Profiles in Telehealth: Acute Care NP Says Virtual Care is a Game Changer
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Stacy J., was initially looking for extra income to help pay off her student loans but soon became a full-time Clinician Champion.
What's your professional story?
I am an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner who graduated from the University of Michigan in 2018 and began working in a Urology practice in New Hampshire. My background is Surgical ICU, men and women's health (Urology specific) with Urgent Care sprinkled in. I joined Wheel in August of 2020 as an opportunity for more flexibility and to help pay off my giant student loans. I then became a Clinician Champion (CC) at the beginning of 2021 and I love to train and support new and existing clinicians in their journey with Wheel!
What's your life like outside of work?
I live in Michigan with my husband, 3 kids and 2 very active dogs. I spend most of my free time reading books of all kinds and meeting up with friends. I love to travel any chance I get and have several trips planned over the next year and a half, including the summer Olympics taking place in Paris July of 2024. I also just started a plant rescue hoping to hone my non-existent green thumb. Wish me luck!
What brought you to virtual care?
I honestly decided to give telemedicine a try with a referral from a friend who was already working with Wheel. I was very interested in the idea of being able to work from home and wanted to see if it would be a viable full time option for me. I already had three state licenses acquired for various reasons, so I applied and started working with Wheel within a few weeks. I think anytime you start something new, there is a learning curve. The hardest part for me was navigating some of the EMR platforms. Some platforms are just not easy to work with. The best part is literally being able to work from home and deciding what platforms you want to work with! I now have 28 state licenses with plans to acquire more as Supervising Physicians become available.
What's it like to work with Wheel?
I absolutely love the flexibility Wheel offers. Being able to set my own hours is a complete game changer compared to brick and mortar. No more worrying about who is going to cover my hours when I have an appointment, waiting to have enough hours earned to be able to take time off plus it’s amazing to be able to be available for my family and take a vacation whenever I want!
For new clinicians wanting to get into the virtual space, I recommend first obtaining licenses in multiple states as well as freshening up on Urgent Care evidence based medicine practices. Not being up to date or familiar with UTI management or birth control (for example) can make the transition more difficult.
What do you think the future of healthcare holds?
I love the autonomy and variety of platforms that Wheel provides. Telemedicine is ever evolving and I enjoy being on the forefront of new and exciting opportunities in this growing field of medicine. I am certain that increased access to lab work as well as general access to primary care without having to go to an office, will have a meaningful impact on health long term. In addition, although I am not in the behavioral health realm, telemedicine expansion for treatment and management of behavioral health conditions is also going to have a huge impact and increased reach for those who can access and acquire much needed therapy and treatment. I can't wait to see what technology brings us next.
Thank you, Stacy, for sharing your personal and family stories! Compassionate clinicians give hope to the future of healthcare.
For more check out our previous care team spotlights from a third-generation NP who uses flexible hours to support refugees, an NP's journey from candy striper to virtual care and a NP who decided to travel the world for a year.
Interested in joining a team of virtual care clinicians? Learn about working in telehealth with Wheel.