What does your business do?

I am a Nurse Practitioner in Buckhannon,WV. This town has been hard hit by the opioid crisis that is sweeping the nation. I am a certified opioid treatment practitioner and I wish to open a private practice to treat general health issues as well as opioid addiction. Nurse Practitioners with private practices are very rare in the state. I want to lead the way to seeing more of these practices in communities that need medical attention so badly. My practice will offer patients conventional medical treatments along with natural remedies that complement the treatment. I will make it a priority to educate my patients on preventing and managing chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and obesity with diet, exercise and regular medical checkups to monitor progress. My practice will offer treatment for opioid addiction here in town where addicts will have access to help. There are no other centers for them here. Most addicts don’t drive and cannot get to distant facilities.

How would you use the grant money?

I am currently out of city limits in a small office that is not big enough to treat everyone I could be treating. I desperately need finances for advertising, some portable medical equipment and a new computer.

What would the grant enable you to do that you can't now?

I would love to be able to offer home visits but in order to do that I need a laptop and some portable medical equipment in order to help those who can't get to me. I would use the advertising and publicity that the grant offers to reach the community with the news that there will be a new medical practice for general health issues and opioid addiction treatment as well.

If Idea Cafe's Grant helps your biz reach greater success, how will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?

It is my heart to help others,that's the reason I get up everyday. I love to make a difference! In order to pay it forward I want to be able to go to the patients that cannot get to my office. I also, offer free sports physicals to the children in the community.