By Bob Burns
Mail

A new medical professional, Debra Palka, FPN (Family Nurse Practitioner) has joined the staff at the Fountain Hills Medical Center, 9700 Saguaro Blvd. at Trevino Drive.

Palka is seeing patients at the walk-in clinic and family practice at the center.

Palka, a three-year resident of Fountain Hills, has been at the clinic for about two months. She previously worked at a family practice in Scottsdale before making the move to this community. Cindy Golisch, community relations manager for the medical center, said hiring local residents is a priority for the center.

An Illinois native, Palka is a graduate of Chamberlin University in Chicago and has been in medicine for nearly 30 years. Palka said she has worked in a variety of medical specialties covering the full range from labor/delivery to hospice care.

She said at Fountian Hills Medical Center patients have total care with immediacy. If a patient sees her at the clinic and they need a higher level of care, she will walk them right down the hall to the emergency room for treatment. She will do follow-up care after they are discharged from the ER. Palka added that she has had personal experience with family members coming to the local ER and was very impressed with the care they provide.

“When you are my patient, you are my family,” Palka said. “I am here to care for the people of Fountain Hills. I want to get them well and keep them well.

“I’m happy to see entire families.”

Palka is accepting new patients and works with those looking for a new practitioner. She will work with previous physicians in getting a medical history. She also enjoys working with part-time residents and winter visitors, interacting with their doctors in another state.

The clinic at Fountain Hills Medical Center operates Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Fridays. The emergency room is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day to see patients needing immediate care.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Bob Burns can be reached at bburns@iniusa.org.