We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeff Kunze and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeff, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Our thought process about starting Bridge2PT has morphed over time. Originally, my wife Rose and I were facing the realization that one of us may have to stay home to care for our son Hendrix due to his growing medical needs and doctor appointments. At this time there was a new business model arising through companies such as Uber and Lyft. We thought, “Why doesn’t healthcare deliver high quality, convenient care to patients’ homes?” We began to research and were shocked to find that there was nothing like this available. I was working at an outpatient orthopedic clinic treating patients every 20 minutes, the current clinic norm, which did not always allow me to address all of my patient’s needs. This is when the idea of Bridge2PT was born. Bridge2PT is an extensive website platform that allows patients to create a free profile, browse local physical therapists, and book them to come to their home, work, sports field, or other desired location for a 60 minute treatment. Practitioners in their area also create free profiles that include their expertise, education, hobbies, and a picture. This allows our patients to hand pick the practitioner that best meets their personal needs and goals. At the beginning, our thought process was based on necessity due to our family’s life circumstances. However, this quickly progressed into a desire to change the current healthcare model. At Bridge2PT, we understand that healing is multifaceted. We don’t want to just treat your physical ailment(s), that is only part of the equation. We want to be in your corner to address psychosocial factors, stress relief, diet, and other factors that might be preventing you from achieving the healthy and balanced lifestyle you desire and deserve. And, with 60 minute, one-on-one treatments with a physical therapist, we finally have the time to do so.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are so excited to continue to manifest our vision for a new unique healthcare model! The Bridge2PT platform is not like anything currently available. It offers convenience with the service being delivered to wherever the patient desires, personalization of quality care through allowing the patient to hand-pick their practitioner instead of being assigned one, and functional/holistic treatments as therapists are able to address all aspects of their patient’s health and well being. Not only is this service amazing for patients, it was built by physical therapists for physical therapists. There is an enormous burnout rate in our industry secondary to high patient loads (20+ patients per day), which can affect the quality of care delivered to patients. Bridge2PT allows practitioners to take control of both their careers and lives. Therapists have the ability to set their own price, schedule, and direct care as they see fit. When a physical therapist finds a work-life balance, that’s when the magic happens and they are able to offer unparalleled care to their patients. The hurdles we have encountered so far have been in educating the profession and the public on the way this new model works, as well as sharing the in-depth doctoral education and lengthy clinical experience required to become a physical therapist in California. Bridge2PT is the first mover in this space and people are used to the old model of delivering care; going to a clinic, waiting up to three weeks to get their first appointment, and seeing a practitioner for only 15-20 minutes. It has been difficult to educate patients that there is now a service where they can create a short profile, search and select their preferred therapist, and directly book an appointment without even making a phone call. Thus, our motto of Search | Book | Heal was born.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
One of the things that is special about California is our coastline. We absolutely love spending time at the beach and traveling up the coast. Our perfect day would include going for a quick surf in Southern California and then driving North, stopping at Cold Springs Tavern along the way for some food, drinks and live music.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Over the last 6 years my wife and I have lost our son and two of our closest friends, started Bridge2PT and BraveOnes Foundation, participated in a kidney donation, and recently welcomed our daughter, Presley Rose, into this world. While this seems like an external storm, we have managed to maintain a level of inner peace and balance. A large part of this is due to the books/words of Adyashanti. We found his work just prior to our son being born and it has allowed us to view every experience as special, whether they are perceived as good or bad. Thus, my shout out goes to Adya!

Website: https://bridge2pt.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridge2pt/?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=pvezu4hpuha1
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridge2pt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bridge2PT/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZVUtR_5csxX07qOEwjS4iA

Image Credits
Colleen Lindl

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