Grande Ronde Hospital | Life & Health | Summer 2018

This technique is called osteopathic manipulative treat- ment. It’s one tool DOs use to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses. GRH currently employs 10 DOs with the addi- tion of Adam Heisinger, DO (see page 2). What is a physician assistant (PA)? Don’t be fooled by their title: PAs are not assistants to a physician. These licensed medical experts can examine, diagnose and treat patients, as well as prescribe medi- cine. And while they collaborate with doctors, PAs also see patients on their own. They see patients in medical offices, hospitals, outpa- tient centers and other settings. In some clinics, PAs are the primary care providers you might see on a regular basis. Some even specialize—for instance, in family medicine, urology or orthopedics. Their specific duties can depend on where they practice, their specialty, state laws and other factors. In general, PAs can: ●   ● Do physical exams ●   ● Diagnose and treat diseases and injuries ●   ● Order and interpret x-rays, blood work or other medical tests ●   ● Create treatment plans ●   ● Talk to you about ways to stay healthy or manage a chronic disease ●   ● Assist in surgery PAs have a solid medical education and experience. Their background typically includes a master’s degree, state licensing and extensive clinical training. GRH currently employs three PAs. What is a nurse practitioner (NP)? For starters, NPs are highly trained and qualified health care providers. They’re registered nurses who have addi- tional medical training and national certification. They also have either a master’s or a doctoral degree. They may have extra credentials, such as FNP, ANP, or even DCNP, indicating an additional specialty within the field of the NP designation. Many NPs provide primary and specialty care. They work in a variety of settings, such as clinics, hospitals, urgent care sites and nursing homes. Like doctors, they can diagnose and treat many illnesses and injuries. And they consult with doctors when needed. For instance, an NP may: ●   ● Perform your physical exam ●   ● Diagnose and treat various health conditions like diabetes or an infection ●   ● Perform and order tests ●   ● Prescribe medicines ●   ● Teach you to how to make healthy lifestyle choices to prevent or manage an illness In fact, NPs tend to emphasize prevention, health educa- tion, and the overall well-being and health of their patients. That makes NPs excellent partners in your care. We employ 24 NPs across our organization. For more information on all of our providers, visit our online Provider Directory at grh.org . Sources: American Osteopathic Association; American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine; American Academy of Physician Assistants; American Association of Nurse Practitioners; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics —Continued from the cover What’s in a name? Grande Ronde Hospital 900 Sunset Drive La Grande, OR 97850 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Walla Walla, WA Permit No. 44 LIFE AND HEALTH is published as a community service for the friends and patrons of GRANDE RONDE HOSPITAL, 900 Sunset Drive, La Grande, OR 97850. Jim Mattes President/CEO Wendy Roberts Senior Director ofAdministrative Services, CommunityBenefitsOfficer Mardi Ford Director, Communications&Marketing; Public Information Officer Information in LIFE AND HEALTH comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2018 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.