About Us
West Park Rehab, under the direction of Edward St. Clair, DPT has entered its 10th year of business in Franklin. The practice is located 571 Pone Lane in Sandy Creek Township. The physical therapy practice provides services for physical rehabilitation, sports injuries, aquatics, pediatrics, geriatrics, ergonomic/work rehab, massage therapy, personal training and wellness. The practice is co-owned by Edward St. Clair, DPT of Franklin and Timothy Schell, PT of Grove City. The practice now employs 5 physical therapists, 4 physical therapists assistants, 5 admin / reception staff, 1 ATC, 1 Certified Ergonomist and 3 rehab aides. An overview of the staff, facility and services can be viewed at www.westparkrehab.com.
There has been ongoing professional development within the practice over that past year. Edward St.Clair, DPT earned his national board certification in hand therapy. Lisa Weismann, DPT completed her doctorate in physical therapy through Gannon University. Lisa Weismann also earned a renewal for her board certification as a geriatric specialist. Jessica Collins, DPT has nearly completed 2 years of coursework towards a certification in a highly specialized area of treatment of the spine known as the McKenzie Method. Jill Shull, DPT and Linda Archibald, PTA completed an in depth study of sports injuries related to the knee and ankle provided by the research division of the sports section of the American Physical Therapy Association. Ann Lowrey, PTA completed a two year course of advance studies in the area of geriatrics and has been awarded a certification in advanced proficiency by the American Physical Therapy Association. Missy Crocker, PTA completed advanced coursework on the treatment of the SI joint and assessment of common running injuries. Kyle Sweeney, exercise science graduate from Slippery Rock University and certified personal trainer/strength and conditioning coach completed advanced studies and passed examination to earn a certification as a specialist in Health Ergonomics.
At West Park Rehab, the therapists have been aligned into therapeutic focus teams. Each physical therapist and a licensed assistant, focus on a particular region of the body. For example, Edward St.Clair DPT and Barry Foust PTA, treat primarily the upper limb. Another team, Jessica Collins DPT and Missy Crocker PTA, focuses on the spine. Other teams focus for the lower extremity: Lisa Weismann DPT and Ann Lowrey for the hip knee and Jill Shull DPT and Linda Archibald PTA for the knee and ankle. Finally an aquatic focus team is comprised of Jeff Thurau PT, Barry Foust PTA and Linda Archibald PTA. 90% of the physical therapists employed by West Park Rehab hold an advanced license and are qualified to provide Direct Access physical therapy. Direct Access physical therapy simply means that a patient can go directly to their physical therapist without the need for referral. Direct Access physical therapists have met state requirements as primary diagnosticians for musculoskeletal injury and impairment.
The practice has achieved numerous recognitions in 2009. Firstly, West Park Rehab has been recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association as the only practice currently registered in the Common Wealth of Pennsylvania where 100% of the therapists are members of the national association. Membership in the national associate comes with a commitment to high quality health care through the practice of research based treatments and upholding the Association’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Ethical Conduct. Edward St.Clair, DPT holds a state office as the chairperson for marketing and PR for the profession of physical therapy and was responsible for developing a consumer web site: www.choosePT.com. At the regional level, St.Clair also hold the position of vice-chair of the Northwest District of the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy and Ann Lowrey, PTA hold the position of treasurer. Secondly, West Park Rehab has maintained credentialing and high standing in a prestigious auditing agency known as the Physical Therapy Provider Network (PTPN). PTPN provides a comprehensive ongoing audit of services provided by an outpatient physical therapy practice. PTPN assesses the quality of care provided by a clinic via mandatory testing that measures treatment outcomes. This involves a computerized test that compares the improvements made through therapy at West Park Rehab and compares them to the national gold standard. It also assesses the efficiency of treatment based on the number of sessions needed and cost for total treatment. Finally, PTPN provides ongoing assessment of patient satisfaction through independent surveys. West Park Rehab has maintained 98% patient satisfaction and has received quarterly recognition as for their participation in the outcome studies.
Reflecting on 2009, St.Clair states, "I have been very fortunate to attract such dynamic, caring, professional therapists to West Park Rehab. This really is a team effort now. My folks give so much of themselves to help our patients and I appreciate their dedication. If often remind them that our work is vitally important. It is a privilege to be able to help hurt people get better. And although our work may not fall in the category of life or death, our work does impact quality of life. I am very proud of the therapists at West Park Rehab and all of the staff. We have remained sensitive to the fact that the economy has put many folks in a difficult situation with regards to the out of pocket cost associated with treatment. Although we cannot changed these fees, we can make certain that a person is getting the absolute most effective treatment each and every session. So instead of cutting services we have improved its value. We plan to be here for a very long time and I hope to continue to improve the practice and expand our services to better meet the needs of our community."