Access Physical Therapy celebrates opening of second PA location
By Jerry Goldberg
DINGMANS FERRY — An open house celebration took place Nov. 14 for the opening of the second Pennsylvania location of Access Physical Therapy & Wellness, at 102 Dingmans Plaza, just across the road from Dingmans Medical Center on state Route 739.
Owners Steve and Shannon Albanese, his brother Chris and his wife, Janet, were on hand to meet and greet all their guests and patients. Plenty of staff and therapists were on hand to answer questions, show off the facility, and make sure everyone knew where the refreshments could be found.
Access has been in business 10 years with 22 facilities open in New York, Pennsylvania, and other states. They also have another office open in Milford at 518 state Routes 6/209. The Dingmans Ferry facility opened Oct. 21.
“We’re here to serve our patients,” said Steve Albanese.
After an association with Dr. Lisa Pathak of Dingmans Medical and being asked to open in this area by several doctors because of the growth in population the Albanese brothers decided to make the move and enter into a partnership with Innocent Rwakonda, who has a degree in physical therapy. Rwakonda has been serving patients in the Milford area for more than 15 years. Pathak and her husband, Raj Dalavai, purchased Canterbury Furniture and converted it into the new Access Physical Therapy facility.
Access staff member Ashley Kurtz told the Courier: “We strive to provide hands on, one on one patient care.”
The Albanese brothers operate five of the units, and the others are partnerships. As partnerships the physical therapist runs an independent physical therapy facility. All the partnerships receive continuous support from the Access main office in Campbell Hall, N.Y.
The physical therapist who owns his own facility only has to take care of and promote his own business. Access provides all the management services such as payroll, human resources, billing, website maintenance, and other back-end office functions.
The Dingmans Ferry and Milford facilities are owned by Rwakonda and his wife, Munya. Innocent is a doctor of physical therapy. They are partnered with Access.
Hearing Instrument Specialist Teddi Sutherland shares part of the facility and operates Audibel Hearing Care Centers. Audibel also has an office in Honesdale.
“Our business centers on serving our patients," Steve Albanese said.
He said he didn’t want his therapist partnerships to worry about the latest compliance law or making sure they’re credentialed with all the insurance companies. "We take care of everything our therapists need to run a good business," he said. "Because if running their business had to be their focus they would have less time to focus on patient care."
The new facility was looking shiny with all-new equipment, and plenty of room in the well-lit and spacious building.
You can contact Access in Dingmans Ferry at 570=-828-0000 and for the Milford facility call 570-209-3333. You can also visit their website at www.accessptw.com.