Senate Resolution 12

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING CERTIFIED NURSE PRACTITIONER WHITNEY DOIRON FOR RECEIVING THE "2004 CLINICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD" BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF HOME CARE PHYSICIANS.

WHEREAS, Whitney Doiron is a Certified Adult & Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with offices in Vicksburg, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Doiron has received the singular honor of being the first Nurse Practitioner in the nation to receive a prestigious primary award entitled the "2004 Clinician of the Year Award" which is given by the American Academy of Home Care Physicians, a national association for physicians and nurse practitioners; and

WHEREAS, this group is a national association for physicians and nurse practitioners who formally perform "old-fashioned house calls" for those patients who are unable to travel without extreme hardship. In a nutshell, house calls are performed on those patients who are most needy, frail and homebound; and

WHEREAS, in collaboration with the physician, the specific role as a house call nurse practitioner is to perform:

Complete medical examinations for chronic and acute medical problems.
Establish medical plans of care, including treatments, referrals and consults.
Review polypharmacy issues.
Safety monitoring (i.e., abuse screening, physical environment assessments).
Monitor and gather data for health screening and promotion.
Incorporate patient education into the medical plan of care.
Provide case management with other "team" members, including home health agencies, hospice services, pharmacists, DME companies and therapists; and

WHEREAS, with the guidance of the Academy, Whitney was able to work closely with the Mississippi Board of Nursing to establish a procedure and model of operation that would benefit the patients, service the physicians, and meet the state and federal requirements for nurse practitioners. The experience has been overwhelmingly exciting for Whitney, who states how wonderful it is to go into a patient's home, sit down and just listen to them and their family. The patients are the true winners. The stress families experience when taking care of homebound patients are enormous; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this Mississippian who is the first Nurse Practitioner to receive this award, representing our state with a commitment to work closely with our congressional leadership to improve access to health care for all residents:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Certified Nurse Practitioner Whitney Doiron for being the first Nurse Practitioner to receive the "2004 Clinician of the Year Award" presented by the American Academy of Home Care Physicians, and extend to her and her family the best wishes of the Mississippi Senate in her future professional endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Whitney Doiron and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.