What you should know about advanced practitioners
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You may know who your doctor is, but did you know they work hand-in-hand with a team of advanced practitioners, care coordinators and pharmacists? We call this the CARE team approach. The key players on your CARE team collaborate and work together to keep you your healthiest.
Each person on your CARE team plays an important role in your healthcare journey. One of the key players is a nurse practitioner that your doctor partners with. A nurse practitioner is trained to assess patient needs, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, order and interpret tests, create care plans for patients and serve as your primary care provider. Whether you need your annual physical, are feeling under the weather or have specific medical concerns you want to talk about, your nurse practitioner can work with you, all while keeping your CARE team informed!
Nurse practitioners hold a master’s, doctoral or post-graduate degree. While nurse practitioners are individually certified, they work under their doctor’s medical license.
Meet the latest additions to our team of advanced practitioners!
Melanie Tschirhart is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner at McKinney Medical Village. She is passionate about patient education, disease prevention, and health promotion. She brings more than 15 years of experience to the team. Melanie encourages her patients to live a healthy lifestyle by engaging in regular exercise, reducing stress, getting adequate sleep, and eating a nutritious diet. She is also passionate about heart disease education for women, mental health awareness, and domestic violence prevention.
You can read more about Melanie and schedule an appointment here.
Kristen Dirks is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner at Legacy Medical Village and brings more than 11 years of medical experience. Kristen has a dedication to evidence-based practice and a holistic approach to providing healthcare. She has a desire to ensure patients fully understand their condition and treatment plan and is a firm believer in preventive care.
To learn more about Kristen or schedule an appointment, click here.