Intune Physical Therapy Enters NC, Acquires Six-Clinic Epic Practice

BRENTWOOD, TN – January 06, 2026 – Intune Physical Therapy, a Tennessee-based healthcare provider, has officially entered the North Carolina market with the strategic acquisition of Epic Physical Therapy, a well-regarded practice with six clinics serving the greater Raleigh area. The move, announced today, expands Intune's footprint to eight clinics across two states and marks a significant step in the company's Southeast growth strategy.

The acquisition brings a respected local provider under the umbrella of a larger, family-backed organization, reflecting a broader trend of consolidation within the healthcare services industry. For patients and competitors in Raleigh, the arrival of Intune signals a shift in the local physical therapy landscape.

A Strategic Play in a Growing Market

Intune's expansion into North Carolina is a calculated move into a robust and expanding healthcare sector. The state's physical therapy industry alone is valued at approximately $1.3 billion in 2026, having grown at a steady clip of over 4% annually in recent years. This growth is fueled by demographic shifts, including an aging population, and a medical community increasingly focused on physical therapy as a cost-effective, non-opioid alternative for managing pain and musculoskeletal conditions.

The market, while large, is also fragmented, with nearly 5,000 separate businesses operating across the state. This creates a prime environment for strategic operators like Intune to build a significant regional presence through targeted acquisitions. The move follows a pattern of consolidation seen elsewhere in the state, such as PT Solutions' major acquisition of 24 clinics in the Charlotte area in early 2025, indicating that regional and national players are increasingly vying for market share in North Carolina.

By acquiring Epic's established six-clinic network, Intune immediately becomes a formidable player in the Raleigh market, bypassing the slower process of building a presence from the ground up. This acquisition follows Intune's 2025 purchase of Rehab Guru, a two-clinic practice in Omaha, Nebraska, demonstrating a clear and deliberate expansion model.

The 'Family-Owned' Alternative to Consolidation

What sets Intune apart from many other consolidators is its backing and philosophy. Intune is a platform of Highland Ventures, a family-owned national venture management company with a 75-year history. This ownership structure informs a distinct approach to growth, one that contrasts with the often short-term, high-turnover model associated with private equity firms.

Highland Ventures, which also operates the nation's largest Marco's Pizza franchise and a massive commercial property portfolio, emphasizes long-term investment and a mission to "grow people, communities, and businesses." Intune's leadership has applied this ethos to its healthcare acquisitions.

"As a family-owned company, Intune is committed to preserving the culture and strong clinical reputations of the practices we acquire," said Ben Jacobs, President of Intune Physical Therapy, in the company's official announcement. "We invest for the long term to optimize and grow both the quality of care and access to physical therapy services in the communities we serve."

This model promises a partnership rather than a simple takeover. Acquired practices like Epic gain access to scalable back-office operations, enhanced clinical support, and significant growth resources while, in theory, retaining their local leadership and patient-first culture. Heidi Seitz, Owner of Epic Physical Therapy, echoed this sentiment, stating, "Joining Intune allows us to preserve what makes Epic unique while gaining the resources and infrastructure needed to grow thoughtfully."

Preserving a Legacy of Patient-Centered Care

The success of this acquisition will hinge on Intune's ability to preserve the very qualities that made Epic an attractive target. Prior to the buyout, Epic Physical Therapy had cultivated an exceptional reputation in the Raleigh community. Online patient testimonials consistently praise the practice for its supportive atmosphere and highly personalized care.

Patients frequently commend the knowledgeable and compassionate staff, often by name, for creating individualized treatment plans that lead to successful recoveries from surgery and chronic pain. This deep well of community trust and goodwill is Epic's most valuable asset. Intune's leadership has publicly recognized this, framing the acquisition as an alignment of shared values.

"Epic has built something truly special in the Raleigh market," Jacobs noted. "Their culture, clinical excellence, and patient-first philosophy align perfectly with Intune's values. We are excited to partner with the Epic team and invest in their continued growth."

Intune's own mission is to "restore what's been lost in physical therapy," a nod to an industry shift that has, in some areas, moved away from deep patient-clinician relationships. By acquiring a practice that already embodies this philosophy, Intune aims to prove that growth and personalized care are not mutually exclusive.

Navigating Integration and the Path Forward

While the strategic and philosophical alignment appears strong, the practical challenges of integration remain. Merging a local six-clinic practice into a larger corporate structure, even one with a benevolent mission, requires careful navigation. The primary synergy lies in offloading administrative burdens from clinicians, allowing them to focus more on patient care. Epic will benefit from Intune's centralized resources for billing, marketing, and compliance.

However, potential hurdles include integrating different electronic medical record (EMR) systems, standardizing operational procedures, and managing staff anxieties about the change in ownership. The key to a smooth transition will be retaining Epic's talented and highly-praised team of therapists. Intune has stated its intent to invest in its clinicians, which will be critical for maintaining the high standard of care that patients have come to expect.

For the Raleigh community, the ultimate test will be the experience inside the clinic. Patients will be watching to see if the personalized attention and welcoming environment that defined Epic Physical Therapy remain intact under new ownership. As Jacobs concluded in his statement, "We believe physical therapy should be a deeply personal experience, and that starts with taking care of the people who care for our patients."