In the season one finale of The Health of Business, I’m looking back at the podcast’s first year and sharing one lesson from each of our 29 episodes.

Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with clinic owners, physiotherapists, educators, advocates, designers and healthcare leaders about what it really takes to build a healthy and sustainable business.

In this episode, I reflect on lessons about vulnerability, financial literacy, patient experience, clinic culture, contracts, advocacy, mentorship, risk management, innovation, leadership and the realities of running a healthcare business.

Across all of these conversations, one definition of a healthy business continued to emerge: supported and fulfilled people, patients achieving meaningful outcomes, and enough profit to create stability and reinvest in the business.

I also share why I’m taking a seasonal break, what I hope to explore in season two, and my gratitude for every guest and listener who helped make the first season possible.

Thank you for being part of year one of The Health of Business. I’ll be back with new conversations, interviews and solo episodes in fall 2026.

LINKS

Learn more and connect with Danielle:

https://danielleboyd.ca

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Season finale and reflections on year one

04:00 Lessons 1–4: Vulnerability, business health, empathy and access

08:29 Lessons 5–8: Greener clinics, top-of-scope practice, financial literacy and patient service

12:59 Lessons 9–12: Direct billing, contractor classification, advocacy and relationship-based marketing

17:52 Lessons 13–16: Teaching, clinic design, sustainable fees and investing upfront

23:36 Lessons 17–20: Choosing a niche, corporate structures, mentorship and service-based leadership

29:16 Lessons 21–24: Contractor fee splits, contracts, emotional regulation and optimizing for joy

35:15 Lessons 25–28: Diagnostic imaging, risk audits, entrepreneurship and getting out of your team’s way

40:37 Lesson 29: People, patients and profit

42:40 Celebrating season one and looking toward season two

KEYWORDS

physiotherapy business, clinic ownership, healthcare leadership, private practice management, physiotherapy entrepreneurship, allied health business, healthcare business, clinic culture, patient experience, financial literacy, independent contractors, employee versus contractor, direct billing, physiotherapy fees, healthcare contracts, business risk management, internal risk audits, physiotherapy advocacy, diagnostic imaging, top of scope physiotherapy, staff mentorship, clinic marketing, clinic design, sustainable business, healthcare entrepreneurship, leadership development, BC physiotherapy, PABC, Canadian physiotherapy, clinic profitability, season finale, business podcast

In this episode of The Health of Business, Danielle sits down with Justin Chipperfield, founder of Chipperfield Mobile Physio and Wellness. Justin shares the story of moving from public healthcare into entrepreneurship, starting CMPW in 2013 while raising three kids, and slowly growing a mobile physiotherapy business from early home visits into a large multidisciplinary team.

This conversation explores the real behind-the-scenes work of building a mobile healthcare business: wearing all the hats, moving from paper charts to adopting powerful tech tools like Jane and Slack, hiring admin support, stepping away from clinical care, building a leadership team, expanding into Calgary, and navigating the regulatory and operational complexity of working across provinces.

Justin also shares the value of coaching, business books, financial literacy, and creating a workplace where people are supported, mentored, trusted, and excited to come to work.

Links:
Justin: https://www.chipperfieldphysio.ca/
Danielle: https://www.danielleboyd.ca/

Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Justin’s background
04:51 Identifying the gap for in-home care
08:23 Starting without a perfect plan
11:10 Wearing all the hats and building the team
15:00 Paper charts, Jane, Slack, and early systems
19:19 Leaving the hospital and going all in
22:23 Why Justin stayed mobile instead of brick and mortar
24:19 What makes mobile care powerful
32:11 COVID, growth, hiring, and expansion
35:31 Stepping away from clinical care
42:59 Hiring, org structure, and scaling revenue
47:38 Scheduling, admin systems, and AI possibilities
52:01 Calgary expansion and regulatory lessons
01:06:24 Coaching, mindset, and leadership development
01:20:43 What a healthy business looks like

Major topics:
Mobile physiotherapy, in-home healthcare, clinic ownership, scaling a healthcare business, multidisciplinary teams, leadership development, hiring, mentorship, clinic operations, Jane App, Slack, admin systems, AI and scheduling, Calgary expansion, Alberta compliance, coaching, financial literacy, profitability, and building a healthy workplace.

Keywords:
mobile physiotherapy, Chipperfield Mobile Physio and Wellness, clinic ownership, private practice, healthcare business, physiotherapy business, multidisciplinary care, home health, business coaching, clinic leadership, healthcare operations, Calgary expansion, Jane App, Slack, The Health of Business, Danielle Boyd

In this episode of The Health of Business, Danielle speaks with Melissa Thompson, physiotherapist and founder of Living Grow Physio in Penticton, BC. Melissa shares her journey from public-sector community rehab to starting her own mobile physiotherapy business while on maternity leave with two young children.

Together, they discuss the realities of in-home physiotherapy, safety considerations, referral-based marketing, business boundaries, and Melissa’s growing niche in myofunctional therapy. Melissa also reflects on what it means to build a business that supports family life, client independence, and community connection.

Website: livegrowphysio.ca
Instagram: @livegrowphysio
Facebook: Living Grow Physio

Key Points:

• Melissa started Living Grow Physio after reflecting on her career, family life, and need for more flexibility.
• Her mobile physiotherapy practice serves clients across the South Okanagan, especially those who have difficulty accessing clinic-based care.
• A long-term care subcontract helped create early stability while she built the private side of her business.
• Melissa has found strong referral relationships and vehicle branding to be simple but effective marketing strategies.
• Myofunctional therapy became part of her practice after her daughter’s tongue and lip tie release led Melissa to explore her own symptoms and training.
• The episode explores tongue posture, nasal breathing, swallowing patterns, tongue ties, and how these areas connect to whole-body function.
• Melissa discusses the unique safety, privacy, and boundary considerations involved in mobile physiotherapy.
• She shares how business ownership can offer flexibility, but also requires clear boundaries, strong communication, and support at home.
• Danielle and Melissa talk about the importance of choosing business decisions that reduce administrative load, including Melissa’s decision not to direct bill.
• Melissa defines a healthy business as one that is connected to its community through relationships, service, referrals, and local involvement.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Melissa Thompson and Living Grow Physio
01:47 - The safety incident that changed Melissa’s career direction
03:41 - Starting a business during maternity leave
05:34 - Building early stability through long-term care work
07:01 - Marketing through referral relationships and vehicle branding
10:20 - Melissa’s education path from Montana to Australia
13:08 - Getting stuck in Canada during COVID
20:46 - Moving from public practice into business ownership
23:43 - Combining home visits with myofunctional therapy
25:03 - What myofunctional therapy is and why it matters
28:42 - Discovering tongue ties through her daughter’s care
35:08 - Building referral relationships with dentists and orthodontists
43:08 - Boundaries, admin, and communication as a solo business owner
54:46 - Safety considerations for mobile physiotherapy
01:05:27 - What a healthy business looks like to Melissa

Keywords

mobile physiotherapy, in-home physiotherapy, community physiotherapy, private practice physiotherapy, physiotherapy business, physiotherapy entrepreneurship, solo practice, home visits, community rehab, long-term care physiotherapy, myofunctional therapy, tongue tie, lip tie, tongue posture, nasal breathing, mouth breathing, swallowing patterns, airway health, dental referrals, orthodontic referrals, business boundaries, mobile practice safety, home visit safety, physiotherapy admin, Jane App, direct billing, clinic marketing, vehicle branding, local referrals, motherhood and business, flexible practice, South Okanagan physiotherapy, Penticton physiotherapy, Living Grow Physio, healthy business, community connection, public practice to private practice

In this solo episode of The Health of Business, Danielle Boyd walks clinic owners through the value of completing an internal self-audit before risk shows up through an external audit, insurer review, CRA classification issue, privacy breach, or operational breakdown.

Danielle explains how clinic risk often lives in vague systems, outdated documents, inherited workflows, unclear contracts, inconsistent communication, and assumptions that no one has revisited in years. She breaks down the five main areas where clinics commonly carry risk: professional regulation and college obligations, insurance and direct billing exposure, CRA employee vs. contractor classification, privacy and records management, and general business operations.

This episode is designed to help clinic owners identify where their systems may need a closer look, what questions to ask internally, and when it may be time to bring in external support.

Danielle also shares a free internal risk audit toolkit available at danielleboyd.ca/free-resources to help clinic owners start the self-audit process.

Work with Danielle: danielleboyd.ca

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to internal self-audits and why the word “audit” can feel intimidating
02:19 Free internal risk audit toolkit and how to use it
03:10 Why all healthcare businesses carry multiple layers of risk
04:37 How vague systems, outdated documents, and inherited workflows create exposure
06:54 Different ways to approach a clinic self-audit
09:15 When external support may be helpful
10:51 The five main areas of clinic risk
12:53 Area 1: Professional regulation, college obligations, and corporate setup
16:08 Why service delivery, billing, receipts, and communication need to tell the same story
18:22 Area 2: Insurance company requirements, direct billing, and audit exposure
20:43 Documentation, consent forms, and supporting insurance claims
22:56 Patient responsibility, coverage limitations, and payment expectations
25:10 Insurer terms and conditions, workflow clarity, and billing guardrails
27:25 Area 3: CRA employee vs. independent contractor classification risk
29:33 Control, business risk, opportunity for profit, and integration
31:50 Matching contracts to the actual working relationship
34:09 Area 4: Privacy, records, data custody, and EMR access
36:26 Privacy breaches, email communication, device security, and cyber coverage
38:49 Offboarding, chart custody, and record transfer considerations
40:00 Area 5: General business, communication, and operational risk
41:06 Internal communication, escalation pathways, and role clarity
43:25 Client-facing policies, insurance coverage, and onboarding/offboarding systems
45:50 Patient source diversification and reducing operational confusion
48:02 Incident review, policy updates, and identifying recurring friction points
50:16 Danielle’s consulting framework for external internal risk audits
52:41 Closing thoughts

Keywords:

internal clinic audit, clinic self-audit, healthcare business risk, clinic risk management, physiotherapy clinic business, private practice compliance, clinic operations, direct billing compliance, insurer audit, Pacific Blue Cross, ICBC billing, WorkSafeBC, MSP billing, CRA contractor risk, independent contractor vs employee, clinic contracts, privacy compliance, patient records, EMR access, Jane App, data custody, cyber insurance, clinic policies, cancellation policy, no-show policy, clinic onboarding, clinic offboarding, professional regulation, college standards, healthcare operations, business liability, clinic owner education, Health of Business podcast, Danielle Boyd Consulting

Jason Craig, Director of Advocacy and Research with the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia, joins Danielle to discuss the current push for BC physiotherapists to order diagnostic imaging. They explore why this matters for patient access, healthcare flow, rural communities, MSK care, emergency departments, and full scope physiotherapy practice.

Jason shares what the research shows about physio-ordered imaging, including conservative ordering patterns, appropriate use, surgical conversion rates, and strong alignment with orthopedic decision-making. He also addresses common concerns, including imaging volume, incidental findings, follow-up pathways, medical records, and implementation logistics.

The conversation also covers what a phased rollout could look like in BC, the roles of PABC, UBC, the College, and health authorities, and why collaboration with physicians, radiologists, government, and other healthcare professionals is essential.

Guest contact:Jason CraigDirector of Advocacy and Research, Physiotherapy Association of British ColumbiaEmail: [email protected]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-craig-pt/

Timestamps

0:00 | Welcome Jason Craig to The Health of Business
0:33 | Jason’s background in teaching, pediatrics, private practice, and PABC advocacy
1:35 | How Jason got involved in research, position statements, and scope work
3:02 | PABC’s diagnostic imaging advocacy push
3:36 | Why now? Research, timing, and pressure on the healthcare system
5:00 | Why this became a passion project
6:06 | Building support across professions, health authorities, municipalities, and government
8:24 | How diagnostic imaging could improve access, reduce costs, and improve outcomes
9:18 | MSK injuries, emergency departments, and streamlining care
10:15 | Trauma, vestibular care, pelvic health, pediatrics, and broader applications
12:07 | Where physios can already order imaging in Canada and internationally
13:47 | Why BC is catching up, not leading, on this issue
16:21 | Why collaboration with physicians and other professions is essential
18:26 | Team-based care and what outpatient care can learn from inpatient models
20:26 | UBC’s Gateway Project and integrated care
22:06 | Imaging volume, conservative ordering, and what the research shows
23:48 | Why not every physio would order imaging
24:48 | Ordering imaging only when it changes the treatment plan
27:35 | Surgical conversion rates and physio-led orthopedic triage
30:11 | Post-op care, DVT concerns, and unnecessary emergency department visits
35:36 | Pushback, reservations, and concerns from Doctors of BC
37:07 | Incidental findings and the need for clear follow-up pathways
40:26 | Medical records, communication systems, and implementation barriers
41:49 | Possible timelines and what happens after open engagement
43:13 | PABC advocates, UBC educates, and the College regulates
44:51 | Education pathways, restricted activities, and advanced practice expectations
47:01 | What comes next: primary care networks and emergency department integration
48:28 | How to connect with Jason and get involved

Keywords:

Jason Craig, PABC, Physiotherapy Association of BC, diagnostic imaging, physio-ordered imaging, BC physiotherapy, scope of practice, full scope practice, MSK care, emergency department, primary care, team-based care, rural healthcare, orthopedic triage, surgical conversion rates, incidental findings, medical records, UBC physiotherapy, health advocacy, Doctors of BC, BC Radiological Society, physiotherapy advocacy

In this episode of The Health of Business, Danielle speaks with physiotherapist, yoga teacher, and online educator Audriana Monteiro about building an online business as a healthcare practitioner.

Audriana shares her path from private practice and pediatrics into chronic pain care, trauma-informed yoga, and online education. The conversation explores YouTube, Insight Timer, Instagram, online courses, accessibility, content creation, burnout, evidence-based messaging, and how to build a business that feels aligned instead of draining.

They also discuss why Audriana decided to step back from her podcast, how online work can create more accessible care, and what a healthy online business looks like through the lens of joy, values, creativity, and sustainability.

Learn more about Danielle: https://www.danielleboyd.caLearn more about Audriana: https://www.empoweredmovement.ca

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction1:11 Audriana’s path into physiotherapy, pediatrics, and chronic pain4:52 What made chronic pain work feel meaningful7:01 Why online business matters for physios and healthcare providers8:07 Audriana’s online business, platforms, and content ecosystem12:38 Insight Timer as an underrated platform for health professionals17:06 YouTube, trauma-informed yoga, and long-form content19:51 How much time online content creation really takes23:53 Why Audriana decided to end her podcast32:58 Trauma-informed care and online messaging36:20 The problem with social media algorithms and health misinformation42:20 Staying in integrity as an online creator44:20 Advice for healthcare practitioners starting online48:18 Accessibility, chronic pain education, and online courses50:37 Where to find Audriana online52:14 What a healthy online business looks like57:03 Closing

Keywords:

physiotherapy business, online physio business, healthcare content creation, chronic pain education, trauma-informed yoga, trauma-informed care, Insight Timer, YouTube for healthcare professionals, online courses for healthcare, accessible healthcare education, physiotherapy entrepreneurship, content creation for physios, healthcare marketing, evidence-based health content, chronic pain physiotherapy, nervous system education, sustainable business, burnout prevention, online healthcare business, health business podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Jeff and Vania, co-owners (along with their other 2 business partners) of Physio Collective, to talk about what culture actually means in a clinic and what it takes to build and lead a team of 40+ staff.

This is a grounded, honest conversation about clinic ownership, leadership, and growth. We get into the real work behind building a strong team, navigating challenges with multiple partners, and creating a culture that actually holds as your business scales.

Jeff and Vania share their journey from clinicians to owners, how they structured their roles as a leadership team, and the lessons they’ve learned over nearly a decade in business.

We also talk about:
• What culture really is and how it shows up day-to-day• Hiring for self-awareness and growth mindset• Navigating difficult conversations as a leader• Dividing roles across multiple business partners• Scaling a clinic while maintaining team alignment• Lessons from past clinic environments and what they chose to do differently• Industry shifts, including insurance and active rehab changes

If you’re a clinic owner, aspiring owner, or just trying to understand how to build something sustainable in healthcare, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Episode begins: meet Jeff and Vania01:00 – Their paths into physio and kinesiology05:00 – Starting Physio Collective08:00 – Why culture mattered from day one11:00 – Building core values and early planning15:00 – Co-owning with four partners19:00 – Balancing clinical work and leadership23:00 – Personal growth as business owners28:00 – Scaling to 40+ staff32:00 – Hiring for self-awareness36:00 – Culture starts at the top41:00 – Lessons from past clinics47:00 – Industry challenges and insurance shifts55:00 – Collaboration across professions01:05:00 – Final reflections

Keywords:

physio business, physiotherapy clinic ownership, clinic culture, healthcare leadership, private practice physio, kinesiology clinic, clinic growth, healthcare entrepreneurship, team culture, clinic hiring, physio podcast, business of physio, active rehab BC, clinic management

In this episode, Danielle sits down with Dr. Ashley Burton to unpack a contract dispute that turned into a stressful three-year legal battle early in Ashley’s career. Ashley shares how one clinic contract, combined with the chaos of COVID, exposed major issues around payment structure, termination clauses, and contractor rights. Together, they break down what practitioners should look for before signing an agreement, why clear exit clauses matter, and how little business and legal education most health professionals receive before entering practice. This is a must-listen for chiropractors, physios, RMTs, and any practitioner working in a clinic setting.

Work with Danielle: danielleboyd.ca

Work with Ashley: drashleyburton.com

Instagram: @fern_drashleyburton

Podcast: Fern Rising with Dr. Ashley Burton

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Ashley’s background in chiropractic, fitness, and nutrition
02:47 Why this story matters
05:00 Signing her first clinic contract as a new grad
07:55 How COVID triggered the dispute
12:32 The withheld paycheck and rent issue
14:38 The termination clause problem
22:05 Contractor hours and control
27:52 Being served legal papers
30:00 The emotional toll of working through litigation
31:22 The court outcome
44:17 What Ashley now looks for in a healthy contract
48:08 The lack of business education in practitioner training
01:07:18 Why everything needs to be in writing
01:08:27 Final lessons and takeaways

Keywords
Dr Ashley Burton, clinic contract red flags, contractor agreement, healthcare contracts, new grad practitioners, chiropractic business, physiotherapy business, contract negotiation, contractor termination clause, clinic ownership, legal lessons for practitioners, business education for health professionals, independent contractor risks, reading clinic contracts, health of business podcast, danielle boyd, physio contract, physiotherapy contract, clinic contract mistakes, physio business,, clinic owner tips, healthcare business, independent contractor physio, physio legal issues, clinic ownership, health business podcast, physiotherapy canada, private practice physio, business of physio, contract dispute healthcare, physio entrepreneur, chiro clinic, chiro contract, chiro canada

In this solo episode, Danielle shares an opinionated, practical breakdown of why the fee split independent contractor model is no longer working in clinics. As overhead rises and clinics add more systems, expectations, and KPIs, the “contractor” arrangement often stops resembling true independence.

Danielle explains the core mismatch: clinic owners typically carry fixed overhead, administrative responsibility, marketing, and continuity of care, while income becomes unpredictable when contractors reduce hours, take vacations, or go on leave. Many owners then try to regain control over hours, vacation, and performance, which can blur the CRA contractor vs employee line and put both the clinic and clinicians at risk in an audit.

You’ll also hear the alternatives that create cleaner alignment: employee models (hourly, commission, or hybrid) and true contractor models built on rent (base rent, or base rent plus commission). Danielle also touches on multidisciplinary clinic considerations and why rent can be the cleanest structure when you cannot bill on behalf of other professions.

If you want help pricing rent, planning a transition, or stress testing your current structure, Danielle offers consulting support: danielleboyd.ca

Danielle's course, The Business of Physio 101 is essential learning for anyone considering clinic ownership or becoming an IC

danielleboyd.ca/business-of-physio-101

Timestamps

00:00 Intro and why this is an opinion piece
02:12 Part 1: why fee split IC is not working anymore
03:10 What an IC model is supposed to be in theory
03:38 What is happening in reality: rising overhead and increased clinic control
04:59 The leave and vacation problem: no rent paid when away
05:54 The core issue: financial risk sits with the clinic owner
07:14 Income variability vs true financial risk for clinicians
08:12 Administrative burden and continuity of care impacts
09:06 The control problem: owners cannot mandate hours or coverage in a true IC model
10:28 Why this creates double risk for owners
10:57 Unpredictable income vs fixed overhead: why it destabilizes clinics
12:23 Patient access and continuity risks when schedules gap
13:20 Fee for service can work for employees too
13:44 CRA risk: when owners try to control ICs, the model blurs
15:08 Incentives, mentorship, and culture creep into employee territory
16:27 “House of cards” warning: audit risk if done incorrectly
17:22 Why this matters: stress, burnout, toxicity, and profession wide reputational risk
18:49 Clinician risk: reclassification can trigger taxes, lost write offs, and penalties
20:17 Why owners are not always malicious: business is not taught
21:13 Why clinicians must understand this too
22:11 Patient transparency and access considerations
23:33 The alternatives: stop living in the gray zone
24:02 Lean one way: employee model vs rent model
25:02 Empowered interviews: questions clinicians should ask
25:31 Option 1: employee model (best for early career clinicians)
26:29 Hourly employees: how unbooked time can be used
27:25 Employee commission models and hybrids
28:24 Benefits: predictable cashflow and clarity for owners and staff
29:51 Option 2: pure rent model (cleanest contractor model)
30:20 Multidisciplinary clinics and billing limitations: why rent is clean
31:14 How rent protects fixed costs and shares risk
32:09 Base rent plus commission as a transition model
33:31 Why base rent helps demonstrate independence to CRA
33:59 The warning: fee split favors clinicians but can still hurt them in an audit
34:27 Closing: choose clarity, raise business knowledge, prepare for change (HPOA)

Keywords:

clinic staffing models, physiotherapy clinic business, employee vs contractor healthcare, clinic rent model, healthcare business structure, contractor vs employee CRA, clinic operations, physiotherapy practice management, clinic ownership, healthcare consulting

In this episode of The Health of Business, Danielle sits down with Vince Cunanan, physiotherapist, new clinic owner in Kelowna, outgoing President of PABC, and advocate for mental health.

Vince shares his 25-year journey from Saskatoon to Kelowna, his rapid early clinical development, and over two decades of professional volunteer leadership. He opens up about:

• Taking over an established clinic after a succession plan fell through

• The emotional reality of leaving a team you love

• What it actually feels like to step into ownership

• Why systems and process matter more than people think

• Organic growth without spending on marketing

• Burnout in physiotherapy and the importance of life outside clinic walls

• The evolving role of PABC and what members need to understand about HPOA

• Why physiotherapists must stand tall and value their education

Vince speaks candidly about leadership, vulnerability, and why a healthy business is one rooted in love.

If you are a clinic owner, aspiring owner, or simply navigating your own career path in physiotherapy, this conversation will resonate deeply.

And - a huge note of gratitude for Vince's service as PABC Board President.

Learn more about Vince's clinic: https://www.vinnyandassociatesphysio.com/

Work with Danielle: www.danielleboyd.ca

Friends of Felix: https://www.instagram.com/friendsoffelixbrand/

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome + Vince’s 25-year journey into physiotherapy
03:00 – Moving from Saskatchewan to Kelowna
06:00 – The decision to open a clinic
09:00 – Taking over an existing practice and rebranding
12:00 – Early operational challenges and learning curves
17:30 – Emotional challenges of leaving a previous clinic
20:00 – Real estate realities in Kelowna
22:00 – Direct billing, insurers, and administrative hurdles
23:30 – Growing organically without marketing
26:00 – Leadership philosophy and service
31:00 – Mental health advocacy and burnout
35:00 – The Kelowna business landscape
42:00 – Why Vince joined PABC
45:00 – Diagnostic imaging, scope, and advocacy
52:00 – Public physio roles and top-of-scope practice
56:00 – How members can get involved with PABC
1:05:00 – Legacy, systems, and succession planning
1:10:00 – Wearing multiple hats and avoiding burnout
1:12:00 – What makes a healthy business

Keywords:

Physiotherapy leadership Clinic ownership BC Kelowna physiotherapy PABC Health Professions and Occupations Act Diagnostic imaging physiotherapy Physio burnout Men’s mental health Healthcare entrepreneurship Private practice physiotherapy Physiotherapy advocacy Business of physio Physiotherapy career paths Canadian physiotherapy