Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Chelsea Jerabek, PT, DPT.
Hi Dr. Chelsea, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I knew I wanted to be a physical therapist at 10 years old when I was a physical therapy patient for the first time. I then got sick when I was 12 years old and it took three years to get a diagnosis of Lyme disease. I suffered from many symptoms, including asthma, acid reflux, neurologic dysfunction, and severe chronic pain (to name a few) for the next 20 years. Being a patient of physical therapy helped me to go from barely being able to walk to playing college soccer in an 8-month period and that solidified my passion to become a physical therapist. After becoming a doctor of physical therapy, I moved to Washington DC and worked for a couple different companies. However, in the corporate physical therapy structure I could not deliver the kind of care that I thought patients deserved. I was required to see 12-20 patients a day, oftentimes 3-5 patients at one time and this didn’t allow me to deliver the care I believe is necessary for true healing. After the pandemic hit, I decided it was time to move back to Kansas City and start my own clinic that offered the patient driven care, not profit driven care, that everyone deserves. At an appointment with my primary care doctor, he told me he had “space that would be great for a physical therapist looking to start her own practice”. So I took him up on his offer, and opened Thrive Physical Therapy in September of 2022. After two and a half years I moved out of my first clinic space and got my own stand alone location where I am now growing even more. Owning my practice allows me to offer patient driven care through full one hour, one-on-one, appointments for every single patient. I also decided not to take insurance because insurance companies determine what treatment is approved or denied, and not what is best for the patient. By not taking insurance, I can truly offer the care patients deserve and get the best outcomes for every patient. Because I am a female with a history of complicated health and chronic pain, and being a former collegiate athlete, my practice focuses on chronic pain, complex medical cases, pelvic floor dysfunction, and sports medicine. I see most patients one time per week, instead of the typical 2-3 times a week, and patients appreciate less time spent in the clinic, getting better outcomes, and achieving their goals faster. At Thrive Physical Therapy, we offer excellence in patient care, empowering you to thrive.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Does any business have a smooth road? Of course there have been struggles I have faced. There was one month that I made no money at all. The physician I rented space from was the physician that saved my life in regards to my Lyme disease and he unexpectedly passed away earlier this year, leaving the future of my business unknown and my heart broken. That also meant I lost my number one referral source. When I got my stand alone clinic I basically had to start from scratch when it came to my referrals and being able to cover my overhead. But with the support of my family, I have been able to power through and make this move successful.
We’ve been impressed with Thrive Physical Therapy, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
You should know that Thrive Physical Therapy has one purpose, help people the way they need help and hope to the hopeless. I will always listen to what my patients tell me and their treatment will always be based on their needs, not my profits or productivity numbers. As a doctor of physical therapy, I specialize in chronic pain, complex medical cases, pelvic floor dysfunction, and sports medicine. What sets me apart from others is that my patients are my number one priority and I want to set them up for a high quality life outside of the American healthcare system. I am most proud that I can offer hope to patients without hope, higher quality of life to people who have minimal expectations out of life, and knowledge to take back control of their health and body. I want your readers to know that that every patient’s story is true, every goal is valid and worth trying to reach, and I will work my hardest to help every patient reach those goals. I really want patients to know that there are options when it comes to their health and they do no have to accept what “the system” tells them is true, to always fight for themselves.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success is treating my patients so they reach the quality of life they want and deserve. On a more personal note, success is being able to make enough money to live comfortably doing what I love and sharing that life with the people that matter to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thriveptks.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveptkansas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thriveptks
