November 10-14 marked National Nurse Practitioner Week.
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are among Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) — along with Physician Assistants (PAs), Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) who are essential members of our care teams.
Across the country—and here at South County Health—NPs play a pivotal and expanding role in providing high-quality, accessible care to patients in every setting, from primary care and specialty clinics to surgical and hospital-based services.
Partnership at the Heart of Patient Care
Nurse Practitioners and other Advanced Practice Providers work closely with physicians and interdisciplinary teams to deliver coordinated, comprehensive care. They diagnose and manage illness, prescribe medications, and provide preventive and wellness services—all with the compassion and continuity that patients value most.
Nurse Practitioner Leadership in Action
South County Health’s NPs are also shaping the future of healthcare leadership and innovation:
- Elevating Leadership: Beth Hart, NP, Chair of the Advanced Practice Clinician Committee, was recently invited to present to the Quality and Patient Safety Committee of the Board of Trustees, sharing insights on how APPs are helping to shape the future of healthcare in our community.
- Medical Group Leadership: Two APPs now serve as Assistant Medical Directors in the South County Medical Group—Christine Stout, FNP-C for Express Care, and Diane McKeeff, APRN for Primary Care—further reflecting the organization’s commitment to multidisciplinary leadership.
- Supporting New APPs: Under Diane McKeeff’s leadership, South County Health launched the Path to Excellence, a two-year mentorship and development program for newly graduated APPs entering primary care. The structured curriculum fosters confidence, professional growth, and long-term success for new clinicians.
South County Health celebrates NPs, and all of the APPs who make a difference every day in the lives of our patients and families.
Nurse Practitioners on staff at South County Health include:
Renee Morais, MS, APRN, FNP-BC
Karen Soderberg-Gomez, NP, CWCN
Christine E. Stout, FNP-C, Assistant Director of Express Care