How to Structure a Physical Therapy Membership Program in your Clinic

April 19, 2009 by Nitin  
Filed under Grow Your Private Practice

Physical Therapy Marketing

This article is a continuation of my previous article on physical therapy membership programs. If a program is to work and become successful, it must be explained correctly to patients. Sit the patient across the table and explain the benefits of your cash-for-therapy program. “Mr. Anderson, let me help you understand the benefits of our physical therapy maintenance program. It will help you live a relatively pain free lifestyle, improve function and enhance your ability to perform your activities of daily living. Can I show you the options available to you?”

“Here are the three options we’d like you to choose from. The first program is a two times a week physical therapy program with our leading staff therapist. For a one year commitment, this is just $45 a session. This is an amazing value, and is a total of one hundred and four sessions (52 weeks in a year) and it’s only forty five dollars per session. We also have a three-times-a-week option with your therapist. It’s a total of one hundred and fifty six sessions, and it’s only forty dollars per session. And finally we have our most popular program, four-times-a-week with your therapist. A total of two hundred and eight sessions and it’s only thirty five dollars per session. This provides the absolute best value! Then, hand your patient a rate card with the rates you just mentioned. Wait for a response.

2x week = @ $45 per session
3x week = @ $40 per session
4x week = @ $35 per session

Pause, and wait for them to ask you questions.

If they ask questions, you are close to the sale.

Guide them like an assistant, and give them the resources to make the decision.

The statement that closes the sale is:

“My personal recommendation, Mr. Anderson, is this plan (you recommend one of the plans). It provides you with the best value for money and is best suited for your goals. Which plan would you like to get started on today? Can I count on you to make the right decision for your health and fitness?”

As long as the patient is made to see the value in the program, it’s an easy decision for them. The patient signs an EFT agreement and provides you with their credit card number, and their card is charged monthly for the sessions coming up that month. In the above scenario:

2x week = @ $45 per session = Monthly charge is $360
3x week = @ $40 per session = Monthly charge is $480
4x week = @ $35 per session = Monthly charge is $560

If 10 patients sign up for the 4x week program, the additional revenue for your clinic is well over $70000.

These strategies will set you apart from other clinics almost immediately and enable you to open new centers of communication of profitability.

It’s not as difficult as it seems, and you can get many patients to buy them, as long as you emphasize:

a) The significant value and benefits of the program
b) Expected goals and functional improvements
c) Billing will be ‘monthly’ and not all at once.
d) Financing is an option and that discounts are provided for cash payments.
e) Encourage the patient to view the program as an investment in their future health

When structuring such a program, you would:

a) Ask the patient to pay for the first and last month in advance
b) Schedule them for monthly payments for the rest of the year
c) Offer an incentive to the patient to join right away; a $50 or $100 discount
d) Give the patient the option to cancel by providing you a written notice, usually with a 6 week advance notice. Patients should have the ability to terminate the plan, with advance notice, if they are not satisfied.
e) Think seriously about your market, their earning potential and comfort level when instituting a cancellation fee. In affluent neighborhoods, a cancellation fee works. In less affluent locations, a cancellation fee can be counterproductive.

Related posts:

  1. Package Deals and Extended Payment Plans For Clients Package Deals – Silver, Gold And Platinum Packages I had...
  2. Physical Therapy Memberships The idea for this article came to me while driving...
  3. The 8 Rules Of Corporate Wellness Programs For Physical Therapists I conducted my physical therapy marketing webinar on www.addnewpatients.com this...
  4. Which Is The Best Marketing Tool For A Physical Therapy Clinic? Any physical therapist will agree that the best marketing tool...
  5. Corporate Fitness Programs 101 Consider a Corporate Wellness Program Companies across the United States...

Comments

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6 Comments on "How to Structure a Physical Therapy Membership Program in your Clinic"

  1. Kaiser on Wed, 22nd Apr 2009 10:48 pm 

    Hey Nitin - You’re WAY ahead of the curve with most service business in the healthcare industry - Having monthly autodebit programs is a very powerful asset for any business -

  2. Jacon C Chun MPT, SCS, ATC, CSCS on Thu, 23rd Apr 2009 5:35 am 

    Good idea Nitin, but how does this differentiate us from the D.C. that has patients come in 2-3x a week for maintenance adjustments? Good business sense does not always mean the best clinical care. If someone is coming in 4x/week for hot pack, US, e-stim for maintenance, is that really serving them or serving you as the business owner?

    And how does one make revenue at only $35/session if someone does purchase the 4x/week package. At our facility we see only 1 patient/hour. $35 does not even pay my other PT’s salaries.

  3. Nitin on Fri, 24th Apr 2009 1:43 am 

    Jason, great observations.

    Let me clarify. When I wrote ‘physical therapy maintenance’ program, I was referring to a customized exercise routine, for fitness purposes. Good business sense can mean good clinical care, as long as the patient improves from normal function to optimum function. While this will not be reimbursable by insurance (hence the emphasis on cash and prepayment in the article), there is a lot more we can provide, more than just hot packs, e-stim and US. How about a progressive core strengthening program, muscle toning, aerobic and balance enhancement protocol? I think the maintenance adjustment is a farce in most cases, most definitely.

    About its applicability, there are many ways to skin a cat.

    This ‘exercise routine’ can work during
    a) off peak hours
    b) as a group exercise environment - where you can train (I used the word train, not treat) 5-6 patients at a time. It’s great that you see 1 patient an hour for skilled PT, but for this program, 5-6 patient will ensure profitability and allow clinical supervision, assuming everyone is made to follow the same routine. Patient grouping becomes important.

  4. Nitin on Fri, 24th Apr 2009 1:44 am 

    Kaiser, thanks for your comments. You have a very impressive blog.

  5. pligg.com on Thu, 30th Apr 2009 8:38 am 

    Physical therapy private practice | physical therapy maintenance program…

    physical therapy maintenance program will help you live a relatively pain free lifestyle, improve function and enhance your ability to perform your activities of daily living.It is a two times a week physical therapy program with our leading staff ther…

  6. submitted on spotonce.com social bookmarking site by user on Thu, 30th Apr 2009 8:49 am 

    Physical therapy private practice | physical therapy maintenance program…

    physical therapy maintenance program will help you live a relatively pain free lifestyle, improve function and enhance your ability to perform your activities of daily living.It is a two times a week physical therapy program with our leading staff ther…

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