By: Sarah Mote
We really like when good things happen to Kansas City businesses– and ARC Physical Therapy+ had a rather exciting 2013. Last December, it closed on a $36 million deal with U.S. Physical Therapy, the nation’s largest publically traded operator of outpatient physical and occupational therapy clinics.
Below, we cornered the folks at ARC Physical Therapy+ and asked them a few questions about what they do and why they do it here in Kansas City.
Tell us what you do.
ARC Physical Therapy+ is the only physical and occupational therapy company to combine a continuum of care to create a healthy workforce.
With 11 physical therapy clinics in Kansas City, Overland Park, Independence, Kansas City, Olathe, St. Joseph, Topeka, Wichita and Springfield, ARC Physical Therapy+ provides job analysis, ergonomic assessment, post offer employment testing, physical and occupational therapy, work conditioning, functional capacity assessments, fit-for-duty testing, sincerity of effort testing, a variety of onsite services plus a comprehensive wellness program that incorporates workers’ compensation strategies for results and savings.
In just over a decade, ARC Physical Therapy+ has redefined the industry by treating the symptoms plus the causes of employee health problems. By adding preventative health and risk management to our offerings, we create significant, measurable savings for employers.
With ARC’s unique service and objective outcomes reports, employers can now understand the true cost of healthcare and the value of having a healthy workforce.
How did it all start?
ARC Physical Therapy+ began in 2003 when our CEO, Matt Condon, was first introduced to former CFO, Kevin O’Rourke. At the time, Matt was finishing up law school and working in the athletic department at the University of Kansas. Kevin needed someone with a sports-training background to train his daughter, so a mutual friend introduced the two.
In talking to Matt, Kevin quickly learned of Matt’s idea to implement an employer-focused healthcare treatment model. The two agreed that physical and occupational therapy provided the best medium to impact employers and their employees in a way that had been missing in the Kansas City market. They soon formed ARC Physical Therapy+, which quickly evolved into a healthy workforce company, focusing on impacting the lives of patients and the companies they work for.
How do you give back?
ARC Physical Therapy+ hosts a variety of educational conferences and seminars throughout the year for its partners, including employers, case managers, adjusters and physicians.
Internally, ARC Physical Therapy+ maintains a “work hard, play hard” mentality with a variety of events for staff and their family/friends. Each year, employees look forward to the company’s annual “ARCademy Awards” holiday party, which recognizes associates for their outstanding achievements as well as the annual summer party/BBQ.
The company also hosts a “Corporate Give Back Day” each year. On this day, the company temporarily closes all of its clinic doors to allow its staff to “give back” to the community. The past two years, ARC Physical Therapy+ has chosen to volunteer its time with the Phoenix Family, a local nonprofit organization in Kansas City that provides people living in low-income housing communities with the onsite support they need to gain stability and achieve self-sufficiency.
What makes Kansas City a great place to start and grow a business?
Kansas City is the perfect mix of the “dreamers” and the “doers.” We’re high-tech and hands-on all at the same time.
People make companies and our company has the best people all working toward a common mission to change the way healthcare is viewed and delivered.
We are a family at ARC Physical Therapy+ and Kansas City has always been a great place to raise a family.
What makes Kansas City America’s most entrepreneurial city?
Kansas City has a spirit and pride that are truly unique. Those of us who have lived here for any period of time genuinely agree that we want to see “Big KC” succeed.
What’s great about the environment in Kansas City is the energy that drives us and the leadership that supports those trying to cultivate a new business. It’s a really cool mix.
Two things come to mind that might improve KC’s bid to become America’s most entrepreneurial city:
- Capital: Cities that have the reputation for being great places to grow businesses have a community of donors that help fund fledgling dreams. KC’s pool of funding is growing and we are becoming much, much more than a fly-over city. If we continue to grow our funding and donor efforts, Kansas City will be a better entrepreneurial city.
- Tell the story: We need to do a better job “talking up” Kansas City. We are such a humble community that we often lack in highlighting how great of a place this is. Kansas City is amazing. We need to say it, show it and support it more often.
