CHI - St. Francis

"I really liked the idea that I could come in later in the day so I could help my sons harvest," Wayne says. "Niva checked my knee out and suspected I had a tear in my knee cartilage." Niva referred Wayne to James Johnson, MD, orthopedic surgeon with CHI St. Francis Health. Dr. Johnson confirmed the diagnosis of torn cartilage, and Wayne had surgery on October 28. "I was able to make an appointment with Dr. Johnson more quickly than I expected because of the referral," Wayne says. "My experience with the Walk-in After Hours Clinic was that it was convenient, quick, and very professional. I can't say enough positive things about it." For Michael Conzemius, owner of Conzemius Transport, convenience and quality service made the difference for treating his hypertension. "The wait time was not long at all," Michael says. "Niva is a caring woman—she listens to what you have to say, which you don't get from too many care providers. Because I don't have health insurance, Niva worked with me to find the best medication to treat my high blood pressure." To learn more about the Walk-in After Hours Clinic, call 218-643-3000. Meet Your Providers Niva Dhakhwa, DNP, FNP-C, serves as one of the primary care providers for the Walk-in After Hours Clinic at CHI St. Francis Health. New to Breckenridge as of August 2016, Niva credits her grandmother with inspiring her passion. "When I was in high school, she was really sick with rheumatoid arthritis," Niva says. "I helped care for her during all of high school, and that gave me a sense that I enjoyed caring for people. I decided then that I wanted to go into nursing." After working as a floor nurse for many years, Niva pursued further education as a nurse practitioner and obtained her doctor of nursing practice degree from The University of Utah in Salt Like City. Brenda Rick, FNP-C, also serves as a primary care provider at the Walk-in After Hours Clinic. A native of Wahpeton and a graduate of South Dakota State University with a master's degree in family practice nursing, Brenda enjoys working with patients to resolve their health issues. "I enjoy getting to know patients and having the opportunity to spend time with them," Brenda says. "At the Walk-in After Hours Clinic, we take the time to get to know the patients and their families." Do I Need the Emergency Department? The Emergency Department is for life-threatening medical problems only. Call 911 right away if you experience: Chest pain, shortness of breath, jaw pain, or other symptoms of a heart attack Drooping face, slurred speech, mental confusion, or other symptoms of a stroke Uncontrolled bleeding Loss of consciousness Suicidal thoughts Unexplained, severe pain (especially in the stomach) Severe, persistent vomiting If your symptoms are not a medical emergency, consider going to the Walk-in After Hours Clinic for faster, lower-cost, and high- quality care. www.sfcare.org 3

• Cover