By Stephen Smoot
Last month the West Virginia Primary Care Association examined a long slate of nominations, then selected a familiar face for its coveted Outstanding Provider of the Year Award. This year, they selected Dr. Laura Nulph from Pendleton Community Care.
For more than four decades, the clinic has served Pendleton County. In 16 of those years, Dr. Nulph has provided service to patients and others needing care. She not only serves as a health care provider, but also as chief medical officer of the facility.
The award, says Jamie Hudson, PCC executive director, “recognizes areas of excellence” and also spotlights “staff in the state that go above and beyond.” Given those criteria, Hudson shared that “Dr. Nulph really stood out” and the awardee’s colleagues knew “it was pretty clear she would be accepted as the award recipient.”
According to the West Virginia Primary Care Association, the recipient also “exemplifies excellence in clinical practice and demonstrates a dedication to the Community Health Center mission and to the patients they serve.”
Recipients need not be physicians like Dr. Nulph. As the WVPCA states, “Nominees may include but are not limited to physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dental hygienists, registered nurses, nurse midwives, social workers, and pharmacists.”
Alongside giving excellent care to patients of PCC, Dr. Nulph joined a clinical quality impact coordinator to develop intervention strategies for helping some diabetes patients do more to protect their health while creating better outcomes.
Dr. Nulph and her colleagues attacked the percentage of diabetes cases considered “not controlled.” These patients have diabetes, but do not test or treat themselves regularly. High blood sugar often results from a neglected diabetes condition, which will eventually damage blood vessels and vital organs. The work performed with diabetes patients encouraged many to regularly test their blood sugar, take insulin and other medications, and undergo periodic screenings with their doctor.
Her work at PCC reduced the percentage of “not controlled” patients from 15.65 percent in 2022 to 11.81 percent now. This put PCC in the top quartile in the nation among all other Federally Qualified Health Centers.
FQHC facilities are health care clinics subsidized by the federal government with the purpose of serving communities with large numbers of households that face financial struggles. Their often high level of care and closer distance to rural Americans have made them indispensable to all types of patients.
Leadership in programs that improve people’s lives is only one aspect of Dr. Nulph’s role. Effective health care requires trust. Hudson explained that Nulph “has the remarkable ability to develop strong and trusting relationships with patients,” adding that she shows “empathy and understanding while providing top level medical care.”
She also “works with and mentors some of our mid-level staff.”
To PCC, Nulph serves as a reliable and remarkable resource. “I would just say that I trust in everything that she does,” said Hudson.
“I’m blessed to have someone with the level of knowledge and caring about patients, making sure they have what they need,” Hudson concluded.
