About Me

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Welcome to Total Therapy Solutions. My name is Anthony Maritato, PT, and I am a licensed physical therapist and the proud owner of this practice. Our mission at Total Therapy Solutions is to provide the highest quality of care to our patients, focusing on personalized treatment plans that help our patients regain their strength and mobility, particularly after a total knee replacement.

My journey to becoming a physical therapist and opening Total Therapy Solutions has been unique and filled with valuable lessons that have shaped my approach to patient care. I invite you to learn more about my story and the philosophy behind Total Therapy Solutions.

Early Life and Entrepreneurial Spirit

My entrepreneurial journey began at a young age. I’ve always been drawn to business and the process of creating value. As a kid, I would buy fireworks in South Carolina, where they were legal, and sell them to my friends in Florida. It wasn’t about the money for me; I was fascinated by the process of bringing together someone who wanted something and someone who had what they wanted.

After graduating high school in 1993, I found myself in a place many young adults do – unsure of what to do next. I tried attending a local community college, but it wasn’t the right fit for me. I loved business and entrepreneurial endeavors, and the traditional educational path didn’t seem to cater to that passion. So, I left college after the first semester.

Soon after, an opportunity presented itself that allowed me to dive headfirst into the world of business. My family owned a commercial piece of property that was being leased as a plant store. The tenant was behind on rent and facing financial issues, so we took over the business. At either 18 or 19 years old, I found myself in charge of a business that was doing a couple hundred thousand a year in revenue and had a couple of employees. It was a daunting experience, but it taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, customer service, and the realities of running a business.

Running the plant store was a crash course in business. I learned how to sell, how to manage employees, and how to make a business run more efficiently. But perhaps the most important lesson I learned was about customer service. I learned that customers don’t always know exactly what they want, and it’s our job as business owners to help guide them to the best solution. This lesson has been instrumental in shaping my approach to patient care in my physical therapy practice.

Journey to Physical Therapy

My path to physical therapy was not a straight line. After running the plant store for a couple of years, I found myself yearning for a change. I was tired of the Florida heat and the physical demands of the job. I knew I wanted to do something different, but I wasn’t sure what that was yet.

During this time, I was deeply involved in martial arts. I loved the discipline, the focus on human movement and performance, and the opportunity to coach and teach others. This passion for human movement led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, where I worked as a certified strength and conditioning specialist.

My interest in physical therapy was sparked when my mother was diagnosed with frozen shoulder. I saw firsthand the impact that physical therapy could have on a person’s quality of life. I realized that physical therapy combined my passion for human movement with my desire to help others. It was the perfect fit for me.

So, I decided to pursue a career in physical therapy. But instead of following the traditional path, I took a more unconventional route. I opened a physical therapy practice before becoming a licensed physical therapist myself. This decision allowed me to start helping patients right away, while also providing the financial means for me to go back to school and earn my master’s degree in physical therapy.

Unconventional Path to Physical Therapy Practice

My approach to entering the field of physical therapy was far from traditional. Instead of waiting until I had completed my physical therapy degree, I decided to open a physical therapy practice right away. I hired the best physical therapist I could find and focused on creating a practice that put patient care front and center.

This decision was driven by my desire to solve problems quickly and efficiently. I saw a need for better patient care services in physical therapy, and I didn’t want to wait three to five years to start making a difference. By opening my practice early, I was able to start improving patient care right away.

Running a physical therapy practice before becoming a licensed physical therapist myself was a challenging but rewarding experience. It gave me a unique perspective on the field and allowed me to understand the business side of physical therapy in a way that many physical therapists don’t. This experience has been invaluable in shaping my approach to patient care and running Total Therapy Solutions.

Moreover, having a successful physical therapy practice provided the financial means for me to go back to school and earn my master’s degree in physical therapy. This allowed me to gain the clinical skills and knowledge necessary to provide the best possible care to my patients.

Philosophy and Approach

My philosophy towards physical therapy and patient care is deeply rooted in my early experiences in business and martial arts. I believe in a patient-centered approach, where the focus is on understanding the patient’s goals and creating a treatment plan that helps them achieve those goals.

From my early days running a plant store, I learned the importance of empathy in customer service. This lesson has carried over into my physical therapy practice. I believe that empathy is not just important, but crucial in healthcare. Being able to understand and share the feelings of my patients allows me to provide better care and helps me guide them towards their goals.

My experiences in martial arts have also greatly influenced my approach to physical therapy. The discipline, focus on human movement, and coaching aspects of martial arts are all elements that I bring to my physical therapy practice. I believe in the power of exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle management in improving a person’s quality of life, and I incorporate these elements into my patient care.

As a leader, I believe in leading with empathy. I understand that the success of Total Therapy Solutions is dependent on the success of the people who interact with it – both the patients and the clinical team. My goal as a leader is to create an environment where everyone feels supported and has the resources they need to succeed.

Vision for Total Therapy Solutions

My vision for the future of Total Therapy Solutions is to create a platform that provides a launchpad for the success of both my patients and my clinical team. I believe that the success of my business is directly tied to the success of the people who interact with it. Therefore, my goal is to create an environment where everyone involved – from the patients to the clinical team – can thrive.

For our patients, this means providing the highest quality of care and personalized treatment plans that help them regain their strength and mobility. I want Total Therapy Solutions to be a place where patients feel heard, understood, and supported on their journey to recovery.

For my clinical team, this means providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed in their careers. I want Total Therapy Solutions to be a place where they can grow professionally, continue to learn, and feel valued for the work they do.

As I look to the future, I am excited about the potential to continue to grow and evolve Total Therapy Solutions to better serve our patients and our team. I am committed to continuing to learn, adapt, and improve in order to provide the best possible care and create a positive work environment for my team.

Conclusion

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and Total Therapy Solutions. I am grateful for your interest and I hope that this page has given you a better understanding of my journey, my philosophy, and my vision for Total Therapy Solutions.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the services we offer, I invite you to get in touch. Whether you’re a potential patient looking for high-quality physical therapy care or a physical therapist interested in joining our team, I would love to hear from you.

Thank you again for your time, and I look forward to the possibility of working with you in the future.

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