2006 Eads High School graduate Caitlin Philpy, daughter of John and Katie Philpy of Eads, has accepted a position as a new NP-C provider at Kiowa County Hospital District (KCHD). Caitlin will join the ranks at KCHD with fellow NP and former Eads High School classmate Rachel Bletzacker along with the other fine providers there.
A statement from KCHD CEO Beth Bell says, “I’d like to let you know that we have hired a new Nurse Practitioner to work in our Rural Health Clinic, Caitlin Philpy. We are thrilled to have her join our team and know that she will add a lot of value and experience to our medical staff.”
This announcement comes just days after it was discussed at the recent KCHD board of directors meeting that NP Abby Huff will be leaving KCHD to pursue other opportunities.
Philpy, who currently resides in La Junta, Colorado graduated from Regis University in 2018 as a Family Nurse Practitioner. For the last four and a half years she has worked at the Rural Health Clinic in La Junta. She states that her specialties are in areas of pediatrics, women’s health, chronic illness such as diabetes and hypertension, and wellness exams.
CEO Bell had this to say about Philpy joining the KCHD team, “We are expecting that Caitlin will start with us in April, the exact date is to be determined as we are still waiting for paneling with our payers to be finalized. She will be seeing patients every Monday at the clinic from 7:30-5:00 and will be accepting new patients. Patients can call the clinic at 719-438-2251 to be placed on a waiting list now if they are interested in seeing her once she is available.”
Philpy indicated, “I have a strong network of specialist for referrals for things like orthopedics, cardiology, optometry, and surgery.” These referrals to specialists will be made available to patients that she sees at the Eads Medical Clinic.
She went on to say, “I look forward to increasing access to high quality healthcare in the community where I grew up.”
Philpy joining KCHD is another rung in the latter to success for the District which appeared to be in dire straits just a year ago. CEO Bell told the board at their meeting in February that she intends to apply for Congressional Funding this year to help position the District to receive funding in the future for a new facility.
During a webinar that Bell attended she was informed that projects are most likely to be awarded to those asking for under $2 Million, shovel ready, and can be completed within a years’ time. Bell is considering ideas that can be implemented now and be the first steps to a new facility like a training center or a larger clinic. She is concerned about where to put providers if we keep being blessed with getting more as the clinic’s overall patient numbers continue to rise.
Great things are in the works at our local Clinic and Hospital under the new administration of Beth Bell and those who support her. Congratulations to Caitlin Philpy, it is great to see Eads Alumni come home to serve the community that helped raise them.
