With the opening of a branch of Rehab Associates in Selma, residents of Dallas County will no longer have to travel far to satisfy their physical therapy needs.

“I’m no stranger to this area,” said Eric Jackson. “I just want them to know that I’m coming back to give them options – quality options –

something out there that they can benefit from without driving to Montgomery or Prattville.”

During the past ten years, Jackson, the Facility Director for the new outpatient rehabilitation center, said that he has worked in every health care facility in Selma.

“I’ve worked in both hospitals, in hospices, and nursing homes,” said Jackson, who is a Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant (LPTA), Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). “While I was managing the clinic in Montgomery, I worked with people in this area. Since I’ve been gone, a lot of my patients have been driving to Montgomery –

and I want to stop that.”

Jackson said that the clinic will be based in the Selma Mall because it is a conveniently located, high traffic area with handicapped accessible parking.

“We will officially open in approximately two and a half weeks and will have state-of-the art, top of the line equipment,” he said.

The facility will offer outpatient services such as physical therapy, sports medicine rehabilitation, geriatrics, spinal rehab, wound care, injured worker rehabilitation, general orthopedics, pediatrics, prosthetic training, and pre-employment/post offer job testing/job site analysis.

“We’re also going to do functioning capacity observations,” Jackson said. Before, that was only offered in Montgomery. It will clear people to go back to work (after an injury), or determine the degree of their disability.”

He said that the pre-employment testing will allow companies to screen potential employees for pre-existing conditions.

In addition to Jackson, the facility will employ two therapist, one athletic trainer, one technologist, and one patient service coordinator.

“We have individuals who work with passion and are committed to excellence,” he said. “Most of our professional staff has multiple licenses.”

“I was considering going out on my own to do this, rather than connecting with a corporation,” Jackson said. “But, this company allows us to offer more (services) and accept clients who are not well insured, or are uninsured.”

Despite the wide range of services that Rehab Associates will offer, Jackson has plans to expand its outreach efforts.

“We plan to do educational seminars on strokes, back pain, ergonomics, workmen’s compensation – you name it,” he said. “We’re going to hire an athletic trainer to be in all of the schools because there are no athletic trainers in any county bordering this one

– and that’s needed.”

Jackson said that when the center opens, he will invite all of the area coaches in for seminars on basic CPR and host free clinics during football season.

“If there is a need, we want to find ways to put the money that we collect back into the schools,” he said. “I want us all to be able to work together – PT Plus, Next Step. It’s not all about competition to me. We just need to be able to take care of the residents of Dallas County. Point blank – that’s it.”

“I love it!,” he said with a smile. “There’s nothing else that I’d rather be doing. Nothing. This is my calling. I never have a day that I wake up and don’t want to go to work.”

Rehab Associates will be located between JC Penney and Radio Shack. It will be open Monday’s through Friday’s from 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., or as Jackson said, “whenever people need it.”