Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Gonzalez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Today, we find ourselves at a high point both professionally and personally. My wife and business partner has been instrumental in the development and growth of our clinic. Together, we are two of the three full-time treating clinicians at our small clinic, while also managing its day-to-day operations.
We are still young in our existence as a physical therapy clinic but Movement State has been our brainchild since we first met in undergrad in 2008 (I have a sheet of college ruled paper written in mechanical pencil dated then that is essentially the blueprint for our model and brand). We both wanted to become physical therapists, Emily’s path was more direct including playing softball as the premier pitcher for UTSA all 3 years and immediately entering PT school post undergrad. My route to PT was more circuitous, I graduated and began a career in medical device sales working in DME and later capital sales for a manufacture of biomedical measurement equipment. I made my way back to PT in 2018. Despite both our paths to get here, our clinic has been our guiding light for both of our professional practices since the very beginning. Our dream.
My wife of whom our clinic would not be possible began her practice in 2016. The Movement State banner technically has been in operation since then, where services at that time included simple cash pay wellness offerings including dry needling, cupping, IASTM, and movement analysis and correction. When I was able to begin my practice in 2022, Emily was already director of rehab at a corporately run clinic and held certifications as a sports specialist holding her FAAOMPT in manual therapy as well as her OCS. Letters peers in the know would respect. While continuing to grow as clinicians through advanced training and specialization, we also devoted significant time to learning the business side of healthcare and preparing to take the leap into practice ownership. We expected to spend 3–5 more years building experience, relationships, and financial stability before taking the leap.
Instead, a series of opportunities and circumstances pushed us to move forward far sooner than planned.
We ventured out from both our corporately run clinics to create a place where we could treat how we wanted, on our terms with no restrictions and no compromises. The Movement State that exists now is even better than we envisioned. From our strong referral sources, our staff, our network of like minded individuals, and most of all our patients, the culture that has blossomed from our original vision is something we’re incredibly proud of. What started as an idea to practice with intention and give everything to our patients has grown into a community with genuine relationships and a shared commitment to helping people move and live better.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Simple answer: No. Absolutely not, not smooth and not easy in any way. Several people have asked me what if you hire a PT and they want to start their own clinic after working for you like you and your wife did? I wouldn’t be upset or mad, I’d say “Good luck! I’m rooting for you!”, because I know how extremely hard this is to do and do well. From the day we opened to today, the business has been wrought with challenge. Challenges with the administrative/operation side that are rehab specific including working with insurances as well as business operations and management. Early on, these challenges were far more difficult because of the learning that was needed to operate in our chosen niche (post-surgical, sport rehab). Credentialing with insurance companies, handling billing, and coordinating multiple entities to ensure patients could maximize their benefits was a steep learning curve—one that we took on entirely ourselves. There was so much time searching and self-educating, even finding the right resources to self-educate was difficult. There is no handbook on how to start a PT clinic exactly like ours. Surviving and staying open while the long wait for an insurance to offer a contract was difficult because if a referral source referred someone to the clinic and we were not in contract with their insurance (which in the first few months was all of them), what were we to do? Not accept them as a new patient and have them say “No problem I’ll go to one of hundreds of other options”, simultaneously tarnishing the relationship with the referral source. No way. What we did was heart wrenching but ensured we could both report back to the MD that we received the referral and care was underway and that communication lines can stay open regarding this case while also giving excellent uncompromised care. We treated for free. We calculated our burn rate and how long we could treat for free. And we did that until we didn’t have to anymore. I worked multiple jobs treating PRN in several different settings at all hours of the day Monday through Sunday to make ends meet in this time, enough to weather the storm. Emily ran all the patient care at any time needed. And it worked. We were able to stay open and live to fight another day, which unlocked new challenges. Today we are blessed to be able to staff an entire clinic and plan for immediate growth including bringing on more clinicians which will being new challenges operationally as well. Problems and challenges we are blessed to have.
We’ve been impressed with Movement State Physical Therapy and Sports Rehab, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a bespoke sports and orthopedic physical therapy clinic located in San Antonio Texas specializing in sports and orthopedic rehab. We treat a diverse population from young children with sports injuries all the way to the older adult rehabbing post-surgical cases, and everyone in between. If you are ambulatory, we can treat you. Despite the varying diversity in our patient population, there appears to be a unifying thread that is consistent with every patient that walks in the door, and that is our patients seek to improve or optimize their movement. The reasons why are as diverse as the patients themselves, but often our patients wish to return to competition, or ensure they never have the same problem twice, or improve the longevity and quality of their movement to prevent injury. There is power in knowing, and when pain is no longer a mystery, the journey to that answer can be empowering. Another key differentiator that strengthens our culture is our approach to exercise prescription and education. Patients consistently tell us that not only are our interventions highly individualized and function-specific, but the way we teach and guide them is unlike anything they have experienced elsewhere.. We are meticulous in our approach from the outset, providing extensive tactile and verbal feedback to ensure proper technique and execution. The problem with a pesky movement dysfunction is that if gone uncorrected, will not only continue, but will grow to include additional components up and down the kinetic chain. We rely heavily on education and feedback at this stage to make a lasting impact from the very first interaction. Lastly, we use a battery of information to inform our decisions. Not only do we use our clinical experience and timelines and protocols to advance plans of care, we utilize any and all tools available at our disposal. We use force and velocity sensors to assign objective values on sport metrics including strength, muscular endurance, power, and velocity to diagnose any asymmetries, a battery of return to sport testing that incorporates components of sport movements at appropriate times to ensure that the patient is appropriate to progress into the next phase of rehab, and lastly, we use the team. We use each other when we need to. My team is the best, and when I have a patient that I know will benefit from David or Emilys second pair of eyes, I welcome it. Our culture is built on teamwork and inclusivity, fostering frequent collaboration to ensure each patient has the best opportunity for a successful outcome. And what am I proud of? I am the most proud of them, my team. From the treating staff, to the support staff, to our incredible office coordinator Sharon, every member of the team brings something unique and special to the clinic that contributes to the culture. Our clinic is fun, inviting, and a place where patients feel empowered to do their best and reach their goals. We feel blessed to be a part of it.
Any big plans?
Funny you should ask! We are blessed beyond measure, because at this time we are looking to grow our team! We are currently seeking to add a like-minded clinician to our staff for immediate hire. We are also finalizing the details for our second location. Stay tuned, Movement State II coming soon!
Long term: Continue to maintain the same level of care, intentional treatment, and preserving our culture. If we can uphold these tenets, any growth we experience will be welcomed with gratitude and deep appreciation.
Pricing:
- We contract with most major medical insurance providers. Copays, deductibles, and co-insurance will vary dependent on type/plan. We also offer affordable cash pay options for those without standard commercial insurance or wish to pay cash.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mvmtstatept.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mvmtstate
