Rehab Medical grows on its own terms

INDIANAPOLIS – After pausing acquisitions in 2025 to strengthen its internal systems, Rehab Medical entered 2026 with renewed momentum, completing two deals in January that expand its geographic footprint and deepen its presence in a key Midwest market. 

The company, which specializes in complex rehab technology (CRT) acquired Consolidated Medical in New Windsor, N.Y., marking its first location in the Northeast; and Boomers Medical Equipment, doing business as Risch Home Health Care, in Columbus, Ohio. 

“From 2023 to 2024, we opened eight offices and in 2025 we hit pause to shore ourselves up and make sure we can provide service at scale,” said President Kevin Gearheart. “Now, when the opportunity is right and the fit is right, we’re going to take advantage of it.” 

With the acquisitions, Rehab Medical now operates in 19 states, with multiple locations in Indiana, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky and Texas. 

Owner-led exits with continuity in mind 

In both deals, Rehab Medical saw an opportunity to partner with owner-operators seeking retirement while ensuring continuity for employees and patients, Gearheart said. 

“There’s also the same values and focus on patient care,” he said. 

Northeast expansion begins in New York 

Establishing a presence in New York provides Rehab Medical with a strategic foothold for broader expansion in the Northeast, Gearheart said. Consolidated Medical gives the company both local market knowledge and proximity to neighboring states, easing future expansion efforts in the region. 

“Now we can grow from there – it's harder to do that from farther away,” he said.  

Bringing scale, contracts and technology 

Rehab Medical also plans to leverage its national scale to support growth at the acquired businesses. Consolidated Medical, for example, had been selective about which insurance contracts it accepted, Gearheart said. 

“We bring national contracts and a payer relations team,” he said. “If they’re not in network, we can get them in network. We have experience and a good way of proving what we’re doing is best.” 

Growth with a service-first mindset 

Despite its expanding footprint, Rehab Medical continues to emphasize customer service as a core differentiator, Gearheart said. The company, for example, is investing in technology to enhance patient engagement, including the addition of text-message updates, which Gearheart said can improve satisfaction by keeping patients informed throughout the process. 

“Customer service starts with a mindset and an understanding that the only way you’re going to differentiate yourself is with service excellence,” he said. “It starts with that commitment. Then it’s a constant focus on, how can we take the best care of the patient? It’s processes and systems and approach, but it starts with the mindset.” 

Self-funded growth shapes acquisition strategy 

As the only non-investor-backed CRT provider of its size, Rehab Medical plans to continue growing—but selectively, Gearheart said. 

“Investor-backed companies have money that has to be deployed,” he said. “For us, we don’t need to grow, we want to grow, but we have to be picky, because our growth comes from operating revenue.”