A child with a broken arm, an elderly woman who is having trouble breathing, a student suffering from depression, a young couple planning a family. What do all these people have in common? Each one can receive healthcare services from a Nurse Practitioner. NPs provide expert healthcare for individuals and families – patients of all ages. They offer professional and caring services to manage health and treat illness.

The week of November 13 – 19, 2011 is National Nurse Practitioner Week. This week provides an opportunity for us to celebrate the important work of these unique healthcare professionals. For nearly a half-century, nurse practitioners across the United States have provided comprehensive, cost-effective, patient-centered services to millions of Americans in need of primary, acute and specialty healthcare services.

•  NPs provide a full range of services such as ordering, performing and interpreting diagnostic tests; diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions; prescribing medications and treatments; and managing overall patient care.
•  There are 148,000 NPs practicing in America today, providing solutions to the primary care provider shortages.
•  NPs have graduate degrees as well as advanced education and clinical training.
•  NPs are licensed and can prescribed medicine in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
•  NPs emphasize the health and wellbeing of the whole person in their approach, including helping patients make educated healthcare decisions and healthy lifestyle choices.

Northwest Health Services has a Nurse Practitioner near you. Call (816) 232-6818 for an appointment.

•  South Side Health Center – Mike Stroud
• North End Health Center – Kate Davis
• Family Medicine Associates – Vickie Kimble and Chery Wormington
• Savannah Medical Clinic – Rhea Williams, Sarah Knorr and Katie Gilmore
• Oregon Medical Clinic – Katie Gilmore
• King City Clinic – Deb Pankau
• Cainsville Medical Clinic – Denise Jennings
• Braymer/Hamilton Clinics – Dorothy Milburn