From its 1984 founding by a single physical therapist in a drafty barn of a building in Moline to a family of 61 clinics stretching across three states, Rock Valley Physical Therapy has remained patient-centered and therapist-owned. Its CEO Mike Horsfield clearly is passionate about that business model and about the family atmosphere and patient-first, […]
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From its 1984 founding by a single physical therapist in a drafty barn of a building in Moline to a family of 61 clinics stretching across three states, Rock Valley Physical Therapy has remained patient-centered and therapist-owned.
Its CEO Mike Horsfield clearly is passionate about that business model and about the family atmosphere and patient-first, hands-on care he believes it engenders at the large and ever-growing group of clinics founded by Milan native Steven Layer.
So much so that Mr. Horsfield, who became CEO in 2011, still gets emotional when he talks about a decision by Rock Valley’s physical therapist partner/shareholders to unanimously reject an offer by a private equity firm to buy into the business. He’s clearly proud of the fact that the entire group of partners eschewed the bigger profits that may have come with the consolidation and private investment models becoming prevalent at private medical practices.
Instead, Mr. Horsfield said Rock Valley’s partner shareholders – who these days number 22 – will continue to grow what is already one of the largest therapist-owned families of clinics the way it has from the start: by adding like-minded, no-referral-needed, patient-first clinics and clinicians eager to live by its motto: “Making Better Lives.”
Not every new location is the result of a new partnership, however. The next four Rock Valley Quad Cities locations, for example, are coming in response to an unexpected challenge. The four new sites expected to come on board in October are the result of ORA Orthopedics ending a longstanding agreement under which Rock Valley’s clinicians provided care to ORA patients at ORA’s Quad Cities facilities.
Beginning Oct. 1, ORA will take care of its own physical therapy services. To protect the Rock Valley therapists’ jobs, the partners created new places for their employees to care for their patients.
“We’re excited by the opportunity, but sad to see that part of our story come to an end,” Mr. Horsfield said of ORA’s decision. He also expressed gratitude for Rock Valley’s 38-year relationship with ORA and said he is confident many patients will follow Rock Valley’s displaced therapists to one of Rock Valley’s new strategically located clinics at:
- 4500 E. 53rd St., Suite 200, Davenport.
- 900 W. Kimberly Road, Suite B, Davenport.
- 110 N. 1st St., Eldridge.
- 850 43rd Ave, Suite 300, Moline.