INSIDE

Health Matters

By Virginia Lester,
RN, MSN, ARNP

I am going to take this opportunity to discuss some facts regarding your Point Roberts Clinic. As you all know, the Public Hospital District assumed the responsibility for operating the clinic. The commissioners felt it would be a good idea to poll people regarding clinic use, offerings and unmet needs. It is not surprising to find that many residents have not received services at the clinic and many people are still unaware that a clinic exists in Point Roberts.

Your Point Roberts Clinic provides all of the generally acceptable services that would normally be provided by any primary care office or clinic. This is not an urgent care facility and we are unable to provide X-ray. Any person requiring X-ray or other imaging evaluation will need to go to Bellingham or possibly Delta. Emergency care is well covered by a group of dedicated volunteer firefighters and EMTs. A 911 call is quickly responded to and patients are transported as needed to the hospital in Bellingham.

Clinic hours and days have been changed at the request of many residents. We are now open Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Of course patients can be seen by special arrangement when the clinic is closed on an urgent basis by calling me.

My home and cell phone numbers are available and I try to accommodate non-clinic day problems as much as possible.
Following is a list of what is generally offered in the clinic:
• Urgent acute and chronic illness care.
• Minor surgery and repair of lacerations and injuries. This includes biopsy of suspicious lesions for assay.
• Physical exams and health care for all ages and genders.
• Consultation and referral to specialists, many of whom I know personally.
• Prescriptions for all legend medications and controlled drugs II-IV required for treatment. Additionally, prescriptions can be provided by mail saving the patient a trip to the nearest U.S. pharmacy.
• Laboratory testing done here in our lab with specialty tests sent to Northwest Laboratory at St. Joseph Hospital. For the convenience of the patients, we also collect laboratory samples ordered by other clinicians for testing.
• Evaluation and treatment for mental health issues.
• Continuing care and case management for patients in Point Roberts.
• Secure computer connection with St. Joseph Hospital, laboratory, imaging services, pharmacies and most specialists’ offices.

I am a Nurse Practitioner (NP) licensed in the state of Washington as an independent practitioner. I hold a master’s degree in nursing and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California at San Francisco. I hold national certification as a family nurse practitioner and have more than 20 year’s experience in this specialty.

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners defines the scope of practice as follows: NPs are primary care providers who practice in ambulatory, acute and long-term care settings. According to their practice specialty these providers provide nursing and medical services to individuals, families and groups. In addition to diagnosing and managing acute episodic and chronic illnesses, NPs emphasize health promotion and disease prevention. Services include but are not limited to, ordering, conducting, supervising and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests and prescription of pharmacologic agents and non-pharmacologic therapies. Teaching and counseling individuals, families and groups are a major part of NP practice. They serve as health care researchers, interdisciplinary consultants and patient advocates.

Today, people choose from many different health care providers. Each discipline has a different approach to education and practice requirements. The objective is to deliver the best quality care possible, the type of education and experience is not always the important factor. Patient satisfaction always comes first.
Everyone is welcome at the clinic. I am credentialed and compensated by most of the major insurance companies and we have a sliding fee scale for low-income residents. If your needs are not being met, please let me or the PHD commissioners know what you need.

Flu vaccine will be available October 1. Patients should make appointments. There is going to be a Diabetes Wellness Fair October 21 in Bellingham. Pre-registration is required, and registration forms are available at the clinic.