2022 Economic Impact Awards 1-7 Years in Business Winner: A hip joint

After operating solely in Springfield for four years, A hip joint stretched its health care services last year to three additional towns in the Ozarks.

The company founded by Drs. Eric and Tania Reavis more than doubled its clinic count to five in an eight-month span. Nixa gained the first franchise for the chiropractic clinic, which opened in February 2021, followed by company-owned clinics in Willard and Branson.

The couple say the coronavirus pandemic boosted their patient visits to unexpectedly high levels, which motivated the couple to add clinics.

“We actually saw an explosion in our number of visits coming through the office during that time,” Eric says, pointing to an increase of 35% from March to December 2020 compared with the same period the prior year. “We wanted to keep on expanding, and it was a surprise when it gave us that opportunity.”

The new clinics have boosted the number of employees over 70 and increased revenue last year 40% over 2020, he says, declining to disclose figures, but noting it’s in the seven figures.

It’s a far cry from the company’s start six years ago when it recorded 15 appointments in its first month, resulting in revenue of $631.

Today, A hip joint has roughly 2,500 appointments booked per month across its five clinics, says Tania. Over 27,000 bookings were made last year.

“That’s a record for us,” she says, noting the company is on pace this summer to surpass 100,000 appointments since opening.

Of its nearly 15,000 clients served since 2016, 700 pay monthly membership fees for a variety of services, ranging $45-$135.

“That was one of the ideas that we had from the get-go was to be a membership model-based company,” Eric says. “It helps to keep people coming on a regular basis to keep their health optimal.”

The couple also give some credit for growth to A hip joint’s employees, who are given room to express themselves and set their own schedules, Tania says.

“It’s just a win-win because they don’t feel pressured, and it allows them to really thrive,” she says. “We try to figure out what their key strengths are and try to funnel clients to them that match that.”

To help with employee retention, the company has given incentives, bonuses and increased pay for its entire staff over the past couple of years. Entry-level pay is $12.50 per hour. Additionally, front- desk personnel are moved to higher wages after their first 90 days.

A hip joint is now looking beyond the Ozarks for future clinics. The Reavises say Kansas City, St. Louis, Dallas and northwest Arkansas are under consideration.

“We have a lofty goal that we want to open more than we did last year,” Tania says.