Sarah Knorr is our newest provider with Northwest Health Services. She is practicing at our Savannah Medical Clinic in Savannah, MO. And guess what? She is FROM Savannah! A real hometown provider. Sarah and I sat down in between her seeing some patients to have the following informal interview in order for you to get to know a little more about her!

AW:  What do you practice?
SK:  Family Medicine

AW: Where are you from?
SK: Savannah, MO

AW:  What was your education like? Where did you go to school?
SK:   I graduated with my bachelors in nursing (BSN) from Missouri Western State University in 2001. After that I went to the University of Missouri Kansas City to pursue my masters in nursing with an emphasis in nursing education. I graduated with my MSN  in 2004. In December 2006, I graduated with Family Nurse Practitioner completion from UMKC. I am enrolled at UMKC getting a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP). DNP is a practice doctorate where I chose an emphasis to focus on to become an expert, and my emphasis is medical weight management.

AW:  How long have you been practicing medicine?
SK:  5 years

AW:  Why did you choose to work at a community health center rather than a private practice?
SK:  I previously worked in a private practice, but I like the idea of working at a community health center because there are more opportunities for prevention, which I am interested. I also love the fact that patients can have help affording their healthcare.

AW:  Describe what your first few months at NHS have been like. Is it was you expected?
SK:  They have been great. I love being in a small community, in my own community, getting to know more people in Savannah. It’s such a great feeling to be a part of my community and to be able to improve the health of individuals in Savannah. I was surprised at how many people in Savannah I didn’t know and have enjoyed getting to know a broader range of people.

AW:  What things do you like about Savannah?
SK:  I like the quaintness of the town, especially the square. I hope to have the opportunity to become more involved in helping the school system with health projects, which I wouldn’t necessarily be able to do in a bigger city.

AW:  What health concerns do you see with the people of Savannah, MO?
SK:  Diabetes, COPD (lung problems), heart disease

AW:  How do you feel the quality of care patients receive at NHS is compared to other places you’ve worked?
SK: I think that Northwest Health Services definitely makes quality a priority and emphasizes use of national guidelines. I like the involvement in the patient centered health home where patients can help direct their care. (For more information on the patient centered health home, please visit http://www.ncqa.org/tabid/631/default.aspx).

AW:  What health topics are you passionate about?
SK:  Obesity and prevention (preventive care)

AW:  What are your hobbies?
SK:  I love going to school, playing with my kids, and occasionally when I have time, I like to watch TV or movies.

AW:  What would your alternate career choice be?
SK: If I didn’t have any responsibilities or if money wasn’t an object, working at a mission overseas.

AW:  What is your favorite food?
SK:  Soft pretzels and cheese (I feel bad saying this because it’s so bad for you! But everything in moderation, right? J)

AW:  Where would you like to travel?
SK:  England, France, Spain, and Australia

AW:  Who has been the most influential person in your life and why?
SK:  My mom, because she’s the best mom in the world.

AW: What embarrassing stories have occurred in your time at NHS?
SK: My clinic manager had told me to go to a certain meeting, and apparently everyone but me got the message that it had been cancelled. I got my kids all taken care of, I made sure to get there on time at 7:30 in the morning, and I walk in and there’s all these important people sitting around the board table, and I walk in thinking it’s the meeting I’m supposed to be at but it wasn’t! Everyone just stared at me, and I was so embarrassed!

AW: Do you have a message that you’d like to share with the community?
SK: You don’t have to drive far away to get all your healthcare needs taken care of. We can do it all here in Savannah. We take care of diabetes and cholesterol, and we have a full range of services available. We even see urgent care patients.

Call for an appointment today! 816-324-3121
Sarah’s Hours: Monday-Wednesday, Friday  8am-5pm

Look for more provider interviews to come!
Anna W.