Memorial Hospital Nurse Practitioner is Accepting New Patients

11/30/10

Memorial Hospital has announced that Leona Cloutier, APRN, a Nurse Practitioner specializing in family medicine, is accepting new patients. Cloutier earned her Nurse Practitioner credentials in May of 2010, when she graduated with highest honors from the William F. Connell School of Nursing at Boston College.

“A Nurse Practitioner provides many services, including: delivering routine, acute, or preventative care; medical management; treating medical conditions and prescribing medications; or referring patients for important resources in the community, such as home visits, or visiting nursing services,” said Cloutier.

Cloutier who is currently building her Primary Care practice based on a team or Holistic approach, previously served as clinical manager of nurses for six years. “That was an important opportunity to support the wonderful professionalism of Memorial Hospital nurses and staff, and to experience, firsthand, the benefits of a multidisciplinary team, or holistic, approach to care,” said Cloutier.

“When I care for a patient, taking a ‘holistic’ approach might mean providing that patient with a ‘Well Child’ exam or a sports physical; consulting with another family practitioner; or providing access to a health clinic that can help the patient better manage a chronic illness such as diabetes,” said Cloutier. “Preventative care and education are key to maintaining a patient’s good health.”

“Patient-centered care is built on a ‘Medical Home’ concept that fosters greater communication between the doctor, patient, family and the healthcare team. The concept is used to great effect right in the primary caregiver’s office, since it is a philosophy of care and not an actual place,” said Cloutier. “This approach ensures that team clinicians are easily accessible in person or by phone, within 24 hours.”

“I am also building my practice on the concept of ‘evidence-based’ care. Keeping track of important health trends and using the results from important medical studies, can help in promoting optimal health,” said Cloutier. “Immunizations are a great example, since routine immunizations can help prevent, perhaps even eradicate, disease. Polio vaccinations, for example, have been a critical step in global polio eradication.

Cloutier, who is a long-term resident of the area, and a Memorial Hospital employee since 1995, began her hospital career as the nurse for the primary care office of Raymond Rabideau, MD, who is now Memorial’s chief of medicine. “He has always been a valuable mentor who helped provide the inspiration for me to pursue the Nurse Practitioner role,” said Cloutier. “My daily inspiration as a Nurse Practitioner emanates from my love of caring directly for patients,” said Cloutier.

Cloutier, who earned her degree by commuting long hours to Boston on weekends and working through summers, said, “My two kids and I studied together at the kitchen table, and that was very motivating for all of us.”

Cloutier is accepting a broad spectrum of patients—ranging from newborns to the elderly. “I have had many opportunities to help neighbors, friends and patients successfully confront end of life challenges and, as a Nurse Practitioner, providing palliative care for patients and their families, is an important aspect of my care giving that I deeply respect,” said Cloutier.

While at Boston College, Cloutier completed research for her Master’s thesis on “Vitamin D Deficiency” and “Preventing Childhood Obesity.” She also conducted research into “Distraction Techniques When Administrating Immunizations” (making the immunization experience for a five year old, for instance, less frightening). Cloutier was the recipient of Memorial Hospital’s “Spirit of Service Award” in 2008. She sees patients every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30AM to 4:00PM. To schedule a “get acquainted appointment,” or for more information, you can reach her office at: (603) 356-5472.