New Nurse Practitioner Begins Practice in Fenelon Falls

KAWARTHA LAKES: The City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team has welcomed a new Nurse Practitioner to its team in Fenelon Falls. Cherisse Young, RN(EC), will begin collaborating with Dr. Bruce Allin, Dr. Kesang Pema, and the team’s family health nurse, Kylie Pankhurst, RN, at the Fenelon Medical Centre on Francis Street East, as of July 2nd. A long-time resident of Fenelon Falls, Ms. Young comes to the team with almost a decade of experience, as a registered nurse in the emergency department, at the Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay. She holds a Masters of Nursing in Primary Care degree, from Athabasca University, having completed her training placements here locally. “I love caring for people; it’s my passion,” stated Ms. Young. “I am really looking forward to helping people here, locally, where I live, and having an impact in this community. I’m thrilled to be starting my practice and working with this team here in Fenelon.” Dr. Kesang Pema welcomed Ms. Young to the team. “We are glad Cherisse is on board and are excited to work together to care for our patients,” noted Dr. Pema. Nurse practitioners are highly trained health care professionals who combine their advanced nursing knowledge with an in-depth understanding of health care, disease prevention and treatment, and health education. Nurse practitioners can prescribe drugs, order tests and communicate a diagnosis. “It’s important that we have health care right where we live without having to travel. We are pleased to continue to provide nurse practitioner care for our patients in Fenelon Falls,” added Mike Perry, Executive Director. “Our nurse practitioners have been vital to providing increased care in our communities, especially in terms of making care more accessible to people, closer to home, here in our rural area and reducing wait times for appointments.” Ms. Young replaces Patti Thompson as the team’s nurse practitioner onsite. Ms. Thompson moved on from the family health team last month. Patients will automatically continue on with Ms. Young as their nurse practitioner if they were seeing Patti Thompson for their care previously. Under the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team’s model of care, patients who see a nurse practitioner are also officially rostered to a family physician. Operating since 2011, the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team cares for some 36,000 patients, at 13 locations across the area, including Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Omemee, Lindsay and Little Britain. Need a family doctor? Contact Health Care Connect – 1-800-445-1822 – or call Danielle, at 705.328.9853 Ext. 243.

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