Meet Robyn Choffel, FNP

Specialty:  Family Practice.
Now Living in: Mount Vernon, WA

How long on the Board: Since January 1, 2008.

Current work place and position: I own and work at Quick Care Clinic, PLLC in Sedro-Woolley, WA. My clinic sees patients with episodic problems on a cash basis. We do not bill insurance.

Brief work history: I graduated from University of Washington in 1996 and Oregon Health Sciences University in 1991. In the last 11 years I have worked in Family Practice/Internal Medicine and taught Nursing.

Why specialty was chosen: I chose Family Practice originally to provide holistic comprehensive care to families. As big business started to take over micromanaging what I could do with my patients and how many I was to see in an hour I became burned out and disillusioned with my original ideals. I have come back from teaching nursing to practice again in an environment that I control how my patients are treated. I provide very inexpensive care at my clinic “Quick Care Clinic” and serve populations of people that would otherwise go without health care. I again feel like I am making a difference in the health of my patients as I did when I began practice as an ARNP without the pressure of production.

Why you volunteered for the Board: I see ARNPs as the cornerstone to changing our healthcare system not only in Washington State but in the U.S. as providers. As a result of this vision, I want to become involved in ARNPs taking the forefront in providing cost effective health care to populations of people that are underserved (I find a large percentage of those that go without health care is the middle class population — making too much money for subsidized health care coverage and not enough to pay the huge insurance premiums required by most insurance companies).

Care most about regarding ARNPs: My vision for the future is to bring down the cost of health care so those without insurance can afford it. In fact I would like to see insurance companies utilized for catastrophic coverage only, as cost for coverage has gotten way out of hand.

Hopes for AUWS: Change the cost and delivery of the health care system to accommodate the underserved as well as increase our numbers to become a unmistakable, recognizable entity in Washington State.