Rehab Health 360: Founder Naseem Chatiwala on Embracing Diversity to Empower Patients of All Backgrounds
‘Wellness in not just physical exercise/activity, but also emotional and psychological wellbeing” Today’s woman dreamer, Naseem Chatiwala is a woman to know in the healthcare space. A board certified Neuro Clinical specialist and entrepreneur, her passion for wellness and helping others inspired her to found her own venture, Rehab Health 360. Rehab Health 360 is on a mission to empower patients with neurological deficits through physical therapy and wellness services in a fun, safe and accessible environment. She shares her journey in founding her practice and advice to aspiring female healthcare entrepreneurs!
Tell us your story in the healthcare world. You recently opened your clinic, Rehab Health 360 for physical therapy & wellness services. What inspired you to build your own practice, and what have you learned along the way?
Physical Therapy should be fun and empowering! In my 2 ½ decades of physical therapy practice I have learned that patient engagement and trust are key to optimal outcomes. I felt there was a lack of resources in rehabilitation in regard to offering premium quality care in general and also when it comes to different cultures, especially the South Asian culture. I wanted to develop unique, tailored programs while keeping different ethnic backgrounds in mind. My experiences as a continuing education instructor have allowed me to travel both nationally and internationally adding to my world view of the neuro recovery practice. It is this desire to create individually high quality, tailored, culture and generational sensitive recovery programs that go beyond traditional rehabilitation therapy (with gym and maintenance programs) that led to the founding of Rehab Health 360. By blending medical knowledge and years of clinical experience and teaching, Rehab Health 360 has created innovative and systematic movement analysis systems to identify underlying impairments.
The biggest thing I learned is let a thought simmer: talk to people- discuss it- and than the thought already forms in to action.
2. What was the most exciting moment so far in your journey with Rehab Health 360? And the biggest challenge you faced?
The most exciting part of this journey was receiving the abundance of love, support, and encouragement from my family, friends, colleagues, mentors, and patients/clients. It was their trust and confidence in me that helped me gain the ability and strength to open my own practice. From thinking of the name of the business to designing the logo, creating the website, and helping out with registrations, the open house, and the décor of the clinic, I could not have done anything without my amazing village. It is their excitement in my business that keeps me going every day.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was finding a convenient location that is handicap accessible and easy in and out. I wanted to have a first-floor space with handicap accessible bathrooms and that was very hard to find. I am beyond proud to have found that easy, accessible and convenient location in Acton, MA.
3. What was the need you saw? What are some trends you see happening in the physical therapy and wellness space?
Neurologic and Vestibular Physical Therapy requires quality skill set, patience, engagement, motivation, and a longer recovery time. Most clinics are unable to deliver these to keep up with their productivity standards that are unfortunately dictated by insurance companies.
After the acute rehab phase is over, as an extension to rehab, we need to provide affordable maintenance programs so that we can reduce readmission rates. As our society moves to the preventative health care model, I feel more physical therapist clinics should offer wellness programs that are safe and accessible to these clients with chronic neurologic deficits.
At Rehab Health 360, in addition to regular physical therapy, we offer our patients a convenient and efficient way to stay active with extension of physical therapy on a continual basis by offering three levels of gym membership program, where patients can exercise under the supervision of a physical therapist guiding them on the exercise regime & intensity.
4. Founding your own practice is busy work! What do you do for fun outside of work to relax and refresh?
I have recently picked up skiing, which is the best thing I’ve done for myself. I love taking in the fresh, cool air of the mountains with my two daughters. Additionally, I make it a habit to go for a walk and meditate on a daily basis – it helps me keep my sanity.
5. As the platform for women dreamers, what is the next big dream?
My next big dream is to open a state-of-the-art gym for patients with neurologic deficits. Just because someone has a neurologic deficit, it should not hinder their ability to exercise freely and safely. I dream to build a gym that is not only affordable, accessible, fun, and motivating but also a hub for social connections to these clients to upkeep their wellness. Because wellness in not just physical exercise/activity, but also emotional and psychological wellbeing!