Three local VolunTeens helped keep physical therapy moving while gaining a closer connection to patients, healthcare and their community.
Ready to Lend a Hand
Throughout June and July, the physical therapy team at NCH Marco Island could count on three additional pairs of hands.
Every week, VolunTeens Addison Heinrich, Peyton Reed and Erica Tran each assisted in a department that remains busy throughout the year.
Together, they helped fully staff physical therapy with volunteer support for the entire summer, something the department had not previously been able to achieve.
Working alongside the physical therapy team, the teens helped prepare for each patient coming through the doors. They supported the many behind-the-scenes details that keep the department moving while also taking time to speak with patients and help create a welcoming environment.
A Closer Look at Patient Care
The pace kept them moving, but it also gave them a view of healthcare that extended far beyond what they might have seen from the waiting room.
Peyton, who will be a high school senior and plans to study engineering at a Florida college, said he did not expect to have so much interaction with patients. That connection became one of the parts of the experience he enjoyed most.
His most memorable moments came when patients completed physical therapy and rang the department’s bell, marking the progress they had worked hard to achieve.
For Erica Tran, the experience provided a deeper understanding of what it takes to work in healthcare.
“Having the opportunity to be a VolunTeen at NCH helped me further understand the traits of healthcare: responsibility, patience and collaboration,” Erica said. “I’m so glad I was able to have this experience with the kind and supportive staff at NCH.”
For Addison, the experience offered a new appreciation for Marco Island and the people who call it home.
“Volunteering with NCH was truly an amazing experience! I got to interact with some of the kindest people I have ever met and, most importantly, get to know my community a little better,” she said.
Service That Makes a Difference
This was the second summer NCH Marco Island welcomed teen volunteers.
Their reliability made a meaningful difference. With all three Volunteens contributing throughout the summer, physical therapy had volunteer support across its schedule for the first