Chorak and Duffy to run their successful private practices. “I meet the coolest people on the planet and every person over 50 gives me free tips on how to run my business and age gracefully,” informs Chorak. “Everyday we take away pain, sometimes pain that a person has been living with for years. We give people hope and direction so they can get better,” states Duffy. This is what drives their success. Now it’s time to find yours. Jump in and get that practice started.

Recommended reading materials/CEU courses:

• Esterson, Samuel. Starting and Managing Your Own Physical Therapy Practice.  2004.
• Nicholson, Sheila. Physical Therapist’s Business Practice and Legal Guide.2007.
• Chhoda, Nitin & Gulrajani, Ritika. Marketing for Phsycial Therapy Clinics:  Physical Therapy Private Practice Guru Reveals Insider Secrets for Physical Therapy Business Success (Volume 2). 2009.
• Independence and Freedom for PT/OT’s. Private Practice Secrets Course: CEU Learning Course. IndieFree Association. 2011.

Recommended websites:

• American Physical Therapy Association: http://www.apta.org/.
  Become a member and join the Private Practice Section to get a plethora of resources.
• Your local Small Business Association: www.sba.gov.

Fitness Career Spotlight: Ruth Seilheimer, Dipl. Sportwissenschaftlerin (Graduate Sports Scientist)

Meet Ruth Seilheimer, another team member from the international company, Athletes and Core Performance. Find out how she has combined her expertise of sports science with computer technology.

Sarah Koszyk: What attracted you to the field of fitness and exercise?
Ruth Seilheimer: Ever since I was a child, fitness played a major role within my life. Starting with numerous sport activities such as gymnastics, soccer and basketball just to name a few, I was looking to transfer my skills early recognized into my profession. Not only the fun-side of fitness but particular the complexity of the human body with its anatomy and physiology led to the decision to take up the studies of sport science. How to train the body effectively to reach fitness goals and retain, but also to find out ways of rehabilitation in case of injury – alike `Within a healthy body lives a healthy mind’.

Your Job Title?
Performance Specialist Manager.  Manager of the Core Performance Center.

Company you are with now?
Core Performance

Website:
 www.coreperformance.com

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you.
A typical day starts ‘Early Birds’ like at 7:30 am – arriving to prepare the gym for the employees. Individual classes commence at 8 – 9 am with clear focus set on posture, correct movements, core stability and improvement of mobility. Living within the world of interactive communication plays a major role too – with constant life updates on Core Performance activities i.e. running charity events by collecting credits for gym sessions, organizing health events such as “Eat and Stay Healthy” and many more. In the period from 11 am – 1 pm I am running personal evaluations by utilizing tests such as the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and a VO2 Testing to create an individual workout plans. Lunch break – best place to be is the canteen. With our gym opened just recently, it is the easiest way to ‘meet and great’ the employees. The Core Performance Headquarters is being located in the States, so 3 – 5 pm is the best time to meet with people via video conference to discuss ongoing development of sports programs and interactive health checks. But also lead specific classes for special interests upon request i.e. kettlebell workouts, triathlon, marathon, skiing preparing sessions,… to say it´s a day full of diversity, interactive communication and in the end … fun and friendship.

How did you get your current job in fitness and exercise?
After graduating from university I gained 6 years of practical experience in a rehabilitation center in Cologne as a sports therapist. Always searching to broaden my knowledge and fields of expertise, I accepted a four month internship with Athletes’ Performance (AP) in Phoenix, AZ. While with AP, I enjoyed learning about new methodologies and technologies the performance specialists are successfully using abroad – especially the aspects of functional training and testing. During the following years I stayed in contact with AP and when Mark Verstegen, the founder of Athletes’ and Core Performance, asked me to run the Core Performance Center at the office here in Hamburg, I had to say ‘yes’ as it meant a great opportunity for my career and my personal development.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
I always have been a very curious person and eager to learn and explore new things. Probably that has driven my passion beyond boundaries to get in contact with so many great people around the world opening chances to work within amazing workplaces and therefore forming my career naturally.

On the other hand I think I am kind of conservative and sometimes struggle to adjust to things that change too quickly. At the office to begin with I felt a little lost being thrown into a new world consisting of laptops, smart phones and social media networks. But now, after 5 months, I really enjoy working with my Mac book and using all the tools and gadgets.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
Be open minded! Enjoy what you are doing! Just be yourself!

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?
A guarantee to stay healthy whilst growing old allowing myself to live an active and fulfilled life – that´s my biggest wish.

Fitness Career Spotlight: David Delgado

Meet David Delgado from Core Performance who finds balance in training athletes to working behind the scenes in training staff and maintaining business operations.

What attracted you to the field of fitness and exercise?
I grew up playing sports and always had an interest on how the body worked. When my youngest sister went to physical therapy, I was exposed to the kinesiology field. This sparked my interest in helping people through training.

Your Job Title?
Operations Specialist/Performance Specialist

Company you are with now?
Core Performance

A typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you?
My job requires me to support maintenance and troubleshoot at all Core Performance locations, purchase all of the equipment (soft goods), participate in staff training, and acclimate new staff to our methodology. Day-to-day activities change based on the site I’m working at. At one of our sites, I would check the workouts to make sure they’re current, and then coach clients for several hours. On any given day, I might lead group training, work with individual clients, administer performance evaluations (including the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and VO2 assessments), and help with goal setting.

How did you get your current job in fitness and exercise?
I started out as an intern at Core Performance. At the end of my internship, I was offered part-time work until I finished school. After graduation, I became a full-time employee. I’ve now been working with Core Performance for four years.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
I’ve always had a passion for helping others, and I’m detail-oriented. This job allows me to use my skills to help clients, while also working on daily tasks behind the scenes.
Along the way, I’ve developed business-related skills, including understanding the purchasing process and learning how to educate others (training).

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
Everything you do will get noticed. Do as much as possible, even if it’s the smallest thing.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?
Shoes. I love shoes

Fitness Career Spotlight: Teigh McDonough Gilson, Yoga Booty Goddess

Meet Teigh McDonough, happily dancing her way into fitness success.

What attracted you to the field of fitness and exercise?
I have always loved dance, yoga and fitness and it has always been a part of my life. I also LOVE teaching and have continued to do so for over 20 years!

Your Job Title?
Founder/Owner of SWERVE.

Website:
www.swervestudio.com

Company you are with now?
SWERVE/Goddess In Training

What is a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you?
Have a private training session with someone, teach a Yoga Booty Ballet class. Work on marketing for SWERVE, go to the park with my kids!

How did you get your current job in fitness and exercise?
Through a lot of sweat, hard work and a credit card to start the business.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
I have always been an athlete but through practice and study I have learned specific areas I like to teach; yoga, dance, meditation.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
Take risks, work hard and enjoy what you are doing!

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?
A great meal and a massage!

Maintaining Professionalism: How To Stay Ahead Of The Game

Getting the job and the clientele is just the beginning. Once you get your name out there, you have to maintain that foot in the door. Here are some quick tips to keep your professionalism, keep your clients, and stay ahead of the game with your business.

Track Their Progress. People like to feel cared for. In our line of work, we are constantly motivating clients to push harder or try more. Showing our clients that their hard work is paying off is important. Once you get the clients, make sure to set up a system where you keep track of and monitor your clients’ successes. For example, you can take base measurements for weight, waist circumference, or stamina (i.e. # of pushups in 1 minute). Next, make sure to track those changes as time goes on so the client can see improvements achieved.

Maintain Your Professionalism. One of the biggest complaints I hear from clients is that they’ve had trainers who are flaky or cancel appointments last minute. Yet, the client always needs to give the trainer 24 hours notice when re-scheduling his/her appointment. This is the biggest mistake in the industry. Stop being a flake. The true super-star trainers, who have successful businesses and life-long clients, are those trainers who are always on time, do not cancel appointments, and give their clients enough lead time when a vacation will take place. Provide your clients with at least 2 weeks’ notice when needing to reschedule their set appointments (especially if you know a vacation is coming up).

Follow Up and Follow Through. We all know that we only get paid for the actual time spent working with our clients. However, there’s a lot of non-paid time spent on marketing. To keep that consistent flow of correspondence, allot at least 1 hour each day to respond to emails, voicemails, and all other social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc). This way, if a new client calls or sends an email, you respond within 24 hours and close that deal. I treat this daily marketing hour like an appointment in my calendar, so I know it happens. Responding to an email/voicemail within 24 hours is key to growing your business and not losing that client to someone else.

Remember: tracking, professionalism, and follow-through are three keys to your successful growth of your business.

Fitness Career Spotlight: Shelby Corkern Jacquez, Certified Personal Trainer

Finding passion in your profession is key to Shelby Corkern Jacquez’s success as a personal trainer. Read on to learn how to make a living doing what you love.

What attracted you to the field of fitness and exercise?
Someone once told me that I should not make my passion my profession… I thought about that advice for one small second and I did the opposite. I followed my heart and turned my passion into my profession.  I am happy to say that 11 professional years later, health, fitness and holistic living are the cornerstones of my vitality.
 
My attraction with fitness started at the age of 15. When I was 13, I auditioned for a competitive dance company. At 14 I received a full tuition scholarship. At 15 I nearly lost my scholarship because I was put on a 5 lb weight probation. The weight probation was a real mind (you know what), but it turned out to be very positive experience for me. The probation sparked me to hire Mr. Jim Ptack, my very 1st personal trainer. My experience with Jim was absolutely AWESOME! So at the age of 15, I fell in love with health and fitness, and at 33 the love affair is still going strong.

Your Job Title:
Personal Trainer

What company you are with now?
Independent contractor at Diakadi Body

Website:
www.diakadibody.com

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you.
– 5:30 wake up call
– 6:35 ride my bike to work
– 6:50 arrive to work
– 1st client at 7:00
– 2nd client at 8:00
– 9:30 ride my bike to dance
– 10:00-11:15 dance at O.D.C.
– 11:20 ride my bike to work
– 11:30 take a shower
– 11:50 eat
– 3rd client at 12:00
– 4th client at 1:00
– 2:00 – 5:00 Long break
* During break I may workout, go to pilates, and for sure EAT
– 5th client at 5:00
– 6th client at 6:00
– 6:05 ride my bike home
– 7:20 at home with my loving husband
– Phew

How did you get your current job in fitness and exercise?
I got a lucky break from an independent gym owner named Phil Chen. Phil was the owner of APEX health and fitness. APEX was a small one on one personal training studio in San Francisco. Phil hired me to be his personal assistant. He paid me next to nothing in return I was allowed to shadow him training each and everyone of his clients. After 4 months of taking notes and paying close attention, he gave me my very 1st client. Again I was very lucky to find Phil, he gave me a very rare opportunity. Thank you Phil!

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
I suppose I was born with the skill of movement. I dance effortlessly, I have rhythm and hear music quite well! I was also born with a strong work ethic, Along the way I trained myself to became psychically strong. Snowboarding, running, kick boxing, swimming, biking, yoga and Pilates are all art forms in which I have learned to achieve and excel.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
I guess for me I would say “make your passion your profession”.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?
Dance Classes and Winter lift tickets 100%

Fitness Career Spotlight: Nate Miyaki, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition

As a personal trainer, fitness writer, and fitness app designer, Nate Miyaki masters the diverse field of health and fitness by successfully optimizing all his endeavors.

What attracted you to the field of fitness and exercise?
The spandex, the women, the fortune, the fame etc… :).

I guess it was that I have been some kind of an athlete for most of my life: football, track, martial arts, pro wrestling and stunts (what, you’ve never heard of the Kamikaze Kid?), and natural bodybuilding (I don’t know if I would call that an athletic endeavor, more like a male beauty pageant, but nonetheless…)

I have had the fortunate opportunity to work under and learn from a variety of top-notch coaches. I experienced firsthand what type of an impact a good coach can have, not only on an athlete’s training and nutrition program, but their life in general.

I felt I had the right combination of science and practical experience to successfully transition into being one of those types of coaches. It seemed like a very rewarding career.

Plus: (1) I’m good at, but get bored with, crunching numbers and tasks of such nature. (2) White Goodman (Ben Stiller) from Dodgeball is my idol.

What is your Job Title?
True to the stereotypes of my heritage (Japanese and Irish) I am a workaholic and have 3 jobs in the industry:

1. I have my private training and nutrition consulting business.
2. I am a freelance fitness writer.
3. I am a consultant with a fitness start-up company — GainFitness — that has a fitness app and specializes in mobile workouts and program design (sort of like a digital personal trainer).

What company you are with now?
Nate Miyaki LLC (pretty cool huh?) http://natemiyaki.com/
GainFitness

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you.
Depends on the day, I really have two types of days.

On my in-gym days, I usually arrive at Diakadi Body Personal Training Studio (SF’s #1 training studio, gotta’ give love to the peeps who helped me along the way) at 6:30am. I train clients from 7-11am, workout myself around lunch, eat, check emails, get back going again around 3pm, and train clients until 6 or 7pm.

On days outside the studio, I usually work on content for my blog, an article for the magazine column I write for, or on whatever other project I’m pursuing (I finished my ebook, so right now I am currently working on formalizing my training and nutrition philosophies into a complete system).

Then, I might shoot into GainFitness to create content for their blog, work with their marketing team, or work on data analysis and crunching: i.e., working with their software team to transfer principles of physics, biomechanics, and exercise physiology into their computer algorithms. We’re nerds like that and geek out on that kind of stuff.

I think I have a slight case of A.D.D., and get bored easily, so this variety works well for me.

How did you get your current job in fitness and exercise?
Just like many Hollywood celebrities, I had to bribe people and sleep my way to the top. I’ll write a book about that some day. Nah…

Honestly, I’ve always just shared my passion for this game with everyone and anyone who was interested. And from there, I just took advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves along the way, at least the ones that felt right to me.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
I was raised in the small beach town of Half Moon Bay, CA. I never surfed, but I certainly adopted the laid-back, beach bum, be flexible like water, don’t take life too seriously-mentality. I think that has helped me naturally deal with people, and with the stresses of career pursuits and life in general.

Other than that, I have no special skills. I truly believe that passion for something can make up for any genetically or socially inherited advantages or skill sets.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
I think one of the keys to being happy in both your life and your career is authenticity. You have to make choices based on what you feel is right for YOU, not based on what anyone else thinks, or society deems, is the Right Way. In other words, don’t just do what you are SUPPOSED to do. Do what you WANT to do. You’ll have better stories to tell.

But in general, I don’t think people should take life advice from me. I’m one, weird, mixed-up dude.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?
I don’t know man? I’m a simple guy with simple pleasures. I’d certainly take a small, beachfront condo so I could live out the rest of my days with my beautiful, Hawaiian Queen.

Fitness Career Spotlight: Marjorie J. Albohm, MS, ATC President, National Athletic Trainers Asso.

From collegiate athlete to President of the National Athletic Trainers Association, Marjorie Albohm knows her field. Take a look at how this amazing woman helped pave the way for health care with female athletes.

Sarah Koszyk: What attracted you to the field of fitness and exercise?
Marjorie J. Albohm, MS, ATC President, National Athletic Trainers Association: As a collegiate athlete I experienced some routine injuries and no one was available to provide health care for the female athletes. There was an athletic trainer for the men’s teams but none for the women’s teams. I saw this as an unmet need and decided to pursue athletic training education to become a certified athletic trainer to fill this need.

Your Job Title:
President, National Athletic Trainers Association. That is a volunteer position. My full time job title is Director of Clinical Research and Fellowships for Ossur Americas.
http://www.nata.org

Company you are with now:
Ossur Americas

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you.
I travel to two or three different cities a week either speaking and representing the NATA or determining research sites and projects for prosthetic and bracing and support research for Ossur Americas.

How did you get your current job in fitness and exercise?
I believe each life and job experience builds to the next. My extensive experience in sports medicine and fitness enabled me to obtain my current positions. I have been involved in athletic training and the NATA for over 35 years and that experience enabled me to successfully be elected President.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
I believe skills are learned and developed. I believe my strengths are organizational skills and having the ability to develop a big picture view of things and vision. Leadership is extremely important in my opinion and I have studied various authors and experts on this topic. One of the skills I value the most is being a lifetime learner. I learn something new every day and that excites me!

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
Have passion for what you’re doing. Be a listener – learning from others is so important. Be organized and have a strong work ethic. Go out and find out what excites you and truly follow that dream.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?
I receive so much more than a paycheck in my current positions. Respect and honored and valued as a person and a professional.

Fitness Career Spotlight: Jim White RD, ACSM HFS, AND Spokesman

Interested in combining personal training and nutrition? Read on to find out how Jim White, RD, ACSM HFS, AND Spokesman, has successfully married the best of both worlds.

What attracted you to the field of fitness and exercise?
I love helping people and have a passion for fitness. Those two combined attracted me to the fitness and exercise field.

What’s your Job Title and Company?
Jim White Fitness & Nutrition Studios – Gym Owner, Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer
http://www.jimwhitefit.com

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you.
12 hour work day which includes personal training, nutrition consulting, managing 16 employees, business meetings, spokesman work, advertising etc.

How did you get your current job in fitness and exercise?
Created my business from the ground up with $400 to my name.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
Born with energy, motivation, vision, and skills picked up wisdom, multitasking, training.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
Establish your dream, formulate a vision on how that dream can become a reality, work hard, expect the unexpected, and never give up.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?
A thank you from a satisfied customer who has changed their life with my assistance.

Boot Camp Bonanza: Finding Fitness In The Outdoors

Boot camps are hot tickets to fantastic & profitable workouts for the masses. Through boot camps, clients can get that extra push from not only the trainers but from their peers, too. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of having an outdoor boot camp.

Benefits Of Banging It Up Outside:
• Jennifer Pattee, owner/founder of Basic Training, San Francisco’s Best Boot Camp according to SF Weekly, 2011, states, “Our business model rocks – low overhead, low operating costs, and a very adaptable approach to service delivery. Plus, technology like cloud computing has made it easy for our staff to share knowledge and documents while working from different places.”
• Jan Alotte, owner/founder of Alotte Fitness, specializing in endurance athletes and weight loss clients, informs that the outdoors are stimulating and refreshing and you can change locations easily. When you use the outdoor environment, you instantly have diversity from the hills, stairs, grass, dirt, and pavement, to switch up the workout and provide clients with a variety of activities.
• Both Alotte & Pattee agreed upon the mental and spiritual benefits of being outside and enjoying the environment. Nature is priceless.

Challenges From The Elements:
• Depending on where you are located, having an outdoor boot camp may be difficult during trying weather conditions such as snow, rain, hail, and wind. Having an alternative plan when the elements arise is a must. Alotte recommends knowing where covered areas are such as a pavilion.
• A lot of people ask Pattee if she has class when it rains. Her trick for weathering the elements? “Waterproof mascara.”

Top Secret Tip To A Successful Boot Camp:
• Cross-promoting and cross-marketing increases future business. Alotte describes how she has increased her personal training clientele from her boot camp clients when they request more individualized care outside of the group setting.
• What makes Basic Training’s program different, explains Pattee, is fun. “Our workouts are tough, but we horse around a lot. Next thing you know, the hour is up, everybody’s laughing, and no one wants to leave. That’s when we know we’ve delivered a perfect class.”

Passion for your line of work is everything. Pattee expresses her love of her job as she states, “I spring out of bed every Monday to start work (usually at 5:00 AM). If you’re happy to be springing anywhere at 5:00 AM on a Monday, that’s pretty amazing.” Alotte gets motivated by her clients’ reaching their “a-ha” moments and increasing their endurance and stamina as time progresses. These factors are what she loves about her job.

Outdoor Boot Camps are a cost-effective, motivating way to increase your clients’ work-out experience while enjoying nature. Is it time to get your boot camp groove on?