Rick Powers, PTA
Rick Powers, PTA, is the managing partner of CMPT Associates, LLC, in Greenville and Mercer, Pennsylvania.
Practice Location: Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Size of the practice (# of locations, employees): Two locations: CMPT Physical Therapy, Greenville, PA, and Mercer Physical Therapy, Mercer, PA; 7 employees
Years in practice: 40 years with the last 28 years as managing partner
Favorite vacation spot: Hilton Head Island, SC
Favorite movie: Star Trek
How do you like to spend your free time? I do have several hobbies but nothing more enjoyable than spending time with family, especially with our children and grandchildren.
Like most about your job: I enjoy the challenge of treating patients. The look of satisfaction when a patient walks after total joint replacement and they realize the pain that limited their life is now no longer an issue, or the patient that can lift their arm without pain and put on a shirt without help. Those types of things give me purpose in knowing I have made a difference in their recovery process and also gives me the desire to choose to do it every day.
Like least about your job: The ever-changing documentation requirements involving not only the review of the changes but their implementation into the practice.
BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY
Describe your essential business philosophy: Treat each employee and patient as you would like to be treated or have a family member treated. Never ask an employee to do something you are not willing to do yourself. Respect for staff leads to returns that are immeasurable.
Describe your management style: I am not a micromanager; however, I will pull a staff member aside and provide praise or constructive criticism when necessary. I believe in an open dialog with staff and do not like to let issues stew and grow from minor to major problems that disrupt operations.
Best way to keep a competitive edge: Keep up to date on changes in your community, in new treatment techniques, and in ongoing changes in requirements for reimbursement by health plans, auto, and workers comp carriers.
How do you measure your success? By patients who return for care when needed as well as a new patient being referred by a former patient. Long-tenured employees who enjoy coming to work every day.
Goal yet to be achieved: As I am approaching the end of my career, I look forward to spending more time with my family but am hopeful that the practice will continue to flourish.
Best decision: Surrounding myself with outstanding people.
Worst decision: There are always decisions that you regret such as the purchase of certain equipment/software which did not work to my expectations.
How do you motivate your employees? I believe that treating others as you would like to be treated goes a long way. Having an open, free-flowing dialog to address issues no matter how minor and developing an action plan to deal with the issue make for a GREAT work environment.
YOUR PRACTICE
If you could start over, what would you do differently? I do not believe I would make any changes. I am pleased with the practice’s growth and sustainability. As with everything in this world, there will always be bumps in the road but as someone once said, “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.”
Describe your competitive advantage: By participating in annual community-based activities. We are staying in touch with the needs of patients and employer groups throughout our service area.
Describe your marketing strategy and highlight your most successful action: Marketing remains a challenge; our strategy is a simple one—provide GREAT care and the word will get around. Also, we have developed a community wellness program, which has been well received by the communities we serve.
Our wellness clients are our future patients. This interaction with the community at large gives us the opportunity to get to know our neighbors as well as giving them a chance to know us and what services we can provide.
What are the benefits of PPS membership to your practice? It provides resources and updates on the ever-changing reimbursement environment as well as helpful topics in the areas of practice management.
THE FUTURE
What worries you about the future of private practice? The declining reimbursement and the closing of networks by health insurance companies that are linked to certain hospital systems and the rise in physician-owned therapy practices.
What are you optimistic about? As our population ages and the need for care increases, people become more educated to the value of outpatient services, I believe our practices will once again thrive.
What do private practitioners need to do to thrive in today’s health care environment? We need to educate the general population as to the benefits of physical therapy and continue to provide awareness that Direct Access is available as a first option for their health care needs.