As an established patient with one of our physicians, you may occasionally be offered an appointment with one of our Nurse Practitioners – particularly when calling the office for an illness that requires an immediate appointment. A Nurse Practitioner is an experienced health care provider with a Master’s Degree in Nursing, plus extended training in a specialized field of study. These practitioners evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients in conjunction with our physicians in a collaborative relationship. Additionally, Nurse Practitioners can prescribe medication and follow the physician’s plan of care for our patients. They act as an extension of the physician and have played an integral role in enhancing the quality of care offered by our practice.
Patients currently under the care of one of our physicians for a chronic condition may be asked by their doctor to schedule follow-up appointments with one of our Nurse Practitioners. The Nurse Practitioner who monitors your care will remain in communication with your physician, informing him of your progress and assisting him in assessing the best plan of care for your treatment. This collaborative approach can improve the quality of care you receive by allowing you to be seen more frequently, as well as giving our practitioners a better opportunity to monitor your health.
Each of the Nurse Practitioners at Internal Medicine Specialists plays an instrumental part in the day-to-day operations of our practice. They treat patients in the office, at nursing homes, and in the hospital, as well as assisting some of our Nephrology specialists with their rounds in local dialysis units. Additionally, our Nurse Practitioners assist the physicians with weekend emergency calls, enabling our patients to receive consistent care, even after hours or when our office is closed. We are proud to currently have three Nurse Practitioners on our staff, each with a variety of clinical experience. Between them, they have been treating patients in the healthcare setting for over 60 years.