Chris Werner, CNP, APRN understands commitment.
Chris is a Family Nurse Practitioner . . . and a farmer. She leads the care team at NH+C’s new Kenyon Clinic, a full-service and full-time primary care clinic that provides convenient, consistent, reliable care to the Kenyon community.
“My life is about daily commitments – feeding calves, doing chores, caring for family,” Chris says. “I thrive on that continuity. It’s about being the person there when people need you, day in and day out.”
The Kenyon Clinic opens October 18, with day and evening hours, at 225 Huseth Street. All patients, wherever else they get care, are welcome.
Chris is a board-certified nurse practitioner, with experience in Family Medicine and Urgent Care. She treats everything from routine care to complex, multi-problem health issues, including:
Injuries Illnesses Check-ups and annual physicals Disease prevention and health maintenance Chronic disease management Well child care Care for the elderly Patient and community educationChris appreciates the value of connection, in small communities . . . and in medical care.
“Connection and communication are key to good care,” Chris explains. “The responsibility lies with both the patient and the provider to communicate with each other. That helps us make sure your plan of care is working for you.”
Chris lives on the family farm in Hampton where she grew up. She still farms it, raising 500 head of beef cattle on 1,200 acres. She’s eager to care for a rural community outside her hometown: “It’s more comfortable for patients to have that level of closeness in the clinic, rather than in the grocery store,” she smiles.
“People want to be taken care of in their hometown,” Chris adds. “I’m committed to providing that,” and also bringing the resources of NH+C when patients need it, from the Birth Center to the Wound Healing Center and other specialty care. “When someone asks you to take on their physical care, it’s an honor.”
Chris has cared for four generations of some families. “That’s pretty cool,” she says. “You know their history, the connections.”
Care for older adults “incorporates a lot of the family,” Chris says. “I approach it systematically, looking at all the physical systems – cardio, digestive, respiratory – for a full picture. Often, older patients need extra care. It takes time and listening to give the level of attention these patients deserve.”
Sometimes, it takes awhile to find the right answer. “Sometimes I tell a patient, ‘I don’t know what we should do. Let me go home and do my chores and I’ll come to the answer, and call you.’”
After all, that’s her commitment.
For appointments, call: 507-623-0123
Learn about our new Kenyon Clinic. Learn more about Chris Werner.