Our Approach: Patient Goal Centered
At Mind Body Physiotherapy, treatment centers around our patients’ goals. We want to know - where are you now, where do you want to be after treatment, and why is that important to you?
Understanding our patients’ goals and their importance is integral to the personalized care that our Physical Therapists provide. It allows them to create a plan of care that is catered to each patient’s unique body and priorities. There will be no cookie cutter, one size fits all, treatment. Furthermore, understanding patient goals and their significance helps the patient and PT work together as a team invested in the patient’s progress.
This is part of why we offer packages as one of our payment options. When a patient purchases an 8, 12, or 20 pack of treatment sessions, not only are they getting a lower rate per session, they are also choosing to invest in their health and commit to achieving their goals. In addition, the Physical Therapist is really able to map out the patient’s plan of care and it helps hold both the patient and the Physical Therapist accountable for their part in the process.
But really, investment in our patients' goals begins even before treatment starts. On the very first phone call that we have with all prospective patients (we call these Discovery Calls) we ask questions like this:
How do you feel about your pain/symptoms?
How does being in pain or having symptoms affect you? Are there any things you are unable to do?
How would things be different for you if you had less pain or fewer symptoms?
What is your goal?
Why is reaching that goal important to you?
How would your life be different if you could reach that goal?
What would that change mean to you?
When scheduling at a new clinic, how often has the person on the phone taken the time to ask you these things? Are you ready to talk to someone about what you are experiencing and what your goals are? Schedule a free 15 minute Discovery Call here: Schedule Call
Knowing where a patient wants to be after treatment helps us gauge their progress. It helps the Physical Therapist adjust care along the way to provide the most effective and efficient care possible. Our PTs also know when to refer patients to other providers when needed. We have a network of providers that we know and trust. And again, our goal is to help you reach your goal. If we can’t get you there ourselves we will help you figure out who can.
So what do some of our patient’s goals look like? Here are some of the goals we have helped our patients achieve:
To go on a walk again
To get back to running
To eat the foods they like
To be more focused at work
To get better sleep
To be able to travel
To have more energy for their kids
To be present and engaged in life
Before I was the MBP patient care coordinator, I started off as a patient. As a professional dancer and someone with chronic migraines, I had visited my fair share of PT clinics and doctor’s offices. I can confirm that the experience at Mind Body Physio is different. While starting treatment with my PT, I felt like someone was finally taking the time to listen to what I was experiencing, how it made me feel, and why I so badly needed things to change (I was having 20 migraine days a month).
My goal was to reduce my migraine frequency so that I could function better in daily life and enjoy the things I love like dance. Because of my pain, I often felt sad, tired, and disengaged. Ultimately, I wanted to restore my quality of life. Now, I have months with zero migraines, completely pain-free! Reaching my goal has improved my life even more than I thought it would! I have even been able to work on new goals such as strengthening my body to prevent injury while dancing.
This is something that happens with a lot of our patients. We are able to help them successfully achieve their goals! And then what? Oftentimes we help patients set and work towards new goals! Such as getting stronger, running faster, going on longer walks, or further improving their quality of life. We have an option for patients who have completed their plan of care called the Mind Body Membership. With this membership, patients who want to continue to invest in their health can come in once or twice a month and conquer their new goals!
P.S. Did you know we have a chronic pain ebook/workbook that you can download for free? It includes hands-on tools including guides for setting and tracking goals. Check it out here: Pain Ebook