Twenty-three. This was the daunting number of patients presented to me one Fall day at
my previous corporate clinic. I was still feeling the mental fatigue of the previous day’s
19 patients, with several still needing paperwork completed. Regardless, it was time to
buckle up and triage which people today were a high priority and which ones could be
directed to a technician.
Folks arrive two and three at a time each hour. The ones who are trending in the right
direction will go straight to see Dom, our PT technician. The patients who are truly
struggling will get a bit of hands-on therapy before then being transferred to Dom. Each
person who appeared was physically struggling in their way, and I craved to form a
connection with them in order to help them the most. My burning desire was to get to
know these people and understand them. Unfortunately, there was minimal time
allotted. This is the nature of the beast in the modern-day, triple-booking PT clinic. The
PT on-boarding orientation includes how to maximize insurance billing, and each patient
is expected to be seen 12-15 times before discharge, no matter the condition. Quarterly
check-ins revolve around spreadsheets of metrics and required productivity quotas.
Seeing 20+ patients in a day is commonplace and a strategy aimed at maximizing
profits but ultimately resulting in subpar care.
I was following the model deemed the best path from those in academia: Doctorate,
residency, then board-certification. With these three completed, my next step was to
operate my own corporate clinic as a director. Surely I could be a ripple of compassion
and change within this company. The next 9 months were eye-opening; peering into the
world with so many outside investors and traders having a hand in the pot. Every large,
regional meeting I went to focused on which branch was the most profitable or could
payout the most dividends for private investors.
Patient outcomes were never presented, patient stories were never told. Victories of
how patients had avoided surgery or ran for the first time in years carried no weight and
weren’t a factor in which clinics operated the best. Signing more investors, amassing
more clinics, and planning to go public were the highest priorities.
After years of adhering to this mode, I decided to break away and start my own PT
practice; fueled by a burning desire to reject the status quo and prioritize the excellence
I knew patients deserved. About a year into my journey, I crossed paths with Spencer
and Courtney at Revive Spine and Sport. They also had a 5-year-old daughter and
voiced the same sentiments which sparked us to each start our practices. Over the next
few months, we would share patient cases, discuss what our kids were getting into, and
talk about our aspirations for transforming the PT landscape. Spencer’s notable words
“We are here to force change” have become our mantra. Naturally, our families’
connection and common goals to radically change healthcare prompted us to team
together.
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
I am proud to be a part of a team that prioritizes patient outcomes above all else and
creates time in the appointment to make a connection with the person in front of us. We
are pioneers in the field of healthcare – one where top-notch PT care is non-negotiable.
If you have seen multiple doctors, have been dealing with an injury long-term, or feel
you have received subpar care – we have helped so many people with these stories.
We set aside time each day for phone calls to discuss what you’re dealing with and the
best solutions to help. Whether you've seen multiple doctors, have been dealing with a
persistent injury, or feel you haven't received the care you deserve, we're here to help.
Please reach out to us for a call, or share our information with a family member or friend
who could benefit from our expertise.
