North Idaho Physical Therapy buys Kellogg clinic
The staff at North Idaho Physical Therapy in Kellogg. Pictured from the left are Rusty Wood PT, Cara Cox PTA, Kirsten Viche, Amy Fendrick, Cory Lewis PT, Kelli Kenser PT, and Audra Zisk. Not pictured is Sylvanna Corthen, PTA.
Courtesy photo
KELLOGG — There’s a new name on a longstanding business that’s being operated by some familiar faces.
Justin Kane and Cory Lewis took over the operation of Kellogg Physical Therapy earlier this year and brought it under Kane’s North Idaho Physical Therapy, BioPerformance Institute umbrella.
Owned and operated by A.J. Werner and Scott Hall for the past 25 years, NIPT’s newest location aims to offer the same quality care to patients with the hopes of adding services.
According to Lewis, Werner approached him last year about buying the clinic, but he was unsure if it was something he wanted to do on his own.
“I called my friend, Justin, and said, ‘Why don’t you buy it, and I’ll operate it for you?'” Lewis said. “He said, ‘No, we’re going to buy it together.'”
The official takeover happened Jan. 2.
Lewis, a physical therapist with 20 years of experience, has been working in PT clinics throughout the region.
“We hope to be able to provide more services and modernize things a bit so that our patients can have the same quality of service locally that you’d get if you were going over the hill,” Lewis said.
As part of the takeover, NIPT retained the former employees of Kellogg Physical Therapy and has a full staff that includes veteran therapist Rusty Wood.
“We heard the rumors. He isn’t retiring. Rusty isn’t going anywhere,” Lewis said with a chuckle.
Most people will know Lewis from the past 13 years working at Shoshone Medical Center’s Wellness Clinic in Smelterville.
“We want to be in the schools, working with these athletes and building that trust where they know they can come in and ask us to take a look at something for them if they have a concern,” Lewis said.
Kane, who has his own ties to the Silver Valley medical world, said he is thrilled to be partnering with Lewis.
“NIPT has been caring for the residents of North Idaho since 1968, and we are honored to continue the legacy of Kellogg Physical Therapy,” Kane said.
It’s Lewis’ first foray into business ownership, but he’s motivated by having a longstanding partner and a willingness to honor the legacy of the clinic’s forebearers.
“It’s really exciting, but I'll admit I was terrified at first,” Lewis said. “We wanted to honor A.J and the work she did for 25 years and I’m excited that I get the opportunity to do that.”
The Kellogg office of North Idaho Physical Therapy’s BioPerformance Institute is at 740 McKinley Ave., and is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. They can be reached at 208-783-3015.