Today we’d like to introduce you to Dannan Siano, PT, MPT, CLT.
Dannan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have been a physical therapist for 20+ years. Ten years ago when I had my first child it became clear to me how underserved women were with respect to their health care. There was a lot of information on pregnancy and what to expect, but not much discussion or information given about what happens to your body after. When I had my first child you had one check-up 6 weeks following delivery and cleared to resume all your previous activities. Nobody talked to me about urinary incontinence, how to manage my diastasis rectus abdominis (abdominal separation) or what my risk was for pelvic organ prolapse. So like every other mom I started running again. I ran through most of my pregnancy so I felt like I was ready. When I went out to run I felt like my internal organs were going to fall out… it was then that I decided I wanted to learn more and started my training. After my third child was born I took some time off from working to focus more on them. It was during my time off that I started thinking about what I wanted to do. I decided that I didn’t want to work for a big company anymore. I wanted something of my own. I wanted to build a place where women could come for physical therapy treatment where they could be seen one on one for whatever time period they needed. No rushing in and out in 15 minutes no being passed from person to person. A place where the focus was on them. I also understand that when working with pregnant and postpartum women it is hard for them to leave there home so for those patients I will see them in their homes if that works better for them. I wanted to treat patients on my terms with focus on them not on the machine of insurance companies and insurance companies dictating how I treat. My patient population consists of people who suffering from issues related to pregnant or postpartum, people with urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction as well as low back pain, SI joint dysfunction and hip dysfunction. With all this in mind Viva Physical Therapy was born.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’m not sure starting a business can be a totally smooth road. I have had a lot of great people in my corner, my husband especially! My vision is very clear but translating that into a full caseload is another story. Having a cash based practice is a new and growing idea in the area of health care. Getting people to understand what that means and what they are getting is probably my biggest challenge, but once they realize that they are getting to make the decisions not an insurance company making decisions on their care then it’s easier. Usually the first question a person will ask me is “Do you take my insurance” sometimes if I say that I am a cash based practice they won’t even let me continue, but if they allow the conversation to continue then it becomes more clear to them why I have made that decision and they understand that they can still submit their claims for reimbursement then it becomes easier.
Viva Physical Therapy – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Viva Physical Therapy is a boutique physical therapy company where we specialize in the treatment of women throughout their life. We treat issues related to pregnancy and postpartum such as Diastasis Recti, pelvic girdle pain, C-section scaring, posture and body mechanics just to name a few. We treat urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, sexual dysfunction, SI joint dysfunction, lymphedema and post breast cancer care.
I am most proud of creating a safe nurturing space that allows women to seek treatment for issues that historically have not been talked about, have accepted as normal and have pushed to the back burner. It no longer needs to be the norm to pee on yourself just because you had a baby or just because you are aging. The focus can shift to creating a strong, functional self.
What sets me apart… My business model is different than a lot of physical therapy clinics in that it isn’t about quantity it’s about quality. Each patient’s plan of care is directed by them with me as their guide. They tell me what their goals are and we work together to put together a plan of care that will help them achieve their goals. I have been where they are. I have been the runner who can’t run without peeing on myself, I put in the work to achieve my goals and I have the tools to help them do the same.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is seeing patients reach their goals. Every time I work with someone and they feel better I feel successful. I personally feel success with every patient that chooses to come to my practice. I feel successful when my kids see me working to build a business of my own, creating something that means something to me.
Building something that is bigger than me, growing my practice that would be success for Viva Physical Therapy.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7605 1/2 North Ave.
River Forest,IL 60305 - Website: www.vivapt.com
- Phone: 2483189722
- Email: Dannansiano@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/vivaphysicaltherapy
- Facebook: viva physical therapy
Image Credit:
Brian Morowczynski
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