Airmen needing physical therapy to help rehabilitate an injury have a new resource - just minutes away from their workplace - to aid in their recovery.

The McChord Physical Therapy Clinic, located inside the McChord Clinic, opened Monday. The 950 square-foot facility, which previously served as a temporary home for the McChord Health and Wellness Center, is filled with nearly $60,000 of specialized fitness equipment.

Madigan Army Medical Center officials opened the P/T clinic in order to bring physical therapy services closer to Airmen, said Lt. Col. Carrie Golden, chief of Madigan's Department of Physical Medicine.

"It's a great utilization of this space," she said.

There are two other satellite physical therapy clinics, the Nisqually Clinic on Joint Base Lewis-McChord Main and another on JBLM North.

"The equipment here is similar to equipment at the other locations," Golden said.

The new clinic affords Madigan officials "the chance to see more patients and expand our overall footprint versus sending Airmen out of the (care) network," Golden added.

The clinic also features a two-person staff that will help each Airman with his or her personal therapy routine.

"Airmen can see the same two people each time they come in, which gives us a chance to really individualize the care," said physical therapist Mike Hammond, who will run the clinic along with his assistant, Michael Taylor.

Hammond said he's looking forward to building relationships with Airmen and helping them develop a specialized therapy program tailored to each situation.

Having therapists in the building also makes communication between all those involved much smoother, Golden said.

In addition to all the services the McChord PT Clinic offers, Airmen can still utilize all the physical therapy programs Madigan offers at its other locations. That includes coordinated classes, pool therapy and specialized back and ankle rehab programs.