Palo Pinto County has been a Rural Health Champion of the NRHA since 1970, when Palo Pinto General Hospital and its associated hospital district were established.

In 1992, Carla Hay and Glenda Pruitt established a rural health clinic in southern Palo Pinto County. Harold Burgett transformed an old feed store in Gordon, Texas, into a doctor’s office.  Palo Pinto General Hospital (PPGH) rented this space for a home health office. They offered the front area for the clinic. Funding for the clinic was provided by a Rural Health Initiatives grant.  The Palo Pinto Rural Health Clinic opened in 1993. In 1995, PPGH purchased the clinic. Carla served as the nurse practitioner there, while Glenda went on to establish the West Town Clinic and Possum Kingdom Rural Health Clinic.

Currently, PPGH operates 5 rural health clinics.  We have two pediatricians, two family physicians, and 14 excellent nurse practitioners. There are also several nurse practitioners (NPs) in private practice in Mineral Wells.

Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses (RNs) who have completed advanced training through a master’s or doctoral program. The curriculum is established by the State Board of Nursing.  In Palo Pinto County, the practitioners are Family Nurse Practitioners. The curriculum includes advanced assessment, advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, primary care for families, pediatric and adolescent care, psychiatry, women’s health, and prevention and population health.

They are required to have a minimum of 500 clinical hours under the direct supervision of a nurse practitioner or physician. They are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of conditions, order laboratory and X-ray tests, interpret results, and prescribe medications.  The Nurse Practitioner must pass a national board certification examination in their specialty before obtaining a license from the State Board of Nursing.

Nurse Practitioners practice independently in 27 states. In Texas, NPs must establish a collaborative agreement with a physician to gain prescriptive authority. These physicians play a crucial role, providing consultation on complex patient cases and reviewing a percentage of charts to ensure quality and uphold evidence-based practices.

NPs provide patient-centered care with a strong emphasis on health education, preventative care, and a holistic approach to wellness, which leads to better health outcomes and higher patient satisfaction. They are skilled collaborators who work with their supervising physician and other healthcare professionals to create comprehensive treatment plans and are truly a valuable asset to Rural Health.

We have three doctors retiring from practice, which affects many of our seniors.  We are increasingly utilizing nurse practitioners. Many seniors are reluctant to use NPs as their providers. Hopefully, this will reassure that Nurse Practitioners are competent providers.