Profiles in Telehealth: An FNP Believes Virtual Care Can Improve Women's Healthcare Access
We interviewed Nurse Practitioner Catherine to hear about her journey from the Navy to practicing as a Family Nurse Practitioner full-time. Learn more about why she thinks telemedicine can improve healthcare access for women and other overlooked areas of medicine.
What’s your background? What did you do before practicing telemedicine?
I started my nursing career as a Navy nurse 14 years ago, serving in Kuwait and Guantanamo Bay. After the Navy, I decided to go to grad school and became a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). I've been working as an FNP for the past 7 years, mostly in primary care and with a special interest in women's health.
What’s your life like outside of work?
Before that COVID-19 pandemic, I would say that traveling was up there as one of my hobbies. I am now learning to enjoy a slower-paced life at home with my husband and two year-old daughter. We're into baking and exploring parks and nature reserves near us in Philadelphia, but I still look forward to when I can travel and eat out somewhere fun safely!
What brought you to telemedicine?
I decided to take a break from in-office primary care when my daughter was about 10 months old. I spent a couple of months with her at home and realized that I wanted to practice again but was not ready to go back to a clinic. That is when I came across Wheel and the telemedicine opportunities available and I haven't looked back since. I can't imagine going back to a clinic now because the flexibility that telemedicine provides is unparalleled.
What’s your recent Wheel Moment of Freedom?
During COVID, I have appreciated my ability to work in telemedicine even more than before! My family decided to flee to my parent's house during the peak of COVID in Philadelphia, and I was so thankful that I could continue to work while being displaced.
What do you think the future of healthcare holds?
I am most excited to see changes in our healthcare system that increase healthcare access for run of the mill concerns and underserved areas of medicine. For example, I have a special interest in women's health topics that have commonly been overlooked, like pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction.
I look forward to a time when they are mainstream concerns are addressed appropriately.
Thanks, Catherine, for being an essential member of the #WheelCareTeam!
Interested in joining us? Sign up to learn more about working in telehealth with Wheel. We need clinicians more than ever during the COVID-19 national crisis.
Learn more about provider experiences in our previous spotlight interviews with a nurse practitioner who took the leap into telemedicine full-time, a nurse practitioner who believes virtual care improves access, and a nurse practitioner finding that virtual care enables quality patient time.
