What a nurse practitioner is
A nurse practitioner is a healthcare professional with a nursing background who works in clinical care. When choosing any primary-care practice, the practical questions are whether the provider has experience with your needs, whether you can see the same person, and what happens when another level of care is needed.
| Population focus | Who it covers |
|---|---|
| Adult-gerontology primary care | Adolescents through older adults, including the very old |
| Family | Across the lifespan, including young children |
| Pediatric | Infants, children and adolescents |
| Women's health, psychiatric-mental health, and others | Their own defined populations |
How to evaluate a primary-care relationship
A useful primary-care relationship is built on continuity, clear access, careful follow-up and honest referral when another setting is a better fit. Those operational questions tell you more about the day-to-day experience than a list of initials after a name.
Melissa's provider page focuses on her professional biography, experience and care philosophy.
What to ask before you choose a practice
- Does the provider have professional experience with my age group and needs?
- What services does the practice offer, and which ages does it serve?
- Will I see the same provider each time, or whoever is available?
- How long is a visit, and how do I reach the practice between visits?
- What happens when I need something outside primary care — how are referrals handled?
Who provides care at Presence
Presence local care is provided by Melissa House, whose nursing and nurse-practitioner background includes work with adults and older adults. In-office care is for ages 13 and older; children 12 and under are cared for virtually through a household membership. Her professional background and approach are on your provider.
We never describe our care as being provided by a physician, because it is not. If your situation calls for a physician or a specialist, we will tell you.