Southwest Health Welcomes New Family Nurse Practitioner

Southwest Health welcomes the newest member of its growing Medical Staff, Nurse Practitioner Catherine Blume, APNP, who sees patients at both the Platteville Clinic at Southwest Health on Eastside Road and the Cuba City Clinic at Epione Pavilion on South Washington Street.

Ms. Blume brings her patients 23 years of experience in nursing, the past 15 of those as an Advanced Practice Family Nurse Prescriber at clinics in Highland, Montfort, and Spring Green. She offers quality care for the whole family, including the broad spectrum of general practice from preventative health and wellness exams to acute care to management of chronic health conditions.

“Rural health care is my passion,” says Ms. Blume. “I enjoy working with people of all ages, getting to know them well, and helping them truly understand their health. It is a privilege for me to help people stay well through all stages of life.”

Having completed her Associate Degree in Nursing from Southwest Wisconsn Technical College in Fennimore, Wisconsin, Ms. Blume went on to Viterbo University in LaCrosse, Wisconsin  where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She then furthered her training by achieving a Master of Nursing (Advanced Practice Family Nurse Practitioner Degree) from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa.

Says Steve McCarthy, Chief Operations Officer at Southwest Health, “I’ve known and worked with Cathy for many years, so I’m very familiar with the high levels of experience, knowdge and personal dedication she offers her patients. We are very proud to have her join our team.”

During her career she’s also been a mentor to nurse practitioner students, volunteered her time and expertise at the Community Connections Free Clinic, and worked as a school nurse in Barneveld. In her free time, Ms. Blume enjoys time with her husband and three children as well as a number of sporting and outdoor activities.

About Southwest Health

With its fast growing range of providers and services, Southwest Health is a high performing regional health care network that puts patient’s needs first. The organization is also southwest Wisconsin’s second largest employer. On their hospital campus in Platteville, Southwest Health provides wide-ranging, high quality acute care services, including medical and surgical care, emergency and urgent care, orthopedics, women’s health, specialists clinics, a new eye center, the area’s largest family medical clinic, and later this month, a retail pharmacy. Also in Platteville, they operate an inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facility, providing counseling and other mental health services. In Cuba City, their Epione Pavilion offers long-term skilled nursing care, outpatient rehabilitation, memory care, and a family medical care clinic all under one roof.