Today we’d like to introduce you to Chase Miller.
Hi Chase, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
When I reflect on the journey that led to founding Adjuvant Physical Therapy, it really comes down to a combination of purpose, frustration with the status quo, and a clear vision of how care could be better.
After graduating with my DPT and working in a number of settings — from oncology rehab, home health, acute hospital care, and general outpatient care — I began to feel increasingly frustrated by the pressures that many clinics face in today’s healthcare climate: high productivity demands, large caseloads, limited time per patient, administrative burdens, ever-changing reimbursement models, and shrinking windows for meaningful care. These pressures often forced clinicians into a “quantity over quality” mindset, and left me feeling like we were losing touch with what drew me into physical therapy in the first place — the chance to partner deeply with a person, listen to their story, customize care, and truly guide their recovery or wellness journey.
Around 2021 I realized: if I wanted to deliver care differently — more intentionally, more personally, more holistically — then I needed to create the environment myself. That realization is what led me to launch Adjuvant Physical Therapy in Independence. My goal was to build a place where we could reject the “one-size-fits-all” model, where we could slow down enough to assess the whole person, tailor each plan to their goals and lifestyle, and stay at the forefront of evidence-based practice while also caring for the human behind the diagnosis.
Independence, Missouri felt like the right home for that vision. It’s a community with a strong mid-size feel, people who value connection and quality, and a region that deserves more options for personalized rehabilitation and wellness care. At Adjuvant, we deliberately structure things differently: smaller caseloads, more time for evaluation and education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the flexibility to innovate — whether that means oncology rehab, vestibular work, or custom programs for chronic disease or post-operative recovery.
The reality is that the current healthcare climate is tough: rising costs, staffing shortages, reimbursement constraints, increasing demands for productivity — all of that threatens to push physical therapy into a conveyor-belt model. But I believe there’s another way. One where we reclaim the time, the relationship, the trust, the individualized plan — and where the patient doesn’t feel like they’re just another number in a high-throughput system.
So that’s how Adjuvant Physical Therapy came to be: born out of frustration with conventional pressures, fueled by a commitment to better care, and grounded in the local community of Independence. Every day, our mission is simple: empower individuals to live their best lives through personalized, compassionate, evidence-based physical therapy. We get to do it on our own terms — with integrity, excellence, and heart — and that ultimately makes all the difference.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’d love to say it’s been an easy journey, but the truth is that starting any healthcare practice—especially in today’s environment—is full of challenges. The road has absolutely had its bumps, but each one has taught me something valuable about leadership, persistence, and purpose.
One of the main hurdles was and is staffing. In healthcare, and especially in outpatient physical therapy, finding the right people isn’t just about filling positions—it’s about building a team that shares your philosophy of care. I want clinicians and support staff who truly believed in the value of individualized, patient-centered therapy. Recruiting those people while competing with larger hospital systems and corporate clinics was tough, especially when those organizations can often offer higher salaries or broader benefit packages. But I’ve learned that culture matters more than size—when people feel aligned with your mission, they’re willing to build something meaningful alongside you.
Then there’s the financial reality. Opening a clinic involves a high overhead from day one—space, equipment, software, compliance costs, marketing, and everything in between. Unlike many other small businesses, healthcare practices carry additional layers of regulation and liability. Managing those costs while trying to remain accessible and affordable for patients was (and still is) a balancing act.
Another major challenge came with insurance contracting and reimbursement negotiations. Navigating payer systems as a new, independent clinic can be daunting. The process is lengthy, the requirements are ever-changing, and the reimbursement rates don’t always reflect the level of care provided. It forced me to become a quick study in the business side of healthcare—understanding how to advocate for fair contracts while maintaining focus on patient outcomes, not just bottom lines.
Despite all that, I wouldn’t trade the experience. Every obstacle has clarified why I started Adjuvant Physical Therapy in the first place: to provide care that prioritizes people over productivity metrics. The road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been worth it. There’s a deep satisfaction in seeing patients thrive because of a system you intentionally built to serve them better—and knowing that every challenge you overcame made that possible.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Adjuvant Physical Therapy, our focus is on providing individualized, evidence-based rehabilitation and wellness care that truly meets each patient where they are. We work with people across a wide spectrum of needs—from post-surgical and orthopedic rehab to oncology recovery, balance and vestibular therapy, chronic pain management, and general strength and mobility programs.
What really defines our work, though, is our philosophy of care. Every session is one-on-one and tailored to the individual. We don’t rely on cookie-cutter exercise sheets or rushed treatment blocks. Instead, we take the time to listen, assess, and build a plan that aligns with the patient’s personal goals—whether that’s returning to sport, recovering after cancer treatment, preventing falls, or simply moving through life with less pain and more confidence.
Beyond traditional physical therapy, we also emphasize education and empowerment. We want our patients to understand why we’re doing what we’re doing, and to feel equipped to take control of their health long after they leave our clinic. Our approach integrates functional movement training, manual therapy, neuromuscular re-education, and strength conditioning, always grounded in the latest clinical research.
In short, the work we do at Adjuvant PT goes beyond treating symptoms—we’re here to help people rebuild, regain, and rediscover what their bodies are capable of. Our goal is to make therapy a positive, personalized, and sustainable experience that supports lifelong wellness, not just short-term recovery.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Books to consider: The Go Giver, Every Patient Tells A Story, Unconventional Medicine.
Podcasts: I listen to a few, but I like podcasts that tell true stories or have historical relevance. I think we can learn a lot from our own past.
Apps: I enjoy apps for educational purposes with patients in my office like 3d anatomy as well as my home exercise program application.
Pricing:
- Cash Pay per visit: $75/visit (lowest price in the area)
- We do take insurance depending on the plan. Would have to contact us for details.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.adjuvantpt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNUE7rRxJp9/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdjuvantPT/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adjuvant-physical-therapy-llc
