Last Updated Oct 2012
Ever wonder how some clinics add new locations and obtain continuous growth while others stay stagnant through the years? Operating a successful physical therapy clinic takes more than excellent clinical skills. It also takes an ability to differentiate your services from the competition.
Here are a few things you can do to help your clinic stand out from others in your area:
1. Define Your Unique Services. Physical therapy clinic owners must determine ways to set their business apart from others in the marketplace. It’s important to really take the time to hone in on areas that your clinic specializes in. Don’t try to be everything to everybody. Instead, take the time to define a niche that your clinic specializes. Ask for customer feedback and testimonials. Your customers may help you find an area that really sets your clinic apart from others in the area. Promote these services in your advertising, marketing and communication materials.
2. Get Involved in Your Community. One common factor you’ll find in successful clinics is their commitment to their local community. Set your clinic apart by taking the time to become an active participant in your local community. Sponsor local running events or work as volunteers at one of the water stations. Participate in local wellness and fitness workshops. Consider offering occasional educational seminars and informative sessions to the general public about fitness and how physical therapists can help non-active individuals get back on track. If you’re a writer, consider writing occasional physical therapy articles for the local newspaper.
3. Invest in Continuing Education for Physical Therapists. Another way to differentiate your physical therapy clinic from others is to provide clinicians with top-notch educational opportunities. Vice President and partner of STAR Physical Therapy, Dave Landers stresses the importance of providing outstanding educational opportunities to clinicians. STAR Physical Therapy offers 12 different therapy continuing education courses to their clinicians and unique credential tracks to their physical therapists. They recently had 19 clinicians take the McKenzie exam and are proud to lead the nation with physical therapists certified in the McKenzie Method.
4. Exceed Customer Expectations. Really strive to go above and beyond your customer’s expectations. Provide a welcoming environment for customers from the moment they step inside your clinic. Limit customer wait times so your clients know you value their time. Provide access to educational information on your therapy website or with patient handouts. Have physical therapy supplies on hand for customers to purchase instead of sending them to a website or having them call a physical therapy equipment supplier.
Setting your clinic apart from others in your area can help you gain more referrals from both patients and physicians. Use social media, postcards or e-mail to stay in touch with old patients to keep them up-to-date on events and changes at your facility. Promote your unique services and strive to exceed your client’s expectations and your physical therapy clinic will be on the path to greater success.
Get more tips for standing out from the competition in a PT Talker podcast with Dave Landers, Vice President and partner of STAR Physical Therapy. He recently shared his secrets of success with PT Talker.
Click here for more information on PT Talker.
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