We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Daniel Komforti a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Daniel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)
Prioritize self-care: Encouraging someone to prioritize self-care activities, such as exercise, healthy eating, and sufficient sleep, can help them improve their overall well-being and feel better both physically and mentally.
Practice mindfulness and gratitude: Practicing mindfulness and gratitude can help individuals reduce stress and increase feelings of happiness and positivity.
Set achievable goals: Setting achievable goals and breaking them down into smaller, manageable tasks can help individuals feel a sense of accomplishment and progress, and increase their motivation to continue working towards their goals.
Seek support: Encouraging individuals to seek support from friends, family, or professionals can help them navigate difficult situations and emotions and improve their overall well-being.
No one deserves to live in pain. Advocate for yourself and invest in your physical health because you only get one body. Never be afraid to ask for help; in my opinion, leaning on others is a personality trait that will take you very far in life. Yes, our body does change as we age, there is no doubt about it, but at the end of the day, age is just a number. There are so many people out there who have gone through life changing events they thought they would never overcome, but eventually go on to accomplish amazing things they previously only dreamed of. Surround yourself with likeminded individuals who will push you outside your comfort zone and pick you up when you are down. Since starting my practice and delving into entrepreneurship, I can say for certain that “your vibe attracts your tribe”.
Daniel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1993 and moved to Fort Lauderdale in 2002. I moved to Orlando in 2011 to attend UCF, where I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences in 2015 and Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2020. In 2021 I moved to Lake Mary with my fiancé Emma and our puggle Plato. Emma and I have been engaged since July 2021 and will be getting married Memorial Day weekend 2023 up in Albany, NY.
From a young age I knew I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. Having grown up around my older
brother, who is an orthodontist, his wife, who is a pathologist, and my oldest cousin, who is a veterinarian, I knew I wanted to follow in their footsteps. During my time in college, I was determined to attend medical school and eventually become an orthopedic surgeon. After having applied to medical school, going through the interview process, and not getting into my dream school, I faced a tough decision, either reapply the next cycle or consider other career options in healthcare. I figured I owed it to myself that before restarting the application process, I should expose myself to as many of these other healthcare professions as possible. It was during this time I sought out observation hours with dentists, orthodontists, veterinarians, podiatrists, optometrists, physician’s assistants, nurses, pharmacists, chiropractors, and most importantly, physical therapists. One of the things I immediately loved about physical therapy was the quantity of time spent with patients. In comparison to medical doctors today, who often spend three to five minutes with each patient, physical therapists get the unique opportunity to spend two to three hours per week with each patient. Not only does this allow you to really get to know your patients on a personal level, but it helps you develop a strong therapeutic alliance with them, which is imperative to optimizing their recovery. Fast forward to 2020, when I graduated from PT school in the thick of COVID, I was lucky enough to land a job at Jewett Orthopedics in December of that year. I knew during PT school I wanted to practice orthopedic physical therapy, but not until I began working at Jewett, did I truly realize how much I loved the specialty. During my first year as a newly minted Doctor of Physical Therapy, I worked on honing my clinical reasoning and communication skills. While I loved my patients and co-workers, I eventually grew tired of the limitations set forth by insurance companies, whether it be the number of visits granted for a case or deeming when someone is no longer “appropriate” for physical therapy. It is my philosophy that each patient should have control over their care, regardless of the reason for which they are seeking out services. In May 2022 I decided to take matters into my own hands and establish my mobile concierge practice. I knew from the start that entrepreneurship would allow me to show up more authentically in my practice and service my community at a higher level.
New Horizons Physical Therapy is a mobile concierge physical therapy and wellness practice. Being mobile allows me to treat all my clients from the comfort and convenience of their own home. While I am a physical therapist by trade, I coin myself a health investment broker. Physical therapy is one of the tools I use to help my clients reach their goals, but my practice offers much more. Being a concierge physical therapist, I always make myself available to my clients and pride myself on my ability to educate others on how to optimize their health and become the best version of themselves. I offer more than a quick fix; solving your ache or pain is only the beginning of what I bring to the table. I love working with clients who want to unlock their full potential both mentally and physically and make a long-term investment in their future and well-being.
The biggest thing that sets me apart from other physical therapy practices is that fact that I am mobile. Being able to have a physical therapist come to your home, treat you for an hour, and then pack up
and leave, is an experience like no other. Working with me eliminates having to commute to appointments and wait in busy lobbies. This model allows my patients to progress more rapidly because treatment is absent of distractions, distinctly individualized, and not constrained by third-party payers. Another big distinguishing factor about my practice is that I have availability seven days a week, including evenings. Too many people go on day after day without addressing their ache or pain because they are too busy to go see a doctor or be evaluated by a physical therapist. My flexible schedule allows my clients to make time for both their wealth and health. Many of my clients have been to traditional PT mills in the past and were discharged because they returned to their “prior level of function”. Unfortunately, most insurance companies only care that you return to 85-90% of the activities you were previously participating in. The fact is that that last 10-15% is usually what is most important and unique to each person, whether that be going on hikes with your children or grandchildren, playing 18 holes of golf with your friends multiple times per week, or entering yourself into a competitive pickleball contest. Being a cash-based practice allows me to help my clients reach these goals and often discover new goals along the way.
In addition to growing my practice in the coming years, it is my mission to educate our community on the benefits of physical therapy. There is an array of orthopedic conditions in which conservative care, including physical therapy, has similar or even superior outcomes in comparison to more aggressive options, such as injections and surgery. The issue is that not enough people are aware of these benefits and would rather choose the “easier” route than put in the work and reap the long-term benefits of nurturing their relationship with movement and exercise. If you don’t make time for your wellness today, you will be forced to make time for your illness tomorrow.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Networking: Building relationships and networking with potential clients can be a powerful way to increase visibility and attract new business. This can be done through events, industry conferences, or simply by reaching out to people in your network.
Providing excellent service: Delivering high-quality service to existing clients can lead to positive word-of-mouth recommendations and help attract new business. Focusing on meeting and exceeding client expectations can help establish a positive reputation and build a loyal client base.
Utilizing digital marketing: Utilizing digital marketing strategies, such as search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, and social media, can help increase visibility and reach a wider audience. By creating valuable content and targeting specific demographics, businesses can effectively attract and retain new clients.
Offering promotions and special deals: Offering promotions and special deals can help attract new clients and retain existing ones. This can include discounts, bundled services, or other incentives that provide added value to customers.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Many people believe that innate talent is the key to success in various fields. However, this ignores the importance of hard work, dedication, and persistence. The lesson to unlearn is that success often requires a combination of talent and sustained effort, and that effort and practice can often overcome a lack of natural ability.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.newhorizonsrehabilitation.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newhorizonsrehabilitation
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newhorizonsrehabilitation
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/newhorizonsrehabilitation
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@newhorizonsphysicaltherapy
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/new-horizons-physical-therapy-lake-mary
Image Credits
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