Every now and then you come across a young professional who you just know is going places. From the way they create a presence on social media. Or by the amazing contributions they make to the field prior to even graduating from college. Gabriel Ortiz has accomplished all this, and so when I came across his newest endeavor with www.LeadPT.com, I knew it was going to be a big thing.
Interview with Gabriel Ortiz PT, DPT
Rob: Hi Gabriel, thank you for coming on Rock the Recovery. Tell me a little bit about yourself? I understand that LeadPT is not your first major endeavor.
School and BTE:
Gabriel Ortiz: Sure, I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. I majored in Biology at UMass Boston and graduated from Florida International University with my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Halfway through the doctorate, I had an idea about a mouse for below-elbow amputees when a professor told the class about her son, born with a congenital upper limb difference, who loves playing Fortnite. I created BTE Mouse with the help of architects and electrical engineers, and it is free to download at TOM Global. That project got me interested in product management, and one of the main things about product management is building products and making an impact with those products.
Rob: That is an amazing story coming from someone then only a student. The below the elbow mouse (BTE mouse) is an amazing invention and says a great deal about your drive and character. I’m sure you put the same passion into each of your patients, as well as your next big accomplishment. How did you come up with the idea for LeadPT.com? How long did it take to come to fruition?
LeadPT:
Gabriel Ortiz: I had the idea of LeadPT around July of 2023. From August to October, I started working with a freelancer to help with the project. However, the freelancer did not finish the job and I ended up empty-handed. I decided to take the project into my own hands. Then, when boards started approaching, I had finished around 85% of the website, but passing my board exam was the priority. I worked alongside another freelancer, and he was able to help me finish the website.
My inspiration for my website is that marketplaces are all over the place. Uber Eats, Betterhelp, Trivago, etc. But when it comes to PT, I could not find one when searching on Google. In addition, people can find specific specialties they might be interested in when finding a Therapist. On Google, that option is not currently available. Once on the site, potential patients can narrow their search through options of Therapist specialty, languages spoken and geographic location.
PT marketplace explained:
Rob: Good help is hard to find. A marketplace makes all sorts of sense. In this day and age Physical Therapy needs to do everything we can do stay in tune with how the world is operating. Well-informed patients will be able to make the right decision for their care. Your app could do just that! How does it help the Therapist to join?
Gabriel Ortiz: Many clinics require therapists to promote their clinics outside of company time. LeadPT allows PTs to promote themselves on their social media and generate leads for the clinic. If you are a solo PT, even better because all those profits go to you. It is like your web page/resume—no need to spend time on Squarespace, Wix, or any other website service.
Therapy Referrals:
Rob: Minus getting word of mouth referrals, from friends and family, I feel like most patients either pick their Therapist by physician referral or drive time. This website can help change this based on personal experience and specialties. Only certain clinics can handle neurologic diagnosis, just as others are more optimized for elite athletes. We need to demonstrate our value by treating those whom we are best suited to help. And patients need to understand this as well. They have a choice, and they need an easy place to find the right fit. Most outpatient websites are basically all the same, so this can help the specific Therapist advertise themselves. Who do you find on the site thus far and tell us more about the site?
Gabriel Ortiz: The types of therapists on the platform are the ones who are interested in pushing the PT space forward and who support other PT projects. This may be due to my only marketing being mainly through LinkedIn. Soon, I will start marketing the website more on other social media apps. The website is free, and any PT can create a profile.
Setting up your profile:
Rob: I’ve checked out the site and it looks very easy to use! How quick is it to sign up, and have patients reaching out to you?
Gabriel Ortiz: With four easy steps on leadpt.com you can have your profile set up. Sign up and create your professional profile on our platform. You can do this by clicking sign up (PT) in the top right-hand top corner. We ask a few quick questions, and you may load your photo, which we suggest. Then you can start receiving client requests or appointments based on your availability. Connect with clients and provide them with high-quality physical therapy services. Finally, you can grow your practice and increase your earnings with our platform.
Rob: Thank you so much Gabriel Ortiz, www.LeadPT.com is something that all Therapists looking to expand their practice should be signing up for.
Check out more about Gabriel Ortiz on LinkedIn