Growing with Tx:Team: How Dan DeCraene Built a Legacy of Care in Frankfort, Indiana
Dan DeCraene didn’t start his career in healthcare. After earning a business degree from Indiana University, he spent three years working in accounting, followed by another three in medical sales. While the work was fine, it wasn’t something he truly loved. His time in hospitals as a medical sales rep gave him a unique window into what physical therapists actually did—and it left a lasting impression.
Inspired by a high school friend who was going back to school for physical therapy, Dan realized it was time to make a career change of his own. He began taking the science classes he hadn’t needed as an accounting major at IUPUI in Indianapolis.
At the same time, Dan worked full-time as a rehab aide at Physical Medicine Associates (PMA), which would later be renamed Tx:Team. The role gave him valuable hands-on experience and even financial support for his tuition. At the time, PMA primarily served nursing homes such as Hoosier Village, Marquette Manor, and Westminster Village. Dan also occasionally filled in at Johnson Memorial Hospital, where he worked alongside Greg Jennings, founder of Tx:Team. While in PT school, Dan completed an 8-week clinical rotation at Johnson Memorial, followed by another with Tx:Team at the Speedway Clinic.
Dan earned his Master of Physical Therapy degree from the Arizona School of Health Sciences in Mesa. During PT school, he met his wife, Christie. After several years in Arizona, the couple decided to move back to Indiana where Dan accepted a position with Tx:Team in Frankfort. Though Christie hadn’t initially planned to work for Tx:Team, she eventually joined the team as well, and the two worked there together for nearly 20 years.
Dan held the title of team leader, but said the group was easy to lead because everyone shared the same commitment to patient care. He described the team as, “a special group of people we unfortunately won’t be able to reproduce.”
This tight-knit team operated under a long-standing contract at a local hospital in Frankfort that was taken over by another hospital system in 2017. In September 2024, the rehabilitation contract was terminated—a decision that deeply impacted not only the team but also the community they served.
When a patient shared the termination letter online, the response was immediate and overwhelming:
“That team is like no other. I know how well they helped me in my time of need. They will be missed terribly.”
“This team was amazing caring for our son after a major accident. I credit them with literally getting him back on his feet in record time. Wishing them the best.”
The reaction didn’t stop at social media, it quickly made its way into the clinic. In the days and weeks that followed, patients came in with questions, concern, and heartfelt gratitude. Dan recalled the emotional toll of that period: “The public found out, and we were reliving it every few days.”
Patients wanted to know where their trusted therapists would go next and how they could continue their care with the same team they had come to rely on. One thing became undeniably clear: this was never just about physical therapy—it was about connection. The community’s loyalty wasn’t to a building or brand, but to the people who had made a lasting impact on their lives.
As word spread, the chorus of support continued to grow:
“Frankfort needs them!”
“These folks are not only great therapists, but valued friends! Where will they be? I need to know so I can request my therapy there!”
Fortunately, Dan and colleague Lily Del Toro, PTA, were able to stay in Frankfort by joining Witham Health Services, where Tx:Team now manages rehabilitation services under the leadership of Chris Gray, Director of Rehabilitation. Christie, Dan’s wife, remained within the Tx:Team network as well, accepting a position at Riverview Health, where Brad Austin serves as Director of Rehabilitation. With an expanding network of partner contracts across Central Indiana, Tx:Team continues to foster a strong, connected community of therapists dedicated to exceptional care.
The transition to Witham Frankfort has been both busy and rewarding. The clinic quickly doubled its full-time staff and still needs more help. Patient volume remains high, with Dan seeing three to four evaluations each day. Many former hospital-affiliated physicians continue referring patients to Dan, despite his team now operating outside their system, because they know the level of care remains exceptional. Many former patients have followed Dan and Lily to their new location, a true reflection of the trust, relationships, and quality care that have defined their practice over the years.
Dan has always thrived in the outpatient setting, where his approach to therapy is deeply rooted in anatomy, movement, and patient education. He emphasizes manual therapy and exercise, but what truly sets him apart is his dedication to helping patients understand what’s happening in their bodies. “It’s one of the most important parts of what we do,” he says.
For Dan, empowering patients to become active participants in their recovery is key. He spends time teaching them about posture, movement patterns, and why these details matter, highlighting how proper movement can reduce dependence on pain medications.
When asked why he has remained with Tx:Team through so many changes over the years, his answer is immediate: “The autonomy.” He values the trust he’s been given—never micromanaged or told how to treat. Instead, he’s been supported in doing what’s best for each individual patient. He appreciates Tx:Team’s commitment to 1:1 patient care and its intentional departure from high-volume, high-pressure models used by some competitors. Tx:Team remains a therapist-led, patient-focused organization.
Recently, Dan’s professional and personal worlds intersected in a meaningful way. His son Jake, a rising sophomore at Indiana University, had the opportunity to shadow Spencer Sheridan, Director of Finance at the Tx:Team Home Office. It was a full-circle moment, reflecting the company’s ongoing investment not only in its patients, but in its people.
Dan DeCraene’s story is a powerful reminder that true healthcare goes beyond treatments and protocols—it’s about the relationships built and the trust earned along the way. His dedication to one-on-one patient care has made a lasting difference in the Frankfort community. As Tx:Team continues to grow and adapt, professionals like Dan show how compassionate care remains at the heart of successful therapy.