Archive for category: Employee Spotlight

HPC Salutes Behavioral Health Team

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. According to National Alliance on Mental Illness, (NAMI), millions of Americans face the reality of living with mental illness. During the month of May, HPC joins with NAMI in the national movement to raise awareness about mental health.

Each day at HPC, our Behavioral Health Team works to access the needs of our patients. They work with our medical providers on a treatment plan to address many conditions such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, smoking cessation, weight management and more. Our Behavioral Health Clinicians provide support and education to our patients while fighting to decrease the stigma related to accessing care for mental health.

We would like to take this opportunity to recognize the Behavioral Health Team at HPC for all that they do to improve the lives of our patients.

Special thanks to Thao Le, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner; John Smart, LSCSW, Behavioral Health Clinician; and Christopher Woodward, LMAC, Substance Abuse Specialist. 

National Nurses Week is May 6-12. 

In 1993, the American Nurses Association declared May 6-12 as the national week to celebrate and elevate the nursing profession. Each year the celebration ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Florence Nightingale was an English social reformer and statistician and the founder of modern nursing.

This year’s theme for Nurses Week is “You Make a Difference” to honor the varying roles of nurses and the positive impacts they make on our lives.

At HPC we celebrate the important roles that nurses play on the frontlines of the health care system. Special thanks to Jewel Gleason, LPN, for all that she does to support our patients, medical providers and medical assistants.

Thank you, Jewel, for all of the good work you do to improve patient care at HPC!

Patient Services Representatives Day/Receptionist Day is May 10

Since 1991, National Receptionist Day has been celebrated on the second Wednesday of May, this year falling on Wednesday, May 10. HPC would like to take this opportunity to recognize our Patient Services Representatives (PSRs) who fill the role of receptionist and so much more!

According to Mayra Bocanegra, Billing and Patient Services Manager, the PSR staff are the first people who interact with our patients when they walk through the door. They are the face of the clinic. It can be a tough job sometimes, but they are willing to do whatever is needed for our patients.

“Words cannot express the gratitude I have for our team,” Mayra says. “We have been through so much together, from the COVID-19 pandemic to staffing shortages, and this team has stuck by my side. We have built a very positive, strong team, and I will forever be grateful.

“I would not be where I am today without them,” she adds. “Every single person on our team has made a difference along the way. I hope they know, to be proud of the work they do, the people they are, and the difference they make for HPC. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

Thank you to our wonderful team of PSRs: Crystal Albarran, Acirema Chavez, Jean Cast-Martin, Marlene Guzman, Jorge Larriba, Iliana Mejia, Karla Nunez, Patricia Ortiz, Maria Pena and Yesenia Salazar.

The PSRs are part of the Revenue Cycle Management team and work closely with Mayra Bocanegra, Manager of Billing and Patient Services; Billie Reese-Turner, Director of Billing and Patient Services; and Diana Zamora, Enrollment Specialist.

At Health Partnership Clinic (HPC) our Nurse Practitioners play key roles. They provide a full range of medical care from pediatric to geriatric and some specialty services. We greatly appreciate their quality of care and service to our patients.

What is a Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner is an RN who begins with a bachelor’s degree in nursing (RN-BSN). He or she then obtains a master’s degree, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) or doctoral level, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Nurse practitioners may practice in broad areas including primary care, acute care and specialty care services, practicing either independently or in collaboration with a physician. Your primary care provider may be a nurse practitioner.

What does a Nurse Practitioner do?

Primary Care nurse practitioners see patients in offices or Urgent Care settings, perform routine check-ups and investigate symptoms to diagnose and treat illnesses. Their work varies from wellness visits to managing chronic complex illnesses. They order and interpret lab tests, x-rays and the full range of other diagnostic tests. From your history and test results, they form a treatment plan. Some nurse practitioners perform procedures such as biopsies, suturing of lacerations and fracture care to name a few.

What is the education and training needed to become a Nurse Practitioner?

All nurse practitioners complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and a Master of Science in Nursing (APRN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Each nurse practitioner has to successfully pass a certification exam to begin practice.

Do Nurse Practitioners specialize, or do they all practice Primary Care?

About three-fourths of nurse practitioners work in Primary Care but there are many other specialties that can be pursued. These include Psychiatry and Mental Health, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Nurse Midwife and Women’s Health.

At HPC our nurse practitioners play key roles. Our nurse practitioners specialize in primary care, in psychiatric services and in women’s health. We also employ nurse practitioners who are specially trained in medication assisted treatment of substance abuse.

We are so grateful for our NPs at HPC. Thank you, Tony Anno, DNP, ACNP-BC, APRN; Kierra Calico, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, FNP-C; Maureen Caro, FNP-BC; Eva Clark, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC; Thao Le, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC; Jennifer Miller, FNP-BC; Rebecca Turner, MSN, APRN, FNP-C; Whitney Venegoni, APRN, FNP-C; Gwenyth Wagner, DNP, APRN; and Patti West, DNP, APRN.

Please take time to thank our Nurse Practitioners for all they do for our patients. Happy Nurse Practitioner Week!