WACO, TX — Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the state of Texas has eased restrictions on elective surgeries.

Now, they’re back on hold.

But once you go under the knife, the staff at Baylor Scott and White Sports and Orthopedic Center in Waco is ready for your rehab needs.

In fact, they’ve been ready since February of this year.

That’s when they held the ribbon-cutting for the brand-new facility in Waco.

“February 28th, we packed about 500 people into this facility and then we saw our first patient on March 2nd and then probably closed down on March 14th” says Cameron Kaufhold, the Building’s Administrator.

Eventually, with Covid-19 related health precautions put in-place, the 14,000 square foot rehab facility opened its doors (fully) again and is now safer than ever before.

“We started with the cleaning techniques and different stuff to convince the population that this is a safe place to come back to and then Baylor Scott and White rolled out Safe Care, which is kind of the big Baylor Scott and White push to prove to the community that this was a safe place to come to and we’ve been doing that ever since” according to Kaufhold.

The out-patient facility follows all CDC protocols when it comes to safety measures, including wiping down the equipment.

It’s a habit employees are used to, especially since it’s the world-class machines that attract patients from all over the country.

“If you have elbow surgery, this will train good movement post-surgery. If you’re a grandmother and want to get back to picking up your grandkids, this is perfect” says Greg Gilmore, Board Certified Sports Physical Therapist eluding to the Proteus machine, a one-of-a-kind machine at the center. “We love it. It’s so versatile. We are one of the few clinics in the United States that have it. Only one in the South that has this machine. This is going to move you to the top of your game, whether you’re a kid, college age, dad, grandma, grandpa…no matter what, this will help get you stronger.”

I should know about getting stronger.

I’ve been rehabbing a surgically repaired knee for the past seven weeks using machines such as the Atler G, an anti-gravity treadmill that uses NASA Differential Air Pressure technology.

“We’re the only PT clinic in Waco that has this. So this can actually decrease your body weight up to 80%” says Gilmore. “So let’s say someone was 200 pounds, you can decrease their load to 40 pounds of stress through their body.”

And less physical stress might mean less mental stress.

Whether it’s the highly touted trainers and skilled staff, or the unmatched equipment, Baylor Scott and White Sports and Orthopedic Center is always ready to help improve the health and well-being of Central Texans.

“We have done everything in our power to create a safe atmosphere at the clinic, in the surgery center and the rehab setting so that people can feel safe and get that stuff taken care of,” Kaufhold says, for those worried about safety issues.

On top of that, the entire campus is masked, gloves are worn, temperature checks are taken, and screeners are at every entrance asking Covid related questions.