Like all Rock Valley family members, Emiley Brand and Nate Just chuckle when they hear the words “job description.’’
Sure, they understand the formality of their duties, but it is not in their DNA to punch a clock, do what’s asked, then move on.
It’s not the Rock Valley Physical Therapy way, a standard — gold, if you will — set in place long before Brand and Just arrived on the scene.
“If you can make a difference in the life of a patient — and if it involves making their lives better and happens to fall outside the realm of what we do as therapists — then we do it,’’ said Brand (DPT, OCS, Level II Physical Therapist), who like Just (Level II Physical Therapy Assistant), is a high-energy, patient-first dynamo from Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Valley View Drive (Moline, Ill.) location.
Brand and Just went above and beyond recently, assisting several Rock Valley Physical Therapy patients in finding appointments to receive the coronavirus vaccine. For their efforts, dedication and compassionate care, the two are the “Making Better Lives’’ recipients for April of 2021.
The pair will receive commemorative certificates for their efforts and $200 will be donated to their favorite not-for-profit.
The two selected the Palomares Social Justice Center in Moline, which works to address the socio-economic needs and interests of Floreciente and other less-empowered communities (of the Quad-Cities) through advocacy, grassroots outreach, and culturally sensitive services.
“Their dedication to their patients truly helped better the lives of many,’’ said Chad Humphrey (Senior PT, MPT, OCS), clinic lead at Valley View Drive. “Emiley and Nate are wonderful, filled with energy, great at what they do, and took it upon themselves to help get several of Valley View Drive’s patients get scheduled to receive their first and second vaccines.’’
Humble to a fault, Brand and Just, two refreshing, 24-karat gems, said assisting patients gain access to the vaccine happened “organically.’’
“As the rollout began, it was natural to ask a patient if they have had it or are thinking about getting it,’’ said Just, a two-sport star at Alleman Cathoic High School, who first took notice of Rock Valley several years ago while fending off sports-related injuries at the prep level.
“Of that first 65-older group the vaccine was offered to, we ran across more and more people that said the process was confusing, that they didn’t understand what to do and what avenues were available,’’ Just added. “For some there was the issue that they lacked certain access to the proper technology. We thought we could help them work through those issues, so we did.’’
Brand said she and Just would run across a patient in need, work together and create a little vaccine-receiving magic.
“It began for me with a patient — this incredible woman with terminal cancer — who was given the OK by her doctor to receive the vaccine,’’ said the ever-upbeat Brand, possessor of a heart bigger than a Montana sky and a top-notch practical joker.
“This particular patient — and she brings such energy and outlook — inspires us all. So there it was, me treating this lady and Nate calling up the websites and hitting refresh until he got in and could schedule an appointment.
“ Some of the patients we have just don’t have the computer skills to navigate the system and it didn’t take much for us — because we are younger and a little more computer savvy — to help. Heck, I signed up my parents, and some of their neighbors. We kind of became he techno-duo, Nate and I..’’
For one Brand’s patient in particular, the vaccine was a huge lift in life.
““Because of her getting the vaccine shots, this amazing lady got to travel, take a short trip to Miami (Fla.), with family,’’ said Brand, who even used her personal email address to get a distressed patient, void of his own email address, signed up. “It was so good for her to get and do something after not being able to anything for so long.’’
Both Just and Brand know what reads on their job descriptions, but…
“This is a business about relationships,’’ Brand said with a smile. “You want to make better lives but you also want to leave a lasting, positive impression, and make sure that person knows they can count on you. It’s not just us, it’s everyone at Rock Valley. It’s what you do. It’s what makes this company so attractive.’’
It’s that unique Rock Valley spirit that made Just pivot in the early stages of his professional career. After a start on the strength and conditioning side, the married father of one (and one in the way), realized he loved the PT side of the bettering-lives world.
“You see it (making a difference) every day,’’ Just said. “And Valley View Drive is a hustling, bustling place, where we come across some amazing people. We also work alongside some of the best. It was the perfect transition for me. It goes back to Mr. (Steve) Layer (RVPT’s founder) and the values of the company. We did something that’s normal around here.’’
Normal.
And special.
By: Johnny Marx, Storyteller