CEO Hurricane Update
A letter to employees
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As of 10:00am, Tuesday October 8, 2024:
South Carolina TPS Partnerships:
South Aiken Physical Therapy – Aiken, SC – some impacts – Fully Operational Currently
- Some volume loss due to power and access – recovering to full volumes
Medical Billing Center – Greenville, SC – minimal impacts – Fully Operational Currently
- All Billing Clients accounted for
- Some Billing Clients have been heavily impacted – even to the extent of total losses
- MBC is supporting these clients however we can
Georgia TPS Partnerships:
ERW Physical Therapy – Augusta, GA area
- Significant Power, Internet and Phone Interruptions affecting operations all last week
- Currently all locations are now open and functioning at least in some capacity
- All associates are accounted for and safe
- Power and internet service remains spotty and inconsistent
ARMG – Contract Sites – [Washington County Hospital, AOSM Locations)
- Significant Power, Internet and Phone Interruptions affecting operations all last week
- Currently all locations are now open and functioning at least in some capacity
- All associates are accounted for and safe
- Power and internet service remains spotty and inconsistent
North Carolina TPS Partnerships:
Schuster Physical Therapy – Jefferson / Sparta, NC area
- Significant community impacts with flooding, impassable roads, spotty power, internet, phone, and cell access.
- All associates are accounted for but some still have difficulty getting around or out of their homes
- Travel in the area is still difficult
- Both clinics are fully operational and recovering to full volume
SEPT – Asheville Area – (including the Pardee Hospital management locations)
- 12 of 15 locations are up and running as of this week in some capacity
- Many locations remain without power, running water, internet, phones, cell service
- TPS has shipped 5 Starlink satellite systems into SEPT and they are at least communicating with phones, internet and on their practice management systems where there is power
- All associates are accounted for and safe
- There are significant road disruptions, and some folks still can’t get out of their homes or neighborhoods due to road conditions, downed trees, downed power lines, etc.
- Availability of fuel for transportation is mostly back at normal levels
- Running water is an issue for most of our locations and most of our associates
- Power outages is still a problem for most of our associates
Darren (SEPT), Greg, Nick, & Tracy Lynn (Schuster PT), Jason & Lydia (ERW Physical Therapy) and all their teams have done an unbelievable job navigating these situations. They have not only restored operations in the face of very trying and challenging conditions, but they are also making sure that their associates, patients, and communities are cared for by utilizing their clinics as a resource for supplies, water, access to power, internet, and communications (let alone providing therapy). The leadership and example they are providing is inspiring and appreciated.
We do have associates that have been affected in very real ways including damaged homes, cars, personal property; the inability to get out of their neighborhoods or driveways, and most tragically, lost family or friends. In some cases, it is little more than an inconvenience, but in other instances there are real hardships that need to be navigated and solved for individually and for the communities.
All TPS corporate and administrative staff have been on high alert and are responding how and where we can for our partners, associates, patients, and communities. Many of you have asked if there is anything you can do to help your fellow associates and TPS partners. As of now we would ask the following of you:
- Continue to pray for all of those affected. Pictures, videos, and news reports probably don’t do it justice, just know it is very hard in some areas.
- We will keep you updated as the recovery continues. The safety and well-being of our associates and patients is our highest priority.
- There will be a time when those of you who have asked “what can I do to help, what can our team do to help”, will be able to provide support in some way, shape, or form. Right now, however, we are responding daily to a rapidly changing landscape, and don’t know the best way for you to deploy your resources. Some of you have asked about donating money, supplies, time, and even PTO to those who can’t work. If these opportunities or others present themselves, we will certainly let you know.
- We do have an active link for employees and patients to go to that has resources, clinic status updates, and other valuable recovery information. You can find that link here: https://www.therapypartnersolutions.com/helene/. It is updated daily, so please refer to it often.
TPS is truly thankful to all our partners in the affected areas who have stepped up to care for their associates, patients, and communities in this time of need. We are also grateful that we have a company that believes in the power of prayer and is comprised of people who are concerned about their sister clinics and their fellow associates. Thank you for caring enough to ask.
As I write this summary, we are staring at another catastrophic storm approaching west Florida that will affect most of the state in the coming 2 – 3 days. Keep our management site partners, associates, and patients across the state (especially in the southwest FL areas of Sebring, Wachula, Tampa, etc.) in your prayers.
We will keep all of you updated as we can.
Gratefully,
Steve Chenoweth, Chad Whitefield, Sam Echols (on behalf of the entire TPS Family)
