This is What I Love to Do
This is my introduction and "getting to know you" posting. Iam the founder, owner and operator of my own pediatric and family nursepractitioner clinic in Minnesota. To some of you, that may not sound like much,but in Minnesota it is a big deal. It has taken a while to carve out my nicheand the progress is slow. This past year I was lucky enough to find another NPwho has the same passion for health care who wanted to share in the business.Together, we are building our practice one patient at a time.
My desire to care for people began when I was young. Myfather was a general practice physician in rural Minnesota. His clinic was onthe first level of our building, a converted, 1903 grocery store with livingquarters upstairs. My siblings and I often would "hang out" in the clinic,playing in the storage room and trying to get a glimpse of the patients orstaff at work.
Every now and then our whole family would become involved incaring for patients, especially if someone came after hours or on the weekend.My father was often paid "in kind" and earned just enough money to pay billsand care for his family. What I admired most about his practice was his genuineinterest in his patients. He took the time to know them and cared about theirlives as well as their health.
Now, 30+ years later, I have tried to incorporate the samecare and compassion into my own practice. Much of our furnishings are from hisclinic: antique tables, Mayo stands, stools and cupboards; reminders of why Ichose to do what I do. On the first anniversary of our clinic, we held a safetycarnival and barbecue for our patients, staff and the community - dedicatingthe clinic to my father.
My first clinic, Mendota Health, opened November, 2002. Mypartner and I started off with a bang, hiring a consulting firm, architect,builders, insurance specialists and the whole ball of wax. We were the first(for profit) NP-owned and -operated primary care, pediatric and family clinicin the upper Midwest. Building the business was extremely difficult andresulted in many, many problems. We closed Mendota Health in May, 2005.
Fortunately, I was able to set Plan B into motion, and onJune 1, 2005, Eagan Child and Family Care, P.A., opened its doors. One of theNPs who worked with me at Mendota Health agreed to come forward with the newclinic, investing a bit of her own money and equity. Nearly all of our patientstransferred to the new clinic, located just down the road.
Today we bill out around $40K per month. Our monthlyoperating expenses run 20K to 21K. We have two pediatric NPs, two family NPs, apart-time family physician and 6 medical assistants. Currently we also have twopart-time receptionists/clerks. We can offer EKG, spirometry, lab, minorsurgery, sutures and splinting. Our Web site is currently under construction,but we hope to have it up and running soon.
Along with all the major insurance plans, we take patientswho do not have insurance coverage. Our site provides education for NPs fromthe University of Minnesota, College of St. Catherine and Metropolitan StateUniversity, as well as medical assistant students from the surroundingcommunity colleges and universities. As part of our community service weparticipate in the high school mentorship program, offering experiences forstudents interested in nursing and health care.
Although it is not always a bed of roses, I can say withabsolute certainty that I would choose no other profession and no other jobthan this. I look forward to sharing my thoughts and lessons learned with allof you.
Gretchen Moen, NP