A new option of physical therapy services has opened in Tiffin, but the owner isn't new to town.
Tom Lasky, who has worked in the physical therapy field in Tiffin for nearly 30 years, has opened his own business - Integrated Orthopedic & Sports Rehabilitation, 47 Miami St.
"It's been real good so far," Lasky said. "People knew me already in the community from being here for 27 years at another business."
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PHOTO BY VICKI JOHNSON
Tom Lasky, physical therapist and owner of Integrated Orthopedic & Sports Rehabilitation, watches as patient Beverly Martin works on her exercises.
Doors opened July 13 and the grand opening was last week.
Lasky said he decided to branch out on his own a couple years ago, moving his work to Sandusky for a while. And he said many of his patients followed him.
"Then I'm thinking, Shoot, let's just bring this back here,'" he said. "There are plenty of people in the community I've served in the past and I really enjoy being here and the people here.
"My family lives here and the kids go to school here," he said.
Lasky said he remodeled the building, complete with a car port to keep patients out of wet or snowy weather.
He said his wife, Kathy, and Brenda Snavely, his office manager for the past 18 years, take care of patient scheduling, answering phones and other office needs.
"Brenda put a lot of this (remodeling) together, as far as doing the legwork and both of them got the office around," Lasky said. "Decorating, ordering equipment, landscaping."
Lasky, originally from Cleveland, said he was recruited to Tiffin by his former employer.
He graduated from Cleveland State University with a bachelor of science degree in 1982. He received his advanced master's from Andrews University, Andrews, Mich., going on to received his doctorate in 2008.
Lasky said he is a board certified orthopedic specialist, certified in manual therapy, and he has an advanced standard of competence in orthopedic practice.
"So basically what that does is allow me to use different tools," he said. "I have various techniques available. Just through years of experience I've developed lots of techniques.
"That's what I bring to the table is the fact that I have all those techniques to individualize the patient's treatment program," he said.
"In Tiffin, Ohio, you've got to be able to treat all types of people with all types of problems at all ages," he said.
Lasky said he has customers in the categories of geriatrics, sports injuries, post surgery and other types of physical therapy needs.
"I can get it resolved quicker because you're finding the sources of the problem a lot quicker," he said.
"I've done it for 29 years so I have lots of experience under my belt," he said. "The big thing is I know my specialty and that's what I want to do is focus on my specialty. I guess do my own thing."
Lasky said he takes referrals or patients who have not seen a doctor, but want a problem resolved. He said his staff may work with the patient's family doctor. However, Medicare patients need a physician referral.
"We will notify the family doctor, so there's close communication," he said. "So that we don't miss something.
"It's about what's best for the patient," he said. "A team approach with a family doctor. We're going to use some old tools. We're going to use some new tools. Whatever it takes to get that patient better."
Keeping up with the latest in the physical therapy world is another of Lasky's strengths.
"I've always (prized) the fact that I've stayed abreast of the changes going on," he said.
He said he would like to add occupational therapy and speech therapy to his services.
Yoga classes now are available in the building.
For more information, call (419) 447-0760.
