Sponsored by Elevate Rehab
Elevate opened in 2013, a therapist-owned specialty practice, initially focusing on
dysfunction and disorders specific to the upper extremities.
They’ve gone well beyond that, and now offer an entire array of services, treating the
entire body including the spine and lower extremities.
A decade later, they’re celebrating their 10th anniversary in Lander.
“When we first opened we were on 6th Street with a one-room gym,” owner,
Occupational Therapist (OT), and Certified Hand Therapist (CHT), Michelle Mazur said.
“At first it was just Laura Varner and myself”
The CHT credential wasn’t easy to obtain, CHTs have a minimum of three years of clinical experience, 4,000 hours or more in direct practice in hand therapy and
have successfully passed a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper limb rehabilitation.
“To retain it, we have to recertify every five years to demonstrate ongoing education and training in that specialty.”, Mazur said.
Laura Varner, MS, OTR/L, CHT has been practicing 10 years, with Elevate and 11 overall, she’s been a CHT for five years.
Michelle Mazur has over twenty-eight years of experience in orthopedics and trauma rehabilitation and has been a CHT the past eighteen years.
“We’ve grown organically. We weren’t expecting to grow as we have, but our patients wanted us to offer more,” Mazur said. “Our focus needed to remain on quality, not volume or production. This is not only a benefit to our patients, but it also ensures our staff is able to enjoy a good life inside and outside the clinic. The patient deserves that and quite frankly, so does the therapist.”
Elevate Rehab expanded in 2020, not the best timing with the COVID-19 epidemic raging across the globe. They hired Ryan Flatt, a Physical Therapist (PT) and Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS).
“Ryan specializes in orthopedic and neurologic diagnoses, for example, Parkinson’s through the LSVT BIG Certification to traumatic and post-surgical injuries such as
fractures and soft tissue reconstruction,” Mazur said. “Ryan is also specially trained in customized orthotics for feet and Certified Trigger Point Dry Needling. He has 10 years of practice.
“We feel fortunate our staff approached us. They’ve heard how Elevate practices and have chosen to work here,” Mazur said.
Presently four full-time and three part-time therapists deliver care at Elevate.
Courtney Hansen, PT, MPT, CMTPT, joined Elevate two years ago and brings over twenty-five years of clinical experience specializing in women’s health and the pelvic floor via the Herman and Wallace Institute, as well as extensive knowledge in orthopedic and neurologic conditions. She is also a Certified Manual Trigger Point Therapist.
Katelin Tucker PT, DPT, Cert MDT, will celebrate her second anniversary with Elevate in December. She has over eleven years of experience and is one of three trained and certified practitioners in the Mackenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) in the entire state of Wyoming. Katelin also has a background and interest in treating pregnancy and postpartum issues.
Ryan’s wife, Sarah Flatt, PT, DPT, has over nine years of experience and is now working at Elevate a couple of days a week. Her interests are orthopedics, geriatrics, and treatment of vestibular/balance disorders.
Kati Quayle, PT, DPT, CLT of Riverton is the most recent addition with over nine years of experience. She is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) , is certified in Sportsmetric for athlete training and treatment, and has a special interest in vestibular pathology and rehabilitation.
“Ryan and I are also certified in Return to Work Conditioning,” Mazur said.
Mazur states Elevate has also been fortunate to have clerical employees over the years who recognize the value of patient relations during stressful physical, emotional, and financial events. Emilee King and Grace Hamilton now fill that very important role, greeting and coordinating patient care.
Elevate is on the move once again, this time moving just a short distance from their present facility.
“We’re moving to the lot south of us hopefully within the next month,” Mazur said. “We’ll have six private treatment rooms and a much bigger gym. Our awesome view will be just a little different perspective!”
The Elevate gym faces west above Lander with spectacular views of the Wind River Range.
Small town connections are big with Elevate.
“I can’t tell you how fortunate I am to have the team I have,” Mazur said. “We are honored by the physicians entrusting the care of their patients to us, and even more-so when our patients choose us time and time again to assist with their recovery. Our model of no double booking or dovetailing of visits is the foundation of our business, and in turn, has been a keystone to our success. It’s been a great ten years, and we are all excited to see what the next ten holds for us and the residents of Fremont County.”