Press Release

Release Date: July 21, 2005
HRCHC Contact: Communications Department
Telephone: (207) 861-3466
Email: Communications@HealthReach.org

Richmond Area Health Center Nurse Practitioner Delivers Keynote at National Conference

p>(RICHMOND)— Tom Bartol, Nurse Practitioner at Richmond Area Health Center, a HealthReach Community Health Center, recently delivered the keynote address at the prestigious National Conference for Nurse Practitioners in Orlando, Florida.

The address, entitled “Health Care Reform: Change Through Practice, Not Politics,” discussed what the nurse practitioner can do in everyday practice to aid in health care reform. Bartol offered a critique of the current system, with over 45 million U.S. citizens without health insurance, and highlighted current disease trends such as obesity that represent challenges to our national health. He then offered steps in which nurse practitioners, in their own unique role as clinicians, can broaden their impact by promoting good health and health care policy by educating patients and community members and by serving as a technical resource to legislators.

Bartol, who is well known for his expertise on the subject of diabetes, was also published in the July 2005 issue of the national journal The Nurse Practitioner. In the article, Bartol presented easy-to-use guidelines aimed to help nurse practitioners build their coding skills for the often complex care of patients with diabetes.

To make an appointment with Bartol, you may contact the Richmond Area Health Center at 737-4359.

Richmond Area Health Center is part of HealthReach Community Health Centers, a family of eleven federally qualified, community-based health centers located in Central and Western Maine. Dedicated providers deliver high quality, affordable healthcare to 38,000 rural and underserved residents in over 80 communities. A private, non-profit organization with a nearly 30-year history, HRCHC is funded by patient fees, grants and individual donations.