Physical therapist Kim Connelly-Grote brings more than 20 years of experience to Ivy Rehab. The Hinsdale clinic opened a year ago and offers treatment for a variety of conditions.
Before Ivy Rehab could open its clinic in Hinsdale, it needed a physical therapist who could provide the quality of care that Ivy clients expect and deserve.
That's how things work at Ivy, William Haskell, director of business development - Midwest operations. First comes the talent, then comes the clinic.
"We find the person first," said Haskell, who lives in Hinsdale with his wife and three children.
Kim Connelly-Grote has been the face of the Ivy Rehab clinic at 100 Chestnut St. since it opened a year ago. With 22 years of experience as a physical therapist, Connelly-Grote said there's not much she hasn't seen or many conditions she hasn't treated.
Ivy Rehab began 13 years ago in New York and four years ago opened its first Midwest presence in Highland Park.
"From there it just started to grow like wildfire," said Haskell. In 18 months Ivy has grown from six locations to 19. At each clinic, including Hinsdale, patients can expect to be treated by an experienced physical therapist, not an assistant, Haskell said.
Haskell said the people who come to Ivy for care aren't just clients or customers, they're neighbors.
"We're here to serve the community, to be part of the community," he said.
Asked about the hours when Ivy Rehab is open for business, Haskell simply answers, "Yes."
Posted hours are 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and Friday. But those hours often change to meet the clients' needs.
"If people need different hours, I'll make it work for them," Connelly-Grote said.
Shoulders, spines and sports injuries are all specialties of Connelly-Grote, who treats everyone from children to seniors with the latest techniques as well as time-tested treatments.
"I use lots of hands-on therapy," she said.
Because she is the only physical therapist at the Hinsdale clinic, she gets to know each person she treats, like the high school football player whose mother sent her a picture of her son back on the football field after completing his treatment at Ivy.
"I just love that," Connelly-Grote said.
As a member of the Hinsdale community, Haskell works to develop relationships with local doctors who can refer patients for care at Ivy. But it's not just Ivy that benefits from Haskell's efforts. On a recent trip to Whole Foods, Haskell encountered a woman in the parking lot who was grimacing in pain due to a fresh knee injury. Haskell approached the woman and asked if she had a doctor he could call. Haskell called the physician, whose cell number was already stored in his phone, and arranged for him to see the woman immediately.
Thanks at least in part to Haskell's relationship with the local doctor, the woman recovered in time for her upcoming vacation. Haskell has the picture she sent him to prove it.
