You may have noticed a new provider at Pinecone.
Lucie Lapierre is an experienced Nurse Practitioner who has joined our team, and we are thrilled to welcome her!
What is a nurse practitioner (NP)?
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with advanced university education, either a master’s or doctorate degree, who provides a full range of healthcare services to individuals, families and communities in a variety of settings including hospitals and community-based clinics. Nurse practitioners can assess, diagnose, treat and monitor a wide range of health problems using an evidence-based approach. Nurse practitioners are independent health professionals and require no outside supervision of their practice.
Why did Pinecone hire an NP?
We weren’t satisfied with our ability to address acute concerns like cough, colds, fever or unexpected changes to the treatment plan like medication side effects. Our goal is also to keep our wait time low. Having Lucie join the team is like an extra set of eyes and ears that can assess your child and make a plan which will involve discussing the case with one of Pinecone’s pediatricians.
What can I expect when I meet Lucie?
- Lucie may be involved with initial consultations to collect information and synthesize it, collaborating with physicians to make a plan on how to move forward.
- Lucie may be involved in follow-up encounters to understand how things have (or haven’t!) changed.
- Lucie specializes in the management of mental health and newborns but may be involved with any concern.
You should expect to see a physician as well if you’re coming to the clinic in person.
Lucie has some unique skills that wouldn’t be available at Pinecone otherwise:
- Lucie is a certified lactation consultant
- Lucie has extensive experience with adult health care services and may be able to help families access/navigate resources that would otherwise be unknown to the pediatricians.
Lucie has improved care for everyone at Pinecone by improving access (decreasing wait times), adding her unique skill set and experience in planning how to manage your concerns about your child and deep compassion and empathy for families.