Today we’d like to introduce you to Mitchell Hanks.
Hi Mitchell, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
The dream of TriFit Physical Therapy and Performance started as that, a hypothetical daydream. It was an idea, taken from many conversations and experiences, that would “likely never come to fruition.” Then as the frequency of conversations and hypothetical brainstorming grew, my wife, close friends and family began to push me to consider the real possibility of starting my own Physical Therapy business. Patients were encouraging me to make the jump, and our final tipping point was a poor personal experience my wife underwent in medical care. In our current Medical landscape, there lies an inherent gap in a genuine relationship with practitioners and patients. We decided it was time to “be different.”
It was difficult, striking out into the world of independent practice and ownership. I always had the desire to “be the best” but hardly ever did I consider myself an entrepreneur. I am the stark opposite of a risk taker. However, this was my leap of faith, trusting in those around me who believed our product could do the sales & marketing. Becoming a concierge style / cash model of medical care was the last hurdle for me. I saw the growth and trends of other medical providers creating stable, credible business models that truly put the patient in the driver’s seat, and I joined.
From there, I was blessed with doors that opened relationships and opportunities to place myself strategically in the market. I have not regretted the decision, but it has not been easy either. The challenge has been good, the people have been amazing, and the work has felt like a lifestyle. I truly feel as though I am able to now practice at the top of my ability, by placing the patient and their needs above all else.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with most things, there are challenges. Starting a business resulted in several lessons learned. The most difficult for me was learning how to schedule “clocking out.” I will not admit perfection with this boundary yet, but I had to learn early on to leave messages, emails, phone calls and tasks for another time. My personality naturally pushes me to finish all tasks, then relax. However, the reality became that tasks would only ever continue, and I had to triage and delegate things in order to maintain my personal life. One of the goals at TriFit is to be extremely accessible, but even that had to have a boundary within the context of a workday.
We’ve been impressed with TriFit Physical Therapy and Performance, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
TriFit Physical Therapy and Performance was built off of many goals, most centering on freedom. Freedom of the provider to give the highest quality of care at their discretion, freedom of the patient to dictate what treatment they wanted, and collaboration between the two to create better outcomes. Physical therapy is a common practice, but in our setting, we work outside the network of insurance. This enables us to provide care with no external restrictions, and ultimately places the patient in the “driver’s seat.”
I graduated from Physical Therapy School and immediately enrolled in a year of Residency training. Physical Therapists have the option to apply to various residency’s tailored to a specialty, mine was in Sports Physical Therapy. The year consistent of additional didactic work, mentoring, and sports venue coverage. The experience was an intangible asset in my growth as a provider, and taught me the breadth of how to care for patients. I have been able to use that experience to move forward in my career and specialize in active populations, baseball, swimming, and general fitness. I also am able to coach and provide nontraditional wellness coaching in the business, expanding the impact I can have to non-injured and performance minded individuals.
What matters most to you? Why?
With our business, I prioritize genuine relationships. I think medical services can often feel impersonal, and fleeting. I would like the patients that experience our services to feel like a part of the community, invested, and it was well worth their time & money.
Pricing:
- Pricing for Physical Therapy – Adjusted for number of visits
- Coaching: $150/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.trifitperformance.com/
- Instagram: trifit.pt.performance
- Facebook: TriFit Physical Therapy & Performance
