Today we’d like to introduce you to Jodi Blacketer.
Jodi, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I finished physical therapy school in 1999, I dreamed of opening my own practice. The balance budget act had passed only one year before, and physical therapist jobs were scarce. I began working for a large corporate PT provider and worked there for nearly 10 years. It was a great experience because I had the opportunity to work with some amazing clinicians, learned how to manage a business, and even had the opportunity to teach other therapists across the United States as a faculty member of the clinical education department. During that time, I earned by board certification in Orthopedics, became manually certified through the Institute of Physical Art,
In 2010, I turned 35, and felt I was at a crossroads both personally and professionally. If I was going to go after my dreams, the time was now. I knew in my heart that trying and failing would be better than never trying.
Therapy Excellence opened its doors in September of 2010. We have now grown to a staff of 5 physical therapists. Our patient feedback confirms that we have sustained the quality of care that was my initial vision for this practice. I passionately believe that we treat people with dignity and respect, provide exceptional quality care, and strive be the best provider in our market!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
During our first year in business, we had a spring with more than 6 closure days due to ice. When patients cannot get to the clinic, there is no revenue generated! This was just a small hurdle.
When we had been open less than one year, I became pregnant with my first child. This was a shock as I thought I could not have children.
But, it was an answered prayer. My pregnancy had many complications and I was placed on bedrest in the hospital for more than 2 months. I had one therapist working for me but we saw a 60% decline in our customers during the time of my hospitalization. My therapist resigned the first week I was hope with my son. He began going to work with me at just 3 weeks of age! With a newborn, I had to work hard over the next several months to restore our customer and referral base.
My daughter was born just 20 months after my son. She spent her first 10 days of her life in the NICU. I chose to take 1 month off to stay home with her and we had, once again, a notable drop in our referrals. I had to take out a loan to make payroll one month, cut hours to cut overhead, and the entire team had to work together to grow our customer base.
All of these challenges, however, created the foundation our business today. Anything worth having is worth fighting for! I had to trust God, lean on my husband and my team, and humble myself and ask for help at times.
Therapy Excellence – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We provide outpatient physical therapy. This means we help people in our community resolve painful joints, return to sports after injuries, restore balance, rehabilitate from surgery, and maximize function. We do this in a way that puts the patient first. The entire team at Therapy Excellence works together to greet each person, create an individualized treatment plan with patient-centered goals, and capitalize on each therapist’s strengths for the best outcomes.
I am most proud of the quality of care that we provide. I believe my entire staff abides by the Golden Rule. We treat our clients the way we would expect to be treated. Let me assure you I am a demanding consumer of Healthcare!
We are different from other providers in our community because our company is committed to our professional growth and we collaborate weekly to ensure the best care is provided to our customers. We schedule in a manner than maximizes the one on one time therapists have with clients. We truly have a team and you can feel the warm environment and feeling of a family when you walk in the door.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
For me personally, success is being my best in the areas of my life that I value.
Professionally, success is providing exceptional quality to the patients I treat and mentoring my team so that our customers have great outcomes. For my children, success is doing my part to raise my children to be productive members of our society, secure in who they are, grounded in Faith, and having the security to know they are loved unconditionally. In my marriage, success is having a true partnership celebrating each other’s achievements and being transparent. As an individual, success is maintaining physical health, spiritual health, and financial peace.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6049 W I 20
Arlington, TX 76017 - Website: www.TherapyExcellenceInc.com
- Phone: 817-483-1746
- Email: jodi@therapyexcellenceinc.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therapyexcellenceinc
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/therapy-excellence-arlington-2
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJcwCeX6ypk
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