The Early Days

In 1975, Sandra Jacobson Lerner was the director of occupational therapy at Mercy Hospital in Chicago. After the birth of her first child, she struggled to balance her desire to spend more time with her baby with her love for her work. When the opportunity to consult for a pediatric skilled facility arose, Sandye jumped at the chance and launched her new business, Occupational Therapists, Ltd.

By 1978, the business was growing and Sandye had welcomed her second child. She subcontracted additional therapists to serve existing clients. A pioneer in work/life balance, Sandye began offering therapists flex time and job sharing long before such benefits were common in the workplace.

The 80s

In 1981, the company extended its consulting services to a broader range of healthcare organizations and changed its name to Comprehensive OT Consultants, Ltd. In 1982, Comprehensive began conducting state-certified continuing education workshops and seminars for nursing home personnel.

Between 1983 and 1986, the Comprehensive umbrella of services expanded again to include Therapeutic Recreation Specialists and Licensed Certified Social Workers. With a diverse group of therapy specialists, the firm was able expand beyond long-term care facilities into DD facilities, MI facilities, hospitals, schools and home health agencies.

As the demand for rehabilitation services grew and clients increased, Sandye made the decision to add physical and speech therapy and make all contract workers permanent employees. In 1989, the firm changed its name to Comprehensive Therapeutics, Ltd., and began offering a full range of rehabilitation services, including staffing, consultation, management and direct treatment. The expansion allowed Comprehensive to more than quadruple its business.

The 90s

In 1995, Comprehensive added a certified Medicare rehabilitation agency able to bill Medicare directly for therapy services provided to Medicare recipients. In 1997, Staff Solutions, an interim staffing and recruitment company for rehabilitation was created. Staff Solutions was later folded into Comprehensive as a distinct service line, Comprehensive Staffing. Also in 1997, Comprehensive moved the corporate office to its current location in Glenview.

Throughout the 1990s, Comprehensive devoted significant resources to building support systems that incorporated the latest technology and best-practice processes to sustain its growing team of professionals and expanding client base. As the only rehabilitation firm in Illinois offering a complete menu of integrated interdisciplinary services, Comprehensive doubled its business during this time.

2000 and beyond

Comprehensive was one of the first rehabilitation companies to introduce skilled therapy and wellness programs for Independent and Assisted Living. Between 2003 and 2004, Comprehensive added additional hospital and school clients, and tripled business in senior retirement communities.

In 2005, the company was awarded the distinction of "Chicago's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For"—an honor that was repeated in 2007 and 2008. In 2006, and again in 2007, 2008 and 2009 Comprehensive was named one of the "Best Places to Work in Illinois."

In 2009, Comprehensive changed its name to The Comprehensive Group to better reflect the scope of services under the Comprehensive umbrella. The new name also positions the company for growth, as we move forward into exciting new service lines and markets.  In 2010 The Comprehensive Group was ranked #9 in the nation by Modern Healthcare Magazine's Best Places to Work in Healthcare.

Throughout these 35+ years of growth, Comprehensive has retained its identity and unique characteristics. It remains therapist owned and operated. It is not a public company. The employees have open access to managers who value their input, and yet it still feels like a family. The unique combination of high quality, diversified services and attentive, therapist-focused leadership positions Comprehensive for another 35 years of success.