Today we’d like to introduce you to Patty Abrigo-Naidenoff.
Hi Patty, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Patty Abrigo-Naidenoff. I was raised by Filipino immigrants in Northern Ohio. My mother was a physician and my father an engineer. They taught me to work hard, always do my best, be helpful, and to live with purpose. I was blessed as a teenager to be guided in choosing a career as a physical therapist. For a decade and a half, I worked in traditional healthcare settings as a PT, supervisor and administrator. I felt there were so many gaps and barriers in the delivery of quality care that were keeping people from truly being healthy. I started to realize there were people in my own community that were seeking alternatives to what their doctors and other physical therapists were offering to treat their pain and mobility problems. I was introduced to other like minded professionals that are now in my “wellness network.” These people and professionals inspired me to use my degrees, knowledge, skills and experience in traditional healthcare, to deliver physical therapy in a non traditional way.
I took a leap of faith in February 2018 and started a side hustle, Integrated Therapeutic Healing. For 3 and 1/2 years, I was a solo practitioner of a private physical therapy and yoga practice. I became known as PT Patty, a nickname given to me by a former patient that has since passed. I was seeing patients and clients in their homes, at their offices, at the gym, at yoga studios, in a hair salon, and even out of conference room in a hotel. It was all cash based at the time until more people were seeking my different approach and wanted to use their insurance to cover the cost of what I was offering. Since then, I have grown my practice to an amazing team of 10 women which includes 3 other PT’s, 2 PTA’s, 1 OT, 2 massage therapists, and an administrative assistant. We now have a primary practice location at the Norwalk Wellness Center, and continue to provide our unique services and community education throughout the area. We pride ourselves in having over 100 years of combined clinical experience to provide a whole body and team approach to care.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being the only private therapy practice in Norwalk, we aren’t just handed referrals from doctors because we are part of their hospital or health system. We have relied on word of mouth referrals from giving 100+% to each and every patient/client, networking, sharing valuable information to the community, and providing care that is customized to each individual.
We see patients one on one. This may not be the most cost effective model, but all the therapists on our team came from settings where treating multiple patients at once was the norm. None of us felt we were providing the best to each patient in our former jobs, especially when it came to using our manual therapy skills. Making a profit with this model, decreasing insurance reimbursement, and adherence to insurance rules and regulations is challenging without sacrificing good quality care.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am a Licensed Physical Therapist practicing for 26 years, graduating from Ohio University with a Bachelors of Science in Health Administration and from Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia with a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy. I am also a 200 hour Certified Yoga Instructor, a Certified Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Specialist, a Certified Cancer Rehabilitation Clinician, and a Certified Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner. I personally specialize in treating lower back and neck pain, foot/ankle dysfunction with advising people on proper shoes for their issues, as well creating customized orthotics. I also teach several physical therapy based yoga and chair yoga classes at our location in Norwalk, as well as throughout the community.
The ITH Team of rehab professionals include physical therapists, occupational therapists, massage therapists, and a reflexologist. We offer solutions to pain and mobility problems without medications, injections and other costly interventions. We believe in treating the whole body and person, as all things are connected physically and energetically. We collaborate with all health and wellness providers to ensure the best outcomes for our patients. We have highly trained and experienced staff that allows us to offer help to those with breast cancer, pelvic floor dysfunction, lymphedema, scar adhesions, headaches, vertigo, myofascial pain syndrome, stress, anxiety, Parkinsons, strokes and chronic pain. We accept Medicare, some Medicare Advantage Plans, and some Commercial Insurance Plans. Services are provided in home, virtually, & 2 locations in Norwalk, including aquatic therapy.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The healthcare system as a whole is broken. It is a system of treating symptoms without finding the root causes of illness, disease, and dysfunction. It is sick care, not well care and it is costly. The healthcare industry will continue to go downhill with this model.
Individualized care is missing. Whole person care is missing. Maintenance and prevention is missing. Thinking outside the box is missing.
If other healthcare providers can bridge the gap to add more individualized, whole person care that focuses on treating root causes, preventing chronic disease and dysfunction, and maintaining healthy lifestyles then we will all benefit greatly!
I am a firm believer in collaboration over competition. If we all work together towards the same goals, then only good things can happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ithteam.com/
- Instagram: @ptpattyandith
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/integratedtherapeutichealing/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patty-abrigo-naidenoff-26130965/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PTPatty
- Other: https://patreon.com/YogawithPTPatty
