Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Allen.
Hi Elizabeth, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up on a farm in rural Virginia, where I learned early on to be practical, resourceful, and a problem solver. I’ve also always had a strong desire to help people, and that ultimately shaped the direction of my career.
During my undergraduate studies, I became a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and spent several years working part-time at Healing Strides of Virginia, a therapeutic riding facility. It was there that I had the opportunity to observe an occupational therapist providing hippotherapy, and seeing occupational therapy in that setting really solidified my desire to pursue the profession.
While completing my clinical fieldwork in occupational therapy school, I was introduced to lymphedema therapy and quickly became fascinated by the specialty. I also began to recognize how significant the need was. There simply weren’t enough trained lymphedema therapists, particularly in more rural communities, and some patients were traveling two hours or more to receive specialized treatment. For someone already dealing with significant swelling, mobility limitations, cancer recovery, or other health challenges, that travel can become another barrier to care.
After earning my master’s degree in occupational therapy, I pursued advanced training and became a Certified Lymphedema Therapist through Monarch Continuing Education. I am also currently pursuing certification through the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA), further advancing my knowledge and expertise in lymphedema management. I then spent approximately five years working as both a lymphedema therapist and occupational therapist in a traditional healthcare setting. During that time, I continued to see patients struggle to access the specialized care they needed, and I began thinking about how it could be delivered differently.
That ultimately became the vision for Lymphedema Therapy & Rehab PLLC, a mobile outpatient occupational therapy practice that brings specialized lymphedema treatment directly to patients in their homes. The practice officially opened on June 1, 2026, serving Lynchburg and surrounding communities. My goal was to remove some of the barriers associated with traveling for treatment while providing individualized, evidence-based lymphedema and edema care.
An equally important part of my mission is education and patient advocacy. Receiving an appropriate diagnosis, finding knowledgeable providers, obtaining referrals, and navigating insurance coverage for treatment and compression supplies can all be challenging for someone with lymphedema. I want my patients to understand their condition, know what resources are available to them, and feel that they have someone in their corner helping them navigate the healthcare system.
Our tagline, “Lasting Control for Chronic Swelling,” reflects that philosophy. Successful lymphedema treatment isn’t simply about reducing swelling during therapy. It’s about giving patients the education, tools, resources, and confidence they need to manage a chronic condition and maintain their progress long-term.
My goal is to continue building Lymphedema Therapy & Rehab into a trusted local resource for both patients and healthcare providers. There is a real need for accessible, specialized lymphedema care in our area, and I’m excited about the opportunity to continue expanding those services and advocating for the patients who need them.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Starting a healthcare practice from the ground up has involved a much steeper learning curve than I anticipated. My background is clinical, so in addition to being the therapist, I’ve had to learn the business side of healthcare—credentialing with insurance companies, Medicare requirements, billing, compliance, documentation systems, marketing, and all of the administrative pieces that happen behind the scenes.
One of the biggest challenges has been navigating insurance and reimbursement. The process of becoming credentialed with insurance companies can be lengthy and complicated, and even after becoming a participating provider, there is a tremendous amount to learn about the different requirements of each payer. As a small practice, I don’t have a billing department or administrative team handling those issues for me, so I’ve had to become very knowledgeable about that side of healthcare as well.
Another challenge has been increasing awareness of lymphedema itself. Many patients have lived with swelling for years without realizing that specialized treatment is available, and some have difficulty getting an appropriate diagnosis or finding a provider who knows where to refer them. Part of building this practice has meant not only letting people know that my services exist, but also educating patients, families, and healthcare providers about lymphedema and the treatment options available.
The mobile model also comes with its own logistical challenges. I’m essentially bringing a clinic with me from one patient’s home to the next, so there is a lot of planning involved in scheduling, travel, equipment, compression supplies, and making sure I can provide comprehensive treatment in a variety of home environments.
At the same time, those challenges have reinforced why I started the practice in the first place. When I’m able to treat someone in their home who otherwise may have had difficulty accessing specialized care, it makes the work involved in building the practice worthwhile. I’m still learning and refining things as the business grows, but I’m proud of what I’ve been able to build so far.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Lymphedema Therapy & Rehab is a mobile outpatient occupational therapy practice specializing in lymphedema and chronic swelling. I provide Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) in patients’ homes, which includes manual lymphatic drainage, compression therapy, exercise, skin care, education, and developing a long-term plan for managing their condition.
What probably sets my practice apart most is that I try to be very practical about treatment. Lymphedema is a chronic condition, and there’s no point in giving someone a complicated plan they can’t realistically maintain once I’m gone. I want to understand their lifestyle, their limitations, their resources, and what they’re actually willing and able to do—and then find a solution that works for them.
If you asked my patients, I think they would say I’m kind, compassionate, understanding, practical, realistic, and determined to find a sustainable solution. I’m also willing to advocate for them when they’re having difficulty getting the care, compression equipment, or insurance coverage they need.
What I’m most proud of is seeing someone go from feeling overwhelmed by their condition to realizing, “Okay, I can actually manage this.” That’s really what “Lasting Control for Chronic Swelling” means to me.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think one of the most important things for me has been always being willing to learn and grow. I never want to get to a point where I think I know everything or that there isn’t something I could be doing better. Whether it’s learning more about lymphedema treatment, understanding the healthcare system, or figuring out how to run a better business, I’m constantly asking questions, researching, and looking for ways to improve.
I’m also naturally a problem solver and pretty persistent. If something isn’t working, I want to understand why and figure out if there’s a better approach. I think that combination of curiosity, determination, and a willingness to keep improving has helped me tremendously, both as a therapist and as a business owner.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lymphedematherapyrehab.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Lymphedema-Therapy-Rehab-PLLC/61566296113324/
