November 10, 2021

MCHD observes National Nurse Practitioner Week

MOBILE, Ala. — Every day, nurse practitioners (NPs) are saving lives and improving the health of our friends and family. The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has elevated awareness of how NPs are essential to our health care system.

To honor their heroic efforts, communities nationwide are joining the Mobile County Health Department and Family Health – its primary care division — in recognizing the critical role of NPs as part of the annual National Nurse Practitioner Week celebration (NP Week). This year it takes place November 7 to 13.

“Family Health and its patients are grateful for the compassionate high quality nurse practitioners who have committed to serve their community well,” said Kelly Warren, Executive Director of Family Health. “Please join us in thanking a Nurse Practitioner this week.”

Serving as nurse practitioners for Family Health are the following:

Citronelle Health Center – Seth Davis, Thaila Keodouangdy,
Dauphin Island Parkway Health Center — Heather Harvey,
Eight Mile Health Center – Maria Beck, Dr. Shayria Catlin,
Keeler Adult Health – Mason Wade,
Keeler Pediatric Health – Janelle Davis, Edna Harris
Keeler Women’s Health – Cindy Norman, Barbara Swartz,
North Mobile Health Center – Jessica Clarke,
Semmes Health Center – Suzie Lebatard, Charlotte Gamble, Laura Jane Wolf,
Women’s Center — Jeri Jones, Raquel King, Beth Ruzic, Tina Syphrit.

NPs provide a wide range of care to America’s patients in more than 1 billion visits annually. The NP Week theme in 2021 is “NPs: Going the Extra Mile,” which offers patients the opportunity to share their story about the positive difference an NP has made in their life.

NP Week recognizes the contributions that more than 325,000 licensed NPs make to the health of patients nationwide. These health care professionals practice in clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care centers, nursing homes, and private practices across the country — wherever patients are in need — and continue to provide front-line care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NPs assess patients, order, and interpret tests, make diagnoses, and provide treatment, including prescribing medications. As clinicians who blend clinical expertise with an added emphasis on disease prevention and health management, NPs are the health care provider of choice for millions of Americans.