This week, our CEO and Co-founder, Dan Rootenberg, spoke heartfelt words to our entire team about the historic current events happening in the world around us, and SPEAR’s position against racism.

More importantly, he outlined the following action items:

On behalf of the company, (1) Dan has joined the CEO Action Pledge for Diversity and Inclusion; (2) SPEAR offered paid time off to our team members this week so they can take action in their own way: to protest, meditate, donate time to the movement, or any other way they may deem fit; and (3) SPEAR announced it is forming a Racial Justice  committee to advise us on our path forward with regards to these critical issues.

To provide our entire community with SPEAR’s point of view and commitment, below is the original letter Dan sent to the SPEAR team on Tuesday:

Team,

We find ourselves in the midst of a pivotal moment in our history, one that has evoked strong feelings of understandable sadness, anxiety, and anger. We must not let this moment go unrecognized or unaddressed.

Our country has witnessed a deplorable act of racism and brutality. We speak out loudly against what has transpired. Our hearts ached watching the senseless murder of a gentleman named George Floyd at the hands of blatant police brutality in Minnesota.

Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Emotions are raw and anger is justifiable.

At SPEAR, there is no place for racism of any kind. We do not tolerate discrimination, hatred, or violence in our workplace or in our society.

It is important for everyone at SPEAR to remember what our company stands for.

We stand in solidarity with the black community in fighting racial injustice and inequality.

We are a company that has always stood for inclusion and ascension, for striving to be better than we were yesterday, and most importantly valuing empathy for others regardless of race, color, religion, ethnicity, who they love or to whom they pray.

Since this is a day of action, SPEAR is committing to the following:

On behalf of our company, I will be signing a pledge called CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion. Our leadership team discussed this morning what it means and we will be pledging the following:

• Reinforce that SPEAR is a trusting workplace where we can have complex sometimes difficult conversations about diversity and inclusion.
• Implement unconscious bias education.
• Share best practices (and what doesn’t work) with our sister companies that have taken the same pledge.
• Create a vision for a strategic inclusion plan.

We are living in uncertain and unsettling times. We must stand up for what we believe in and support what is right.

I call for doing so with open hearts, open minds, and doing our part in the hope for change.

Sincerely,
Dan

As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, we strive to always look through the lens of what is best for the safety of our patients and team members. To ensure we are keeping up with the latest news and protocols set by the experts and the CDC, we’ve implemented many different new procedures and safety precautions.

Clinic hours & operations will be open during our usual normal hours—for more information, take a look at our locations page to find the clinic nearest you.

Here is a more in-depth look at our current practices:

Safer In-Clinic Procedures

We are taking proper precautions necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone within the clinic. To do so, we are implementing extra pre-screening precautions. This includes temperature readings of all staff and patients, installation of sneeze guards at front desks, automation of paperwork/payment to limit contact, and frequent cleaning and disinfecting of all areas, both by our team and a professional cleaning crew. Patients will be asked to complete a phone screen prior to entering the clinic.

Staff/Patient Protection

Employees will continue to follow stringent sanitation and personal hygiene practices, including frequent hand washing, and consistent disinfecting of equipment and treatment tables. All staff members will be provided Personal Protective Equipment, including masks and gloves, to be worn at all times. We will be distributing masks, free of charge, to any patients who may not have any on hand.

Telehealth/Home Care Visits

For those looking to stay at home, SPEAR LIVE, our virtual, online, physical and occupational therapy service, is 100% covered by most insurance plans. We also offer SPEAR On-Call, where our therapists travel to the patients’ houses, apartments, offices, or hotels.

Our goal with these services is to offer safe and effective care for all individuals, regardless of their comfort levels with traveling. SPEAR LIVE and SPEAR On-Call allow us to continue to treat those who need physical care but are unable to leave their homes. Availability is limited—please reach out to us directly for more information.

One requirement of our in-clinic safety standards is that everyone wears a mask. If patients do not have their own, we will gladly provide one for them, free of charge.

As we learn more information about the situation at hand, we will continue to adapt and evolve to meet the demands and needs of safety.

Announcing the opening of our newest clinic, Park Slope—Union Street!

We at SPEAR have maintained an optimistic outlook about the future and what it holds. The reason our people get up in the morning every day to do what they do is for one purpose—to help others get back to life. We stand committed to this promise. This new clinic serves as an opportunity for more patients to receive the care they need, and as a beacon of hope for a bright future ahead for all of us.

Our second location in Brooklyn, this brand new space is located in the beautiful Park Slope neighborhood, and nearby many MTA lines, including the 2, 3, B, Q, and R trains.

Austin Afshar, Clinical Director of Park Slope – Union Street

Our newest Brooklyn clinic will be led by Austin Afshar, PT, DPT, CSCS, former clinical director of our Murray Hill – E 34th Street location. Austin has treated an extremely diverse population, including post-operative and sports-related injuries as well as neurological disorders. He has treated patients with neurological disorders ranging from cerebral vascular accidents, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, as well as treated patients in the intensive care unit.

Austin believes in treating his patients through evidence based practice, as well as through the utilization of education, manual therapy and therapeutic exercises. He hopes to help his patients obtain the best quality of life possible through improving their strength and functional mobility, allowing them to stay active and to continue to pursue the life they desire through meeting their personal goals.

With most insurance companies covering up to 100% of telehealth costs, and SPEAR’s in-network relationship will all major insurance providers, including Aetna, receiving the treatment you need is easier than ever.

Ready to schedule an appointment? Call us at 646-841-1402 or Request an Appointment Online!

Follow along with Emma Codman, PT, DPT, on this 30-minute full body slider workout from our Instagram #MovementMonday series! Don’t have any sliders at home? Bring a towel, some socks, or even paper plates — anything that gives you some slip and slide action!

Watch The Video Below:

Make sure to join us every week for #MovementMonday, where we’ll post a live workout right on our Instagram page!

Missed a workout? Visit our Youtube channel  for more exercises, workouts, and advice from your expert PTs and OTs!

In-Home, Online Physical and Occupational Therapy

The Coronavirus has forced virtually all New Yorkers to spend more time at home. However, it remains vital for each of us to continue our health care, maintain a sense of day-to-day normalcy, and continue moving and stretching. While you can’t change what’s going on out in the world, you are in direct control of your physical health. Always involved in our community, we wanted to offer a safe, beneficial solution for continued wellness.

That’s why we are so proud to be able to offer you our newest service, SPEAR LIVE, a virtual, online video telehealth appointment with the same SPEAR therapist you’ve been working with all along!

Just Like a FaceTime Session

SPEAR LIVE gives you the opportunity to continue your physical therapy and occupational therapy treatment from the comfort of your home, bringing your Physical Therapist straight to you via video. It’s the next best thing to an in-person appointment!  SPEAR LIVE allows you to:

• Avoid the crowds and maintain social distancing
• Maintain the same relationship you have with your current therapist .
• Stick with your current treatment plan, so you can get back to your favorite activities .
• Pay no more than you’re paying  now for in-clinic visits. You’ll have the same financial responsibility.
• Continue the cadence of your treatment.
• Stay active!