The Physical Therapy & Wellness Institute (PTW), in Lansdale, Pa, recently hosted three, free medical seminars to celebrate National Physical Therapy month. Invitations were issued to several orthopedic medical practices in PTWs service area in Southeastern Pa, encouraging their doctors to speak at PTW. Two practices accepted the invitation: North Penn Orthopaedics and Upper Bucks Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. In all, three seminars were conducted each focusing on different areas of the body. Venkat Sethuraman, MD of North Penn Orthopaedics spoke about the back, while James Hurley, MD, and James Bumgardner, MD, of Upper Bucks Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine discussed disorders of the shoulder and knee respectively. Each physician spoke for approximately 30 minutes and then answered questions from the audience. A total of 79 individuals participated in the seminars and feedback from attendees was very positive. As a result, PTW experienced record patient visits in the month of October.
Each medical seminar was publicized extensively through traditional advertising outlets including newspaper, direct mail and radio, as well as through email notices, internet sites and fliers distributed at key locations including senior centers and the participating doctors offices. A portion of the medical seminar attendees were past or present PTW patients, however, many were not. To convert these new faces into clients, PTW polled them on their interest in receiving a comprehensive physical evaluation. Fourteen seminar participants responded positively and were contacted for scheduling the following day. But, the seminars were more than an opportunity to develop new clients, they also served to further develop relationships with referring physicians. Plus, by offering free medical seminars to the public, PTW effectively positioned themselves in the marketplace as a medical resource, rather than a run-of-the-mill physical therapy provider.
According to Robert Babb, owner of PTW, the seminars were a positive experience for all involved, The seminars were a win-win-win. For the doctors, it was an opportunity to meet potential new patients, for the participants, it was a chance to learn more about their disorders and speak to a specialist without an appointment. For us, the benefits were numerous. We solidified our relationships with physicians. We added new patients. We increased awareness of our practice and we enhanced our overall image, as well. We will definitely be offering more of these seminars in the future.
PTW has been offering quality care for those recovering from injuries, surgeries, muscle traumas, and skeletal disorders since 2002. PTW also offers preoperative conditioning, as well as personal fitness and sports training services. With locations in Lansdale and Quakertown, Pa, PTW offers convenient, quality care provided by a team of 10 licensed physical therapists. Their facilities feature state of the art exercise equipment and a large aquatic center. PTW is also licensed for direct access, so that clients may contact them directly without a referral from a physician.
For more information on PTW, visit www.ptwinstitute.com, or call (215) 855-9871.
