Mother, wife and community volunteer, Michelle Feeney, Family Nurse Practitioner (F.N.P.), is known for dedicating her extra time in the Lake Tahoe community – from poverty to nutrition, she is devoted to making changes in the area. She also has worked for Barton Health at the Community Clinic, Barton Family Medicine and is now joining Dr. Jennifer Ehmann at Barton Pediatrics.
“Dr. Ehmann has been our [family’s] pediatrician and I know what an excellent provider she is,” Feeney said. “I look forward to collaborating with her to provide great continuous medical care for her patients.”
Feeney enjoys watching children grow and develop into healthy adolescents – helping parents understand the development process and guiding them through each of their stages.
“I am excited to make them [children] my priority,” Feeney said. “I have two small children of my own and enjoy combining my personal experiences with my professional knowledge in educating families.”
She emphasizes the importance of building strong relationship between the medical provider, the patient and their parents.
“Consistency is very important to detect the subtle changes in children as they grow and develop,” she said. “This long-standing relationship helps provide the best care for the child.”
Feeney obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Biodynamics from University of California, Berkeley and soon after became a registered nurse (R.N.) and received a masters of science degree in nursing (M.S.N.), specializing as an F.N.P. from the University of San Francisco.
An N.P. is described by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners as an R.N. who has advanced education and clinical training in a health care specialty area.
“NPs are primary health care providers who provide nursing, medical services and education to individuals, families and groups, emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention,” Feeney said.
Services of an N.P. include conducting and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests, prescription of pharmacologic agents, treatments and non-pharmacologic therapies.
“An N.P. can serve as a patient's regular health care provider,” she said. “I function very similarly to a doctor. Our training is different, but Dr. Ehmann and I are able to collaborate and I try to provide the same high-quality care.”
To schedule an appointment with Barton Pediatrics, call (775) 589-8946.