“We are excited about the latest additions here. We’ll be able to offer more services in-house so residents don’t have to travel to Gainesville as often,” said Denise Schentrup, APRN, DNP, associate dean of clinical affairs and practice director at UF Health Archer Family Health Care, or AFHC.

Schentrup joined the practice 19 years ago and remembers when they operated out of a converted small brick home. Today, the facility boasts six exam rooms and registered more than 6,500 office visits last year.

“We have built lasting relationships in the community. I have treated generations of families. They trust us to see their children and their children’s children,” she said.

In December, the practice transitioned to EPIC, the same electronic health record system used by the UF Health clinical enterprise. The integration made accessing test results and records from other UF Health providers easier. The system also includes a more robust patient portal and enhanced appointment administration.

“The patients have given us a lot of feedback. They love the portal because it is very user-friendly,” she said. “It has also streamlined some of our administrative processes, including billing.”

AFHC is a federally designated rural health clinic, a Medicare certification program designed to increase access to quality care for rural residents by using nurse practitioners and physician assistants. UF Health AFHC is also UF Health’s first and only nurse-led primary care practice.

“As a rural health clinic, we have a different billing structure. We hope to be able to use what we have accomplished here to help other UF Health clinics in outlying areas transition to rural health clinics as well,” Schentrup said.

The practice recently began offering mental health services five days per week, up from one day per week. Jeremy M. Titus, APRN, DNP, and James Poole, APRN, DNP, are providing mental health services.

They have also added a dedicated pediatrics primary care provider in Anthony Roller, MSN, DNP.

A recent anonymous donation to the practice will cover the cost of a new electrocardiogram machine and half the cost of a retinal camera. Dr. Mark Atkinson, then-director of the UF Health Diabetes Institute at UF, contributed the other half for the camera, which can detect treatable conditions affecting vision. The camera will capture an image of the retina and transmit it electronically to a licensed ophthalmologist for evaluation.

“The biggest benefit is that patients will not have to travel to Gainesville to have these retinal eye exams done,” Schentrup said.

Kenneth Butler, a patient at the practice, is not only happy with the care he and his wife receive, but is touched by the entire staff’s caring nature.

“They are like family. They are great people. It’s the best health care provider I’ve ever had. They care and they take care of their patients. That’s what the community needs,” Butler said. “As soon as you walk in, you feel wanted and welcome.”

He said he suffers from heart failure, and it wasn’t until he joined the practice that a provider carefully explained his condition and why his symptoms flared.

“I didn’t know what triggered my heart problems and why I couldn’t breathe sometimes. Denise told me I shouldn’t drink so much fluids and why they build up in my body and lungs. I didn’t know until she sat me down and told me, and I appreciated that. All the other providers I went to before never told me these things,” Butler said.

Jill Light said it is a joy to communicate with the clinical team as they are always polite and helpful, unlike other providers, medical or otherwise.

“There doesn’t seem to be manners anymore. But here on the phone or in person, they are so nice. They listen to you and are not doing two other things at the same time,” Light said. “They make you feel special.”

Schentrup hopes to continue expanding services at the practice, including establishing a chronic care management program for conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. The program would allow more participation from BSN nursing students.

“I would love to have more students present in our practice. We have graduate students here, but expanding opportunities to the BSN students is something I want to work on,” she said.