Did you Know?
Since launching, Jones Physical Therapy has grown into three locations with nine therapists.
Every business starts with an idea. These ideas come to life with the efforts made by entrepreneurs willing to take risks and grow their ideas into fully-formed business ventures. From startup innovators to salon founders, every person has a unique passion that they merged with the business landscape. While we couldn’t talk to every inspiring entrepreneur in the Bis-Man area, we talked to some of the many to hear about their unique journey on the road to success.
Did You Know?
“Our second daughter thought her name was ‘Maysa Rae Jones PT’ until she was four years old. It makes me giggle as it shows just how much your family is involved in your business when you build it from nothing.” – Liz Jones
Liz Jones opened her private physical therapy practice, Jones Physical Therapy, in 2007. There, she and her team provide a plethora of specialized care in women’s and men’s health, including pelvic pain issues, back pain, post-surgical care and much more. She discussed the challenges that she’s experienced along her journey, a day in the life of Jones Physical Therapy today and more with us.
1. What was your journey like for you to get to the position you’re in today?
It hasn’t been at all what I would expect! I started with a vision of what the clinic would look like and it continues to evolve and grow into what it is today. It started with the encouragement of my husband, Josiah, who has a very entrepreneurial mind. There have been unexpected bumps along the way that we learned from and, hopefully, we are wiser for it!
2. Which parts of taking this risk will stick with you forever?
I think in general, just how hard it was will stick. And yet, that is what taught me the most valuable lessons. Those hard times made me step back, reevaluate, anchor myself more deeply and learn to be more intentional. Simply looking back now at all that we went through, the good, the hard and how we have grown, continues to amaze me.
3. What steps were the hardest when taking the leap to start Jones Physical Therapy?
Not knowing what I didn’t know was one of the hardest steps. Many of the issues I thought would be difficult weren’t at all. It was all of the aspects I didn’t even realize existed that would seem to knock me off the tracks at times. Insurance and billing in the medical world is a beast… that was definitely one of the hardest things to wrap my head around.
4. What was a typical day in your life like when you were beginning Jones Physical Therapy?
In the beginning, I wore all of the hats. It was a mix of seeing patients, marketing, documentation, maintaining relationships with referral sources and accounting. I would often see five to six patients and spend many early morning and evening hours working on all the other aspects.
“We treat the whole body. We address the intricate connections of the body with complex issues, this is what so many patients note is ‘different’ than any other care they have received. We treat a very broad spectrum of issues from incontinence and pain with intimacy, to neck and back pain and post-surgical issues.”
– Liz Jones
5. What would you have done differently if you could go back and start again, knowing what you know now?
I would have delegated more often earlier. I would have hired out my billing and we would have had my husband come on full-time to the office much earlier! I am grateful that I learned how to wear all of the hats since it’s good to know your business from the ground up. Since my husband has been on-site full-time, the whole clinic runs more smoothly for everyone. If I could change anything, it would be having him here earlier.
6. What advice do you have for readers considering taking this leap?
Find a mentor in your profession. Talk to someone who has done what you would like to do and learn from their experience and wisdom.
7. What else would you like to add regarding your personal experience in taking this risk?
I often say it’s like preseason training for a sport. It was hard and you are grateful you made it through stronger, but you would rather not do it again! I feel as if I have grown a lot personally. I have been blessed to have a husband who is a brilliant business mind and together we have been able to build a team of therapists to that I am beyond grateful.
It was hard and there were times when I was exhausted and wondered if it was worth it. But I’ve realized when it’s something that you deeply believe that you are supposed to be doing, including helping others and providing a nurturing work environment for your team, it is definitely worth it.
8. What made you decide that this area would be a great place to start Jones Physical Therapy?
My husband and I are both from North Dakota. Bismarck-Mandan is a beautiful area, and I am not too far away from my home farm. When we started Jones Physical Therapy, there were not many private practices in the area and no one was offering significant pelvic health services, so it just seemed to fit.
9. What is something you wish more people knew about your business venture?
I often wish I had a way to express how our whole team genuinely cares for the whole body. We understand the intricate connections of the body from neuro, physical, stress/hormonal and emotional and that we are made of multiple systems all working together. Our therapists have all worked hard to continue to grow and learn as therapists and, therefore, we as a clinic provide care for such a broad spectrum of issues.
10. What is a day in your life like for you now?
As the business has grown over the years, so has our own family. Joe and I have 5 kids from the ages of 8 months to 13 years old. A typical day is getting our family off for the day, seeing six to seven patients, getting notes done and then back to being a wife and mom. I have been able to let go of having to wear all of the hats at the office.
While I can step into them if needed, we have good people in place helping everything flow. I still have to handle a lot of administrative work, but I am able to focus more on patient care than I did during some of our painful growth stages.
11. What’s one thing the local business community could do to help you?
I think we should all continue to support each other by being of service to our community and truly being a part of Bismarck-Mandan’s community.
12. Are you looking to expand?
Yes, we are actually looking to hire another pelvic health therapist as this is an area of high demand. We have seven therapists that treat in this area of expertise but are in need of another. Beyond that, we will see where the road takes us.
On a more serious note, I honestly hear “I wish I would have known about your clinic sooner” or “I have never received care like this from a physical therapist” or the most recent “My time with your therapists here has been life-changing. What you are doing here is truly revolutionary” on a weekly basis. It always brings a wave of gratitude that we are truly serving our community and helping others on their journey.
Get In Touch
Phone: 701.731.2020
Email: [email protected]
Web: jonespt.com
Facebook: @JonesPhysicalTherapyBismarck