NeuPTtech Clinic Spotlight: Cass Lake Indian Health Services Hospital

The NeuPTtech Clinic Spotlight series continues with an interview from the team at Cass Lake Indian Health Services Hospital, who primarily provides physical therapy rehab to the American Indian and Alaska Native community. Learn how their clinic has benefited from the NEUBIE device to drive amazing results for their patients.

Tell Us About Your Practice

We are a hospital based outpatient Rehab Department consisting of 3 PT’s and 1 OT; with plans to add cardiac rehab. Our facility, Cass Lake Indian Health Services Hospital, is part of the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services.  The IHS is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN).  

The IHS provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 2.6 million AI/AN who belong to 574 federally recognized tribes in 37 states.  The Cass Lake IHS Service Unit (CLIHS) is located in northern Minnesota on the Leech Lake Reservation and serves the Leech Band of Ojibwe and all other AI/AN residents within the area.

Our practices serve patients of all ages, spanning from infants to elders of 100 years of age.  We serve a population with a high volume of chronic pain due to various reasons. In addition, we see orthopedic and neurologic conditions, post-surgery rehab, women’s health and limited inpatient/swing bed coverage. Our OT covers students at the Tribal immersion school (Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School). 

Tell us about the Cass Lake Team

Paul Schaefer MS, PT: I graduated from Bemidji State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and the Univ. of Minnesota with a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy.  I started the program at Cass Lake in 2000 and has built the CLIHS Rehab Department over the past 23 years from one PT to now 3 PT’s, 1 OT and an admin assistant.  We are expanding into cardiac rehab at the end of 2024. Our practice is driven by manual therapy evaluation and treatment techniques including muscle energy, fascial release, mechanical link, visceral techniques and more. In my free time, I enjoy biking, hiking, watching and playing many sports, including watching my 16 year old son curl.

Caitlin DPT: I graduated from Bucknell University with a degree in psychology and Arcadia University with DPT.  My PT practice revolves heavily around dry needling, fascial release, muscle energy techniques and neuromuscular re-training. Recently, I spend most of my free time getting to know my new dog, Bernie.  I also squeeze in time for running, reading, walking and journaling!

Suzanne PT, DPT: I graduated from Mercy College with a Master in PT and A.T. Still University with DPT.  I treat pediatrics through geriatrics, with focus on chronic pain, orthopedic and neurologic conditions. I loved being out in nature, especially walking state and national parks and especially exploring Minnesota’s north shore.

Megan OT: I graduated from Midwestern University with a Master in OT.  I utilize eclectic treatments across the day seeing all ages and needs from sensory integration, orthopedic and cognition. I enjoy all things outdoors, but spend a lot of time caring for our plethora of farm animals, pumpkin patch and produce garden.  

How did you first hear about the NEUBIE?

Paul: I was first introduced to the NEUBIE device via Lisa Chase PT, DPT (Back 2 Normal Physical Therapy).  Lisa sent me multiple emails and information links to review the product stating it was a great tool.  She really encouraged the use of the device in person at a course at Michigan State University that I was taking and she was part of the teaching staff for the week. I then introduced it to the rest of the staff members. 

What convinced you to add it to your practice?

Paul: Lisa’s persistence that this device would be a major game changer for our clinic.  So far, she has not been wrong! Our group also participated in a zoom call with Jason Waz who provided some convincing insights. 

What were your initial expectations with the device?

Rehab Team: We expected to use it a few times per week, primarily working with chronic pain patients. We hoped that it would take many of our chronic pain patients to a new level of pain reduction. In addition, we wanted to use as an adjunct to existing manual therapy practice. 

What is your experience working with Jason Waz and his team at NeuPTtech?

Rehab Team: The team at NeuPTtech is invested in helping us get the best success possible with NEUBIE. They were also open to questions anytime. Whitney is amazing at her job and is always quick to respond to emails and get us any help we need; fantastic in the purchasing process.

What results did you experience with the NEUBIE?

Rehab Team: We immediately saw a reduction in pain for many patients in 1-3 visits along with improved patient attendance. In patients with diabetic polyneuropathy, we saw improved balance and stair navigation function. 

We also saw significant pain reduction to levels for one chronic pain patient that hadn’t seen results in 3-5 years. Another patient, an 88 year old male who had multiple back surgeries and a failed SI joint fusion, improved his gait pattern and became able to perform dressing tasks independently (previously dependent). He spent 18 months of care at a local pain clinic before coming to use the NEUBIE with us. 

What has been the most surprising element of using the NEUBIE so far?

Rehab Team: The speed at which chronic pain patients experienced a significant degree of pain reduction and improved function with daily tasks. We saw an increase in a patient’s walking tolerance with lumbar neurogenic claudication from 5 minutes to 60 minutes in only 2 treatment sessions! We also saw improved HRV scores and stress management with use of the Master Reset protocol. Our patients really love it and want to continue to use it. 

How have your patients reacted to using the NEUBIE?

Rehab Team: Our patients are astounded at the immediate changes and degree of changes in pain levels and mobility. They were also surprised at improvements in stress management. Everyone in the clinic is encouraged by the new tool, the degree of pain reduction and excited about the potential for greater improvements with the NEUBIE. 

We can’t wait to get more machines to treat more patients. We have had patients request to use it following just one session without it!

What is your message to PTs who are on the fence with the NEUBIE?

Rehab Team: It’s a functional way to reduce pain as the patient actively completes exercises during use of NEUBIE. We like that patients are able to participate more in the treatment rather than reducing pain passively with manual therapy. It gives patients more confidence to move while in pain. 

It’s a great tool to use as an adjunct to manual therapy treatments and enhances results significantly. In addition, it has the ability to combine with other existing manual techniques (i.e. electric gloves with MFR/STM, motor control retraining). The NEUBIE also has the capability to improve the patient’s autonomic nervous system function and balance. I highly recommend other PTs rent one and try it out.

A massive thank you to the team at Cass Lake Indian Health Services Hospital for incorporating the NEUBIE in their mission to provide top-notch health services to the AI/AN community.

If you'd like to share how the NEUBIE has elevated your practice, reach out to be spotlighted next! 

To delve deeper into more case studies or to access a free ROI assessment, learn more about the NEUBIE here.