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When you visit your primary care physician, you may first see a nurse practitioner (NP). With your physician, these health professionals share the responsibility of providing patients with high-quality, personalized and timely medical care. "In my practice, NPs are indispensible," says Howard D. Wilcox, MD, MPH, Family Medicine Physician at CHRISTUS Preventive Medicine in Beaumont. "My staff includes two excellent NPs who, in collaboration with me, diagnose and treat everything from sinus infections to more complicated conditions such as diabetes." "Our role is to assist the physician and relieve some of his or her load," adds Jennifer Bryant, Nurse Practitioner at CHRISTUS Preventive Medicine. "We assess and facilitate care for a wide variety of conditions in patients of all ages. This responsibility is why I chose to specialize in family medicine — you see just about everything." Partners in Nurse practitioners are essential members of your healthcare team, working side by side with primary care physicians. To find a primary care provider at CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Elizabeth & St. Mary or CHRISTUS Jasper Memorial Hospital, call 866.683.3627. IMPROVING ACCESS Perhaps the NP's most important contribution to your health care is making sure you're able to see a physician in a timely fashion. "If there were no NPs, we would have to cut the number of patients we see by two-thirds," Dr. Wilcox says. "In almost every aspect of medical practice, NPs are vital." "We're here to help improve access to health care and help the physician with routine functions," adds Bryant. "We want to make it easier for patients and help them enjoy the best health possible." TAKING STOCK NPs also give patients the tools to prevent illness through care- ful monitoring and education. "As I develop a relationship with a patient, I have the op- portunity to notice trends early on," says Angela Rori, Nurse Practitioner at CHRISTUS Preventive Medicine. "When lifestyle or family history is likely to affect a patient's health, I can recommend steps to take to reduce the chances of disease." ATTENTIVE CARE FOR CHRONIC CONDITIONS In addition, NPs assist patients with ongoing management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels. NPs help patients understand the importance of controlling these conditions, work with patients on the long-term use of medications and advise them about helpful lifestyle changes. COLLABORATING AND CONSULTING Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have completed an additional two to three years of master's level education and advanced training in a medical specialty. In the primary care set- ting, NPs independently examine patients, write prescriptions, order laboratory work and other tests, and perform routine monitoring of many medical conditions. Throughout the day, NPs and physicians frequently discuss the most complex cases and consult on treatment plans. Prevention Howard D. Wilcox, MD, MPH Jennifer Bryant, Nurse Practitioner Angela Rori, Nurse Practitioner 7 LiveWell | August/September 2014