How did you become
interested in Health, Wellness and Fitness?
My interest originated from my
involvement in sport. My parents started me with softball at a young age,
but my true sporting passion was field hockey (I played at the high school and
collegiate level). Athletics taught me the importance of staying fit and
sparked my interest in studying human movement and exercise physiology. I
went on to earn a BS in Kinesiology and now work for two wonderful
musculoskeletal physicians!
What are your
favorite aspects of working in small, intimate practice?
Flexibility and opportunity.
I appreciate being able to implement
changes and watch them in action. Whether it’s a tweak to our patient
policies, adding a blog to our website or researching and providing training
tools to keep our employees happy and motivated, my position at LWSS allows me
the freedom to do so. My position here has also given me the opportunity
for personal and professional growth beyond my expectation.
What's
your favorite form of exercise?
I couldn’t pick just one! I enjoy
running (I completed my first marathon in October), heated Vinyasa yoga and
pilates. I like to vary my routine and keep challenging myself.
What is your favorite
way to integrate a healthy lifestyle into your work day?
Personally, I find that exercising in
the morning before work is the best way to start the day. While at the
office, I make sure to drink a lot of water, eat small meals with a good
balance of protein/ carbs and stretch multiple times to keep energized.
How would you define the brand at Lake
Washington Sports & Spine?
The LWSS brand is all about providing targeted,
high-quality, effective musculoskeletal care. Our clinic takes great
pride in the fact that we are a small, physician-owned business. What
that means for our patients is that they’ll never have to deal with a phone
tree, they’ll be greeted by the same warm, friendly faces each time they visit
our office and most importantly they will have access to physicians who are
able to utilize their skills and knowledge without the constraints inherent in
a large system.
You have worked in other physician
offices, including other Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation offices,
before. What makes Lake Washington Sports & Spine different?
Our positive culture, for sure.
What are the
deliberate tactics you use to foster that positive culture?
The positive culture at LWSS is
directly related to our promotion of personal accountability. Our culture
revolves around being the best person/employee you can be every day, which
means taking ownership of mistakes, asking for help when necessary and being a
supportive team player. It’s not necessary to be a manager or a physician
to be a leader; LWSS functions so well because each of our employees is a
leader in their own role.
You yourself enjoy being active. What
are the things you seek in a physician as an active, athletic professional, and
how does Lake Washington Sports & Spine succeed in providing that kind of
service?
Choosing a physician is a difficult
task and more complex than simply choosing a doctor alone. Personally, I
make my decision based on three factors: the physician, their schedule and
their office staff.
First, I look for a physician
with solid experience in his/her specialty, good bedside manner and most
importantly someone I feel comfortable with.
Second, I like to check the doctor’s
availability. Do they have convenient hours? Is the wait time for
an appointment reasonable? I appreciate someone who is flexible.
Last but not least is the physician’s
office staff. It’s so important to me that staff is friendly and
competent. Fantastic staff is the cherry on the sundae!
What advantages are
there for patients in having 2 physicians, Dr. Hyman and Dr. Chimes, who are
both boarded in Sports Medicine, perform spine injections, perform nerve tests,
perform musculoskeletal ultrasound, and experts in exercise?
Well, quite simply, two (brains) are
better than one!
Although Drs. Hyman and Chimes are both
physiatrists, they each have areas of expertise, specialization and personal
interest. Having two high-caliber physicians in our office allows
patients to benefit from each physician’s depth of knowledge. The doctors
often discuss challenging patients, share interesting ultrasound findings and
use each other as a sounding board.
Do you feel empowered to help
mold the practice to improve the patient experience?
Absolutely!!
