The phrase describes the search for independently owned healthcare or professional service providers in one’s immediate geographic area. For instance, an individual experiencing back pain might utilize online search engines to locate physical therapists operating as independent businesses within a specific radius of their home or workplace.
Locating these establishments offers several advantages, including potentially more personalized care, flexible scheduling options, and a greater sense of continuity with a consistent practitioner. Historically, smaller, independently run offices were the dominant model for service provision; the increased corporatization of many sectors has led to a renewed interest in finding and supporting these more localized and individualistic businesses.
