Our Story
Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy is a Grand Rapids based, locally-owned, independent physical therapy practice with 12 locations, over 40 physical therapists and nearly 100 employees. Our goal from the beginning, in the year 2000, has been to create a physical therapy practice that first and foremost glorifies God. From day one we gave this business to Him and have sought His guidance in all decisions along the way. It’s crazy that we have grown 15 – 20% annually since our inception while many of our competitors have closed offices and cut staff. This growth has occurred despite the increasing competition around us and political forces against us including:
• Hospitals in West Michigan pressuring their physicians to keep physical therapy referrals in their systems.
• Surgeons hiring their own physical therapists in their offices and encouraging their patients to go to physical therapy there.
• Large national physical therapy corporations such as ATI, Athletico and US Physical Therapy (70% owner of a large formerly independent PT practice in Grand Rapids) aggressively moving into the area trying to grow market share.
We believe our success is based on devotion and dedication to living our core values (the Hulst Jepsen dozen) with “Live God-Centered” first and foremost and loving your neighbor a close second. Keeping these values central has resulted in many raving Hulst Jepsen PT fans who have been the foundation of our growth. We frequently get comments from patients who have been to physical therapy at other places that their Hulst Jepsen experience was better due to a “warmer atmosphere”, “friendlier staff”, “more hands-on/ manual therapy”, “higher skilled therapists”, “more convenient scheduling”, “more caring staff”, and the list could continue.
A hands-on, manual therapy focus has helped us grow by enhancing the patient’s experience. Nearly every patient that comes to Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy will get hands-on treatment, not just exercise.There is definitely healing power with touch.
Our vision is for Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy to utilize current, innovative and progressive techniques with the physical therapy we provide. We invest and will continue to invest in having the most educated, skilled group of physical therapists in the communities we practice. We empower our physical therapists to learn the latest and most research-supported techniques and approaches so they can best serve the patient.
Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy also is a business that values the God-given strengths and gifts of all of our staff members. We make a conscious effort to foster the understanding and maximization of those strengths. We feel if we encourage our people to follow their passions and give them support and autonomy to develop those strengths and passions that we will be a stronger, more passionate company.
Given Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy’s patient-focused philosophy of care and local ownership, it has been natural for us to extend our caring into the communities that surround our clinics. Each year Hulst Jepsen reaches out to partner with senior centers, youth sports teams, schools, churches, and various West MI organizations to provide expertise and leadership in injury prevention and health promotion.
The bottom line is keeping our focus on glorifying God leads to serving our patients at the highest level. This formula is allowing Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy to continue to expand its impact in West Michigan. Blessed we are!
Tom and John
