Southwest Health Darlington Clinic

You should think of a primary care provider as the quarterback on your care team, and you’re the head coach. The quarterback calls the plays, coordinates with other key players, and holds most of the responsibility.

You have the big decision of drafting the quarterback. This isn’t a choice that should be rushed. Ensuring that you trust your team and have a similar communication style can help the whole team win.

Now is the perfect time get on the offensive and establish a relationship with a primary care provider if you don’t already have one. Remember these essential factors for healthy living:

• Meeting with your provider at least once a year reduces your risk of getting sick by checking in and learning new ways to live a healthier life by improving your health.
• Detecting potentially life-threatening health conditions before your condition worsens is more likely with regular monitoring through blood work, screenings, and talking with your provider.
• Forming a good working relationship with your doctor is the key to understanding your health and what it takes to live a long, healthy life.

How do you go about choosing your primary care provider? There are a few steps you can take to ensure you are getting the best care at the best price for your unique needs:

1. Determine who’s in-network. There are a few different tools you have available to help with this task. You can call a clinic and verify over the phone or use a helpful online tool offered by your insurance company. The back of your insurance card should have the correct URL for you. Southwest Health’s Darlington Clinic now accepts many major insurances including Dean, Quartz, and United Healthcare and many other carriers.
2. Ask for Recommendations. Just like you would if you were trying to find a mechanic or a daycare, ask your friends and neighbors where they get care! Chances are, you’ll get an excellent recommendation, and it will slim down your search to the specifics you need.
3. Look for Accessibility. Once you have narrowed down your list of in-network providers that come highly recommended, call and ensure they accept new patients. Not everyone has availability in their schedule. This step can help you get in for an appointment in a shorter timeframe.

Now that you know who your primary care provider is and have an appointment scheduled, there are a few items you need to make sure your first appointment is as efficient as possible.

1. Bring your insurance card. The patient access clerk will ask for your insurance card so they can make a copy for their records. Make sure you have this card with you for your first appointment not to delay care or payment.
2. Request existing medical data. If you had a different primary care provider or have a pre-existing medical history, make a call before your appointment to have that information transferred to your new provider.
3. Make a list of past medical history. The odds are that you are scheduling an appointment to address one specific concern like getting a vaccine or having a question about your health, but being prepared with a list of your medical history, like medications, can help you and your provider round out your medical history. This list includes your family history. If you know your mom has high blood pressure and a history of breast cancer on your dad’s side, include it with your history.

Family medicine providers are the go-to resource for all things health. That’s why it’s crucial to have a provider that patients can turn to and feel familiarity and comfort when dealing with uncomfortable topics. Family medicine providers serve as the primary point of contact for patients, meeting the needs of each individual patient. Using their expertise in preventative care, diagnosis, and treatment, family medicine providers also serve as a coordinator of care with any of Southwest Health’s specialists.

That’s why Southwest Health continues to expand services, now offering Family Medicine at the Darlington Clinic. The following providers will see patients in both Platteville and now Darlington. Seeing patients in multiple locations means patients don’t have to travel far or wait months to see their primary care provider.

Michelle Hauser, PA-C will be at the Darlington Clinic on Tuesdays and Wednesdays seeing current patients and accepting new patients. Michelle has been a family practice Physician Assistant for decades providing primary and complementary care to patients of all ages. She has a deep commitment to accessible rural healthcare.

Kylie Leahy, APNP will be at the Darlington Clinic on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays accepting new patients of all ages. Kylie has years of experience working in the family medicine clinic at Southwest Health. As a Registered Nurse before becoming an Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber, Kylie understands how patient care and medicine work together to care for her patients.

Ann Lucas, MD will be at the Darlington Clinic on Thursdays seeing current patients and accepting new pregnant patients. Dr. Lucas brings a wealth of experience in providing primary care for the whole family through her longstanding practice at Southwest Health. She is board-certified in family medicine and pregnancy and sees patients from pregnancy through newborn to geriatric age.

Southwest Health’s Darlington Clinic is located off Tama Run Road in Darlington, Wisconsin at 133 Performance Drive. Patients can make an appointment to see an existing provider or establish care at the Darlington Clinic by calling (608) 776-4413.