Community Corner

Founding Year: 2014

1314 S King St
Unit #1455
Honolulu, HI 96814
Website

This month, we are happy to spotlight Apex Physical Therapy Specialists! Locally owned and operated in Honolulu, Apex Physical Therapy Specialist’s mission is to provide the highest quality of individualized physical therapy services.

We recently asked Shawna Yee, business owner and physical therapist at Apex Physical Therapy Specialist, a few questions to find out what makes their business unique.

How did the business get started?

I always had an interest in being more than a staff physical therapist. In my roles at other clinics, I had the opportunity to participate in various aspects of the business, from marketing, to billing, as well as staff and schedule management.

Early in my career, there were several opportunities to become a business owner, but the timing was not right. I knew that I wanted to return to Hawaii and start a family. In 2014, I finally took the plunge to start my own Physical Therapy practice! I opened Apex, joining two other established physical therapy practices in a large space at the Interstate Building in Honolulu. We each had our own businesses and specialty areas and were able to share a large common gym area. I was grateful for the opportunity to collaborate and learn from other clinic owners who had been doing it for many years before me.

Having my own practice gives me the chance to further promote my belief in the importance of patient education. I am able to spend the time getting to know each of our patients and develop individualized treatment plans. It is important that patients utilize and incorporate what they learn into their lives to speed recovery. I have also been able to participate in community projects that help to teach people how to take care of their bodies.

What are the main services you provide to your customers?

Physical Therapy, Pilates and fitness training.

• Patients with health concerns who need professional guidance to establish a safe and effective exercise program.
• Pre and post-operative care for orthopedic concerns (shoulder arthroscopy, rotator cuff repair, hip arthroscopy, ACL repair, strains and sprains and fractures).
• Athletes with musculoskeletal concerns who aim to return to their sports (i.e., backs, necks shoulders, knees, hips, ankles).

What is an interesting fact about your business?

All of our staff member stay active through various local sports leagues and events in the community. Most of our staff will either walk or run the Honolulu Marathon this year!

I have been working to get my dog, Kuma to possibly get her certified as a rehab dog. Hoping one day she can come to work with me. We put pictures of her on our social media.

What is one thing your business is known for?

Personalized quality care and patient education.

What was a major hurdle you had to overcome and how you were able to achieve this?

Unfortunately, the two other businesses that I started with decided to exit a few years after I started…all within about six months of each other. I was left with the decision to reconfigure our large space as well as potentially taking on additional staff or downsizing to focus on just my business.

I decided that we were not mature enough as a business to take on additional staff or significantly increase the space for our clinic. Although having a huge gym was a luxury, we were able to reconfigure our space to make it work for our needs.

Another challenge was just learning about the “business side” of running a business. I took classes and asked a lot of questions. I got involved with more committees locally and nationally. I have been co-chair of Hawaii’s Physical Therapy Association’s (HAPTA) Payer Relations Committee. I was also fortunate to have a knowledgeable biller, who was willing to take the time to explain what was going on as long as I asked. He said most of his other clinic owner clients never asked. I took that as a positive sign.

What’s the biggest risk your business ever took?

Just starting this business. I had two young children at the time and luckily a very supportive husband. I had become interested in returning to school at the time to learn more about business and was considering an MBA. My husband told me to think of the investment money as your tuition and this will be your mini-MBA.

Any advice you’d like to give to someone who’s thinking about becoming a business owner?

If it is something you are passionate about, you will figure out a way to make it work. Just make sure that you communicate and make time for your loved ones as they are the ones who will support you in your endeavor.

Information provided by: Shawna Yee, Owner and Physical Therapist of Apex Physical Therapy Specialists 

About the Spotlight Member of the Month

As part of our contest for a HI Now segment on Hawaii News Now, we asked Rising Tide members to provide information highlighting their unique businesses. While only one winner could be featured in the spot, we wanted to highlight some of the other unique businesses that submitted. This started the Spotlight Member of the Month feature, a monthly highlight of small businesses from across the islands.