January 31, 2024 |
Photo – Medicine Bow Health Center – Courtesy Google Maps
The Medicine Bow Rural Health Care District has a new provider.
Memorial Hospital of Carbon County hired Advanced Nurse Practitioner Julie Freeman to run the Family Practice Clinic in Hanna after Peggy Lake retired last November.
As reported by Bigfoot99, a contractual dispute resulted in Freeman leaving the medical organization after a month and a half and choosing to return to her previous home in Texas.
At the time, sources close to the story told Bigfoot99 that Freeman was not offered an employment contract, resulting in her decision to quit. However, MHCC Marketing Coordinator Keishah Edwards disputes the claim. In an email to Bigfoot99, Edwards said, “Julie [Freeman] was offered a contract per our standard policies and procedures. It was mutually agreed on by MHCC and Ms. Freeman to term [sic] the agreement.”
Whatever the reason, Nurse Freeman chose not to continue her working relationship with MHCC. Instead of packing up and heading back to Texas, Freeman took a position with the Medicine Bow Rural Health Care District.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Medicine Bow Senior Center hosted a meet and greet for the town’s newest nurse practitioner. At the luncheon, Freeman, whose son lives in Rawlins, said it was her grandson who compelled her to remain in Wyoming.
Advanced Nurse Practitioner Freeman said she began her nursing career on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Freeman said working on the reservation was a great introduction to rural healthcare.
A great trochanteric fracture is a type of hip fracture that occurs on the upper part of the femur, near the hip joint.
Nurse Freeman said practicing in Medicine Bow is likely to be similar to practicing medicine in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Freeman said patients in both areas have limited, and sometimes reluctant, access to post operative care.
Freeman said she is still getting credentialed to work in Medicine Bow. Afterwards, Freeman said she’ll begin seeing patients as an advanced nurse practitioner. Freeman said she will offer Wyoming Department of Transportation required commercial driver’s license physicals in the near future.
CDL examinations won’t be the only additional medical service Freeman plans to offer at the Medicine Bow Clinic. The nurse practitioner said in a month or two, she will begin working to become certified to provide mental health services as well.
Nurse Freeman came to Wyoming to run the Hanna Clinic. With that no longer an option, Freeman said for the time being she will work exclusively in Medicine Bow. The nurse practitioner said she would like to eventually expand her services and see patients in Hanna.
In the meantime, Medicine Bow Rural Health Care District Board Treasurer Kay Embree encouraged Hanna residents to visit the Medicine Bow clinic.
Memorial Hospital of Carbon County Marketing Coordinator Keishah Edwards told Bigfoot99 that the hospital plans to keep the Hanna Clinic operational while a new advanced nurse practitioner is found. A press release issued by MHCC Director of Strategic Operations, Stephanie Hinkle, after Freeman’s departure states, “effective February 1st, providers from other MHCC family practice clinic locations will be providing coverage at a minimum of one day a week at the Hanna clinic on a rotational basis to ensure continued care is available in Hanna.”
