Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Elizabeth Akincilar, co-founder of Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center, located in Merrimack, NH, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a multi-center outpatient physical therapy company in California and New England specializing in treating adults and children with pelvic health concerns. We successfully treat pelvic pain syndromes such as vulvodynia and painful bladder syndrome, neuropathic pelvic pain such as pudendal neuralgia, and urinary, bowel, and sexual dysfunction.
We work with a wide referral network of physicians and other medical providers, but many people find us on their own. Many people suffering from pelvic floor disorders struggle to find providers that understand what they are going through, let alone provide successful treatment. The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center fills that gap. We are leaders in the field of pelvic health, so we not only understand what our patients are going through, we can help them resolve their pain and reach their functional goals.
Tell us about yourself
Those suffering from pelvic health issues are severely underserved in our medical community. Unfortunately, very few medical providers specialize in treating this patient population. My co-founder and I wanted to start this practice to fill that gap. We wanted to create a practice in which people suffering from pelvic pain or dysfunction could find the best physical therapy care possible to help them resolve their pain and reach their functional goals.
Additionally, we wanted to create a company that provided a unique educational platform and ongoing mentorship for our clinical staff. We believe that our clinical staff should be provided with all the resources necessary to become excellent pelvic floor physical therapists. We provide a comprehensive, paid training program for all new clinical staff and ongoing weekly mentorship for all of our staff for the duration of their employment. Lastly, we are equally committed to educating the community about pelvic health through our publications, educational courses, and social media platforms.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I have had the privilege of working with the Jackson Clinics Foundation, Africa Project. We have brought pelvic health education to physical therapists in Kenya. We are part of a team that teaches a three-part series of pelvic health education and mentoring to physical therapists in Nairobi, Kenya. Spreading knowledge and awareness of pelvic health conditions to a part of the world that is in such great need of these services has been an honor.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As physical therapists, we learn how to be clinicians. We do not learn how to run a business, manage people, or market our services. The greatest challenge was and continues to be, managing our staff. As a small business, it's very difficult to give our employees what they need and what they deserve from a financial perspective.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Be prepared to work a lot. Invest in learning how to manage people. Enjoy your successes, no matter how big or small, and don't dwell on your mistakes and disappointments because, unfortunately, there will be many, especially in the beginning.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Having locations in 3 geographical areas (San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California, and New England) but functioning as one team has been a challenge. I am proud to say we do well. We have bi-monthly staff meetings where we all come together virtually to announce new developments within the company, discuss and troubleshoot challenges, and provide ongoing education about pelvic health.
The clinical team readily communicates with one another throughout the day via a PHRC clinical chat room to take advantage of the vast knowledge we have as a group to serve our patients better. Our administrative team functions similarly with bi-monthly meetings and regular communication via a PHRC admin chat room to support each other's needs and best serve our patients.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: http://pelvicpainrehab.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pelvicpainphysicaltherapy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pelvichealth/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PelvicHealth
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3PFjtnB
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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