NPPT closing Newcastle office

Bri Brasher
NLJ Reporter
 
After more than two decades serving Newcastle, North Platte Physical Therapy is closing its doors here, effective Jan. 31. 
North Platte has clinics scattered across much of Wyoming, but Newcastle Clinic Supervisor Travis Cochran, who has a doctorate in physical therapy, and his family recently moved to Gillette. His position with North Platte remains vacant after 60 days, so the clinic has been forced to close. 
Lisa Mangus, CEO of North Platte Physical Therapy, said that the decision to close the Newcastle location was not taken lightly.
“We have tried and tried and tried to find a replacement for him, and we have not been able to do it. It is with deep sadness that we are closing.” said Mangus, later adding that “we love this community and appreciate the support.” 
Mangus said Cochran originally gave 30 days’ notice, yet Cochran ended up staying 60 days while a replacement was sought. Mangus suggested that the holiday season and weather may have influenced the low number of applicants, stating that “nobody wants to interview this time of year.” 
While North Platte will maintain the clinic building and keep the equipment in the office, the Newcastle branch will not be open for business. Mangus said that she and her staff will try to re-open should they find a new therapist to fill Cochran’s vacated position. 
“Travis did a nice job for us, and we have greatly appreciated that, and I know he was an integral part of the community. We are sad to see him go,” Mangus said, adding that Cochran established himself nicely in Newcastle, and he was well-liked by the community.
Cochran too said he is going to miss the Newcastle and Upton communities, as well as the clinic’s staff. Members of the Newcastle staff, which numbers nine, are currently looking for employment. Cochran said no positions are available with North Platte unless staff members are willing to move out of Newcastle, a decision Cochran said was made by the CEO. Cochran also said that office morale is “confused, scrambling, and sad to see things change.” 
Current staff include Cochran, Michal Hanselmann, physical therapy assistant; Paige Borgialli, physical therapist assistant; Tanya Regan, rehab technician; Brittany Montoya, rehab assistant; and Kendra Butler, office manager, along with three paid interns.
“I definitely find this very unfortunate. It was a decision made by our CEO and partner group to close the Newcastle clinic. It was a very successful clinic and quite frankly a needed service in the community,” said Cochran, stating that both he and Weston County Health Services stayed very busy to meet Weston County’s physical therapy needs. 
To ready the clinic for closure, Cochran said, he and his staff had to move around about 40 patients in less than a week, not including new evaluations. He further explained that he has been trying to work with the hospital and any other physical therapy places in the area to get patients taken care of, stating that “all groups have been very community oriented and accommodating given the circumstance.”
“I would like to compliment the Black Hills VA out of Sturgis. They got the news and started calling their veterans right away to start scheduling them. They were very good to work with,” Cochran said. 
Cochran said that his family’s move to Gillette was prompted by an opportunity for his wife, Shawna, who will run the Community EMS Program starting in Campbell County — a program focused on a more preventive medical approach. Shawna had been commuting to work as a paramedic for Campbell County Health for several years. Cochran said that his wife’s new role requires her to live in the community she’s serving, so the family moved to Gillette in December. The couple have three kids — Ella, 3; Lane, 2; and Madalyn, 1. 
“I’m taking a step back from my job, and I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet. And with Shawna’s new role, we can’t both be in leadership-type positions,” Cochran said, speaking of his young family. 
Cochran said he will stay home with his kids for the time being. Cochran said their house in Newcastle sold within a month. 
“Newcastle has truly been my home for the past six years. They’ve welcomed me initially and then my wife and then my kids,” explained Cochran. “It wasn’t an easy decision to make. It was a decision made to best fit our family and our careers.”