A relationship that started when Dr. William Zimmer was 8 years old helped launch an expanding chiropractic office in Superior.
Based in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, Imperium Chiropractic opened its third office at 1001 Belknap St., in the Central Flats building, on Thursday, July 22.
Zimmer first visited Imperium Chiropractic as a patient when he was 8 years old. That sparked his interest in the field, and he eventually returned to the clinic for an internship.
Zimmer earned his doctor of chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, Minnesota. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Superior and said he knew he wanted to come back to Superior because of his ties to the university and friends who stayed in the area. Access to Lake Superior, area state parks and the opportunity to live in a smaller community with the amenities the Twin Ports has to offer appealed to him.
Robyn Tozer, clinic director and co-owner, said she and her husband, Dr. Thomas Tozer, decided to see what Superior had to offer. Initially, Dr. Tozer said, they were looking for opportunities to help Zimmer find a partnership or associateship to run his own practice. It didn’t pan out.
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"We knew who he was, the quality of work that he did," Dr. Tozer said. "We wanted to be able to support him. After looking into 'what if we just expanded our third office into the Superior community’ ... it just made a lot of sense that we would do that and help him out to be able to have a clinic in Superior.”
Dr. Tozer said he got his start in Ladysmith in 1996 and worked with a chiropractic association in the area. While he liked the team approach the association offered, he decided to strike out on his own. He purchased a second practice in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, about five years ago.
Robyn Tozer said they were heading out of Superior when they saw the Central Flats building, which offers commercial space. They stopped at the Blaine Business Center, where they were advised to contact the owners of Central Flats. She said when she and Dr. Tozer got home, they decided to make the call.
“That was by the grace of God, because they have been fantastic to work with,” Tozer said.
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The newest clinic will offer chiropractic services starting with a health history and exam, digital X-rays and an adjustment on the first visit, said Zimmer, who will provide the care in Superior.
Dr. Tozer said they also offer custom orthotics, insoles and other low-tech devices to help patients improve their health and alleviate pain.
Robyn Tozer said the clinic takes most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, and will assist patients in determining what their policy covers.
"We do that for everybody because cost is significant to most people,” Tozer said. “They want to know. Most people don't like to be hit with a surprise."
In addition, Imperium Chiropractic participates in the Veterans Affairs Community Care Program, which allows veterans to seek chiropractic care when VA medical facilities in the area don’t provide it. They are also offering a new patient special for people who don’t have insurance that covers chiropractic care.
“One of the things that sets us apart is the hours we provide services,” Dr. Tozer said. “We’re open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday … and most Saturdays."
“One of the things we’ve learned over time is that people do not like to utilize their vacation time for appointments,” Robyn Tozer said.
To schedule an appointment, call 715-609-2155 or visit imperiumchiropractic.com .
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