Lindsey and Deron Bellcase recently saw their first patients for Shift Mobile Therapy and Wellness, their new mobile physical and occupational therapy practice. Lindsey, a physical therapist, and Deron, an occupational therapist, each worked in the healthcare industry in several capacities before beginning the transition to mobile therapy at the end of 2019.
“I was searching for a way to provide the care I know I’m capable of providing and serve patients better,” Lindsey says. Shift, which stands for Specialized Home-based Individualized Functional Therapy, offers physical and occupational therapy to patients in their own homes. According to Deron, this is part of an emerging trend in healthcare that is often called “concierge therapy” or mobile therapy. This trend arose in response to changes in Medicare coverage, and the Bellcases saw it as an opportunity to fill a need in the Rome community.
Shift works primarily with older patients, many of whom are retired and some of whom are recovering from injury or illness. Their mission is to help older adults maintain their independence and age gracefully. In addition to injury and illness recovery, Shift also offers wellness services for older people who might want a professional therapist to help them establish an exercise regimen. “We really care about our patients and their outcomes,” Lindsey says. “We’re doing this to help people solve whatever their problems are, and to help people be independent and stay independent.”