WebPT Blog - Horizons Physical Therapy
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6 CommentsMar 5, 2012| Lindsay Bayuk
Today we're posting Part II of our interview with WebPT member, Christine Wood, PT, DPT of Waynesboro, VA. If you'd like to start with Part I, you can check it out here. Thanks Christine!Tell us about the ugly side of starting a clinic and what you’ve learned.
Everything to do with marketing has been ugly. It’s mind-boggling how people don’t understand the things that they themselves are supposed to be the experts in. One of the first things I tried to do was a yellow pages advertisement. Their representative sent a rough draft for me to mark up with changes. The draft was way off base so I created my own and sent it back immediately. Shortly after, I received the original draft, without a single change, for my approval. Three times they did this before finally using the version I sent the first time. I once tried to put a sign on a restaurant marquee. The restaurant remodeled and moved the sign into their back office. It’s been one crazy thing after another.
What did I take from this? Write down everything. Don’t assume anything. Make sure you know who you talked to, what they said, etc. And follow up. I hate to micromanage the experts I am hiring to take care of me—why hire them if you have to do it yourself, right? When you're starting a business you don't have time for every little thing but it’s well worth your time to take a peak at what your advertising people are doing. At the moment, I'm plenty busy and I don’t advertise.
If you could do one thing differently what would it be?
I don’t think I would do anything different. I think everything is happening perfectly for me. I almost went with a different location, so if I had, my answers might be completely different. Overall, I am very pleased.
What’s been the most rewarding part of owning your own business?
I can spend the time I need with my patients to get them better. Before opening Horizons I was tired of people telling me I needed to be more productive, telling me how to treat, how long to spend, etc. The bottom line is important, yes, but it’s not the most important thing. The most important thing for me is getting people healthy and well again. That’s the main reason that I started my own clinic. Oh, I may not make a million dollars, but I can't imagine having more job satisfaction and peace of mind.
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Mar 1, 2012| Lindsay BayukToday we kick off a month-long series for physical therapists about how to start a clinic. We know that many therapists either dream of starting their own practice or want to become even better business owners. Over the next month, we'll share with you interviews, tips, and tricks about being a therapist entrepreneur. Today we're excited to share Part I of our interview with WebPT member, Christine Wood, PT, DPT of Waynesboro, VA. Thanks to Christine for her time and advice.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your practice, location, and years in business.
As of this February I have been in business for one year. I've known for some time that since Waynesboro, VA had only one physical therapy clinic, there was a definite market need. I originally considered opening a clinic seven years ago but decided to have a child instead. I spent the next five years being a mom and working PRN and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to do those things. Last year though, my little girl started kindergarten, so I decided the time was right to move ahead. I’m very blessed to be here. I’ve been a therapist for20 years and opening my own clinic is a long-time dream come true!
Tell us something we wouldn’t know. This can be an interesting fact, a fun anecdote or even a more formal piece of information about starting a PT clinic.
Something funny? Thinking for a little while early on that I could have a child and start a business at the same time. That was funny! I'm so glad I did it the way we did though.
Christine Wood, entrepreneur, Horizons Physical Therapy, how to start a pt clinic, interview, start your own clinic
