Re: When Private Practices Close

[Guest guest]

One of my favorite faculty members was Bob Bartlett, at that time

Chief PT at Duke Medical(they still used that term back then) and

APTA President. He had closed a successful Pediatric practice in

NYCity to come to Duke, and I asked him once why he had closed up

shop. " I couldn't handle the billing " was his answer. When I asked

him why he couldn't dole out that responsibility, he said that it

wasn't the details, but the emotional side of the billing that he

couldn't handle. Anyone who wants to open a practice has to be ready

to turn a blind eye to the emotional side of stopping treatment when

the insurance runs out, or getting the 20% co-ins from the less-than-

affluent Medicare client without a secondary ins. Personally, my

inability to be much different than my old friend will probably cause

me to close my practice in the not to distant future...Jeff Woodruff,

Woodruff Physical Therapy, Chester, NH

>

> I have been asked to post this for someone who wishes not to be

identified

>

> We all are aware of the benefits of Private Practices

>

> *But*

>

> When a private practice is NOT succesful

>

> 1. What is the impact on the owners? Their families?

> 2. What happens to the owners after the practice is closed?

> 3. Do the owners often open another practice?

> 4. Do owners of closed practices have any " words of wisdom " ?

> 5. What are the reasons that the practices fail?

> 6. How pervasive is practice failure in PT?

> 7. Is it happening more now due to economy? POPTS? Managed Care?

>

> Thanks in advance for your input

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have a friend who was a successful business owner of a PT practice in middle

land. He sold out last year upon fear & uncertainty related to the specter

of nationalized healthcare. It tore out his heart...but he decided to get out

while the gettin' was good.

I am not sure if this was a rational decision, but it was his decision.

Alan Petrazzi, MPT

Rehab Manager

VAPHS VA Pittsburgh

>

> Subject: When Private Practices Close

> To: ptmanager

> Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 4:47 PM

> I have been asked to post this for someone who wishes not to

> be identified

>

> We all are aware of the benefits of Private Practices

>

> *But*

>

> When a private practice is NOT succesful

>

> 1. What is the impact on the owners? Their families?

> 2. What happens to the owners after the practice is

> closed?

> 3. Do the owners often open another practice?

> 4. Do owners of closed practices have any " words of

> wisdom " ?

> 5. What are the reasons that the practices fail?

> 6. How pervasive is practice failure in PT?

> 7. Is it happening more now due to economy? POPTS?

> Managed Care?

>

> Thanks in advance for your input

>

>

>