Joynt Physical Therapy opens Lewes location
Joynt Physical Therapy owner Bryan Peden has known Steve Peet since he was 4 years old.
The two grew up together, played sports together and even went to college together at Misericordia University in northeast Pennsylvania.
After returning to the Cape Region, Peet recruited Peden back to his home state in 2013 to work for the same company.
After parting ways for a few years, Peden and Peet were reunited in August 2022, when Peet joined the Joynt team at what was then the company’s only clinic, in the Oak Orchard area. Now, Peden has turned to Peet for Joynt’s next chapter – a Lewes office.
“I couldn’t imagine a better person to go through this process with,” Peden said. “With our history, his skillsets, my skillsets … I think we’ve worked well together the last couple of years, and we’re excited for this next step."
Peden opened the Oak Orchard clinic in October 2021. The goal was to provide personalized care and avoid the impersonal feel of larger facilities. The mission remains the same in Lewes.
“We’re not looking to have a big-box feel here, but we’re also going to grow beyond the mom-and-pop style, and really try to empower physical therapists that are feeling like they’re stuck or unmotivated, and allow them an opportunity to do what they want to do as long as it involves making people better and having them enjoy the process,” Peden said.
He said he came up with the name Joynt because he wants the experience for both patients and staff to be enjoyable.
“No one wants to be at physical therapy, but we try to make it a joyful experience,” he said.
The Lewes clinic features eight treatment rooms with room to expand. The focus is on quality care and patient satisfaction. Peet said Joynt focuses on the patient experience and outcome over productivity, metrics and numbers, meaning the staff wants to spend time with patients instead of getting as many in and out of the office in a day to meet a quota.
“The goal isn’t necessarily to have [patients] keep coming back,” Peden said. “We want to arm them with the tools necessary to keep it going once they’re outside of here.”
Much like the Oak Orchard clinic, Joynt’s Lewes office is strategically located in a growing area that is attracting many new residents with active lifestyles. Peden said his staff may be able to help ease the pain for newcomers who are struggling to get appointments with doctors and specialists. Joynt also works with younger athletes.
Philanthropy is also a big part of the company’s philosophy. Staff collaborate to host two annual events – a bake sale held the Saturday after Pi Day (March 14) to benefit the Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club, and an annual fall golf tournament to benefit Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding. Peden estimates they’ve donated nearly $50,000 over the last three years between the two events.
Peden said he’s working on another annual event; this one will benefit a veterans organization in the area.
To learn more about Joynt Physical Therapy, 1309 Savannah Road, Lewes, and 31507 Oak Orchard Road, Millsboro, go to joyntphysicaltherapy.com.
