We recently connected with Shauna Epperson and have shared our conversation below.

Shauna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

The most important lesson that I learned in a previous job was that insurance companies had a great deal of control over patient visits, whether it be the number of visits they were allowed to attend, or the number of visits the therapists needed to see each day in order for the company to be compensated. I was working 30 hours per week and seeing close to 70+ patients a week on average. If you do the math, and add in documentation time, I was not spending much time with each patient. It left me feeling defeated at the end of the day because I knew I could do better if I had more time to spend with each person one-on-one. Finally, when I was pregnant with my son during COVID in 2020, I decided to leave my job with the aspirations of starting my own business. My past experience lead me to open a mobile, cash based/fee for service, physical therapy clinic. I now spend a full hour with my patients each visit! I have seen faster improvement with less visits than what I was achieving in my last job. I come to my patients homes, which decreases their time commitment to drive to a clinic, I am the only provider they see for an entire hour, they have access to me 7AM to 7PM 7 days a week. It goes to show that time truly is valuable.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I always knew that I wanted to be in healthcare but when it came time to decide which route I ultimately chose physical therapy. The decision was made because I felt that I would have more time to get to know my patients and develop rapport with them in this healthcare field as opposed to other routes. I am a mobile physical therapist with a cash based/fee for service clinic. This means that I offer one on one sessions with my patients, they get me for the whole duration of the session, no need for assistants or technicians. I provide thorough evaluations, manual therapy (including dry needling, cupping and scraping), exercise prescription, wellness programs, etc… I really enjoy making the experience custom for each person.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

I truly believe that having a good relationship with your patients is key to success. Think about it, if you like and trust someone, you are more likely to listen to that persons advice and follow through on your care. I am big on developing relationships with my patients, I want to be available for questions on days they aren’t scheduled. It is important to establish that connection because it is something that sets me apart from bigger, insurance based, clinics.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I wish that I could say that I have put a lot of time into marketing but I haven’t. Reason being is that my most effective strategy for growing is word of mouth. If someone has an amazing experience they tell their friends and family who are more willing to invest in something that is proven to work for someone they know personally. The best thing that my patients can do for me is spread the word on my care.

Contact Info:

• Website: eppersonpt.com
• Instagram: eppersonpt
• Facebook: eppersonpt

Image Credits
Eduardo Manteca with Palo Fierro Productions