Meet the Faces of Physiotherapy: The staff at Penticton Pain Clinic

They are called patient success coordinators.

They are the five women who support the physiotherapists and massage therapist at Penticton Pain Clinic and liaise with patients to ensure they meet their goals.

"Susi Midgley, Luci Kerr, Tara Maxted and her daughters, Chelsea Maxted and Kaylea Maxted, are key staff members, that's why their job titles are patient success coordinators," says physiotherapist Patrice Kong, who also owns Penticton Pain Clinic.

"Really, this is a celebration of the staff and the clinic's achievements."

Some might say that success and celebration starts with the 1929-era house at 579 Martin St., which Penticton Pain Clinic operates out of.

"It has an incredible nexus of energy that helps lead to success," says Patrice.

"Everyone loves this house for its good energy, character, history and green-grass lawn."

Previously, the house was a surgeon's office and before that a family home.

Today, patients come to the house for physiotherapy with Patrice or the new physical therapist Amandev Dhesi and-or massage with registered therapist Sandra Rathwell.

"We're not your typical physiotherapy clinic," says Patrice.

"Our typical client has had a traumatic injury, arthritis, an inflammatory condition and has chronic pain. Our goal is always to break the cycle of chronic pain by abolishing or managing unnecessary pain and suffering."

Penticton Pain Clinic also has six core values:

1. Time with clients, with its team, with family and being on time.

2. Competence. To be an example of excellence in all that you do.

3. Taking responsibility and being brave to innovate and bring about change.

4. Trust. Value it, cherish it, hold onto it.

5. Truth. Speak truthfully, speak openly.

6. Kindness. We are a place of healing. Bring your positive energy and build positive relationships.

Penticton Pain Clinic's first focus is a comprehensive assessment of all patients to get to the root of the problem, tackling the problem with teamwork and frequent reassessments to monitor success.

Teamwork doesn't just mean the physio and massage at Penticton Pain Clinic guided by the patient success coordinators.

The clinic also works with chiropractors, athletic therapists, naturopaths, family and specialist doctors and counsellors that a patient may also be seeing for a teamwork approach to success.

After managing several clinics in Vancouver, Patrice, his wife and their two young children moved to the Okanagan in 2018 to be close to his wife's family and set up Penticton Pain Clinic.

When not at the clinic, Patrice can be found watching his kids dance, rock climb, at gymnastics or playing soccer.

He also plays soccer himself and enjoys fishing.

But Patrice’s zen is at the practice.

“There is rarely anything else I’d rather be doing with my time,” he says.

“I am obsessed with achieving successful outcomes with my clients. It is my life’s purpose.”