Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ronit Sukenick, Founder of RS Physical Therapy, located in Dobbs Ferry, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a pelvic floor physical therapist and operate out of my business: RS Physical Therapy...soon to be renamed, rebranded, and expanded, so look out for that in the near future. I provide physical therapy to both men and women that have pelvic floor dysfunction resulting in symptoms such as urinary incontinence, pain with sex, constipation, childbirth injuries, sexual dysfunction, back pain, hip pain, pelvic pain, difficulty urinating, and/or who are recovering from pregnancy/childbirth or colorectal/urogynecological cancer.
Tell us about yourself
I started out as a physical therapist, mostly interested in things like post-stroke or traumatic brain injury recovery, and transitioned to specializing in pelvic health after my miserable pregnancy that resulted in a healthy baby boy but a broken mother. I separated my pubic symphysis in my pelvis, and it took a lot of rehabilitation to recover from it. I found it very difficult to find the help that I needed, mostly because there are very few people with the skills to help people with this type of injury. I took a lot of courses in pelvic health physical therapy and began the pelvic health rehab program at New York Presbyterian Hospital at Columbia. While working at the hospital, I started treating patients privately closer to my house, and that grew much faster than I anticipated. Eventually, I stopped working at the hospital so I could dedicate my time to my private practice full-time.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is probably the success of my patients - they have better lives because of the help I have provided them - whether that is the ability to jump on a trampoline without urinating on themselves or being able to have pain-free sex for the first time or being able to look after their newborn without pain. I think the things that pelvic floor physical therapy can help with are the most simple but also the most important to our everyday lives and relationships. I know from personal experience how it has changed my life to have a good physical therapist, and I love being that person for someone else.
From a business perspective, I think my biggest accomplishment is that I have built this practice almost solely from the word-of-mouth of my patients. My patients have been my biggest advertisers. I have treated entire families and extended families, spouses, co-workers, and best friends. It means a lot when my patients will refer their favorite people to me, and it has helped build my business.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing for me is "selling" my services. I am not a very good salesman, and I find it difficult to "talk myself up." I also think that there is something very odd about combining healthcare with business and believe, ultimately, that my services should be accessible to everyone. Unfortunately, health insurance doesn't agree about the importance of physical therapy in general and pelvic health in particular. Like most pelvic health physical therapists, I don't take insurance for the treatments I provide because I believe what I offer is worth more than what insurances are willing to pay. For most people, physical therapy seems like the type of service that should be covered by insurance, and working around this expectation can be tricky, but my patient's successes make me confident that my services are worth the out-of-pocket cost.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do a good job at whatever you do.
- Tell everyone knows what you are doing or what you plan to do - not only will it make you accountable, but it will be surprised how many leads and tips you get from those around you.
- Know what you don't know - don't try to be everything - whether that is in your business or with your patients - know when to hire someone or to refer to someone else.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Yes, go see a pelvic health physical therapist if you have symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://rspelvicpt.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pelvicfloorpt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/privatepartspt/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronit-sukenick-a9126211a/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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