“The people in (Chubbuck and Pocatello), we just absolutely love them,” he said. “I get to treat my daughter’s school teacher, and the fireman who just put out the fire down the street. We are really involved because we are connected through the community.”

    Willey is co-owner of Physicians Immediate Care, a local network of clinics that offers primary care, cosmetics and weight loss services and a tobacco cessation program.

    This month, Physicians Immediate Care received the Urgent Care of the Month award. The accolade is awarded by the American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine, the national governing body for urgent care medicine.

    Recipients of the monthly award are judged on their service, reporting and growth, among other criteria.

    Willey, who began operating Physicians Immediate Care in 2006, believes his medical business received the award because it was able to continue growing, despite the poor economic conditions.

    Physicians Immediate Care operates three separate clinics – one in Chubbuck and two in Pocatello. Willey opened his most recent clinic on March 15. The third clinic is located across the road from Portneuf Medical Center’s East Campus on Hospital Way.

    “It’s quite an honor,” Willey said about the award. “We’re obviously taking care of patients good enough so we can grow our business.”

    Willey has come a long way since moving to Pocatello in 2004. When he first got here, he worked as a doctor in one of the clinics that he now helps operate.

    Willey, who has been practicing for about 11 years, specializes in family medicine, geriatrics, urgent care medicine and holistic medicine.

    The other two Physicians Immediate Care clinics are located 1234 Chubbuck Road and 495 Yellowstone Ave. He began operating the Yellowstone clinic in 2006 and opened the Chubbuck branch two years ago.