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Background:
In 2016, HealthLinc, headquartered in Valparaiso, Indiana launched its Family Nurse Practitioner Residency Program. The
program provides intensive training to both the clinical complexity of family practice in the safety net setting and training to
a high performance, Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model of primary care. HealthLinc partners with Community
Health Center, Inc. (CHC) in Middletown, Connecticut to host and operate the Family Nurse Pracitioner Residency Program.
Goals:
• Increase access to quality primary care for underserved populations by training family nurse practitioners in a Federally
Qualified Health Center (FQHC) based residency program that prepares residents for full and autonomous expert care of
complex underserved populations across all life cycles and in multiple settings
• Provide new family nurse practitioners with a depth, breadth, volume and intensity of clinical training necessary to serve
as primary care providers in the complex setting of FQHCs
• Train new family nurse practitioners to a model of primary care consistent with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) principles
of health care and the needs of vulnerable populations
• Improve the clinical skills, confidence, productivity, and job satisfaction of new family nurse practitioners who choose to
work in underserved community settings, as well as contribute to employer satisfaction and workforce retention
• Increase the number of family nurse practitioners ready to serve in leadership roles in community health settings
Structure:
• 12 months, full time employment at HealthLinc with a one year commitment after the completion of the program
• Full integration into the organization:
• Involvement in quality improvement and practice redesign
• Clinical committees and tasks force participation
• Core elements:
• Precepted Continuity Clinics (4 sessions/week) - Develop and manage a panel of new patients
• Specialty Rotations (2 sessions/week x 1 month) - in orthopedics, women’s health/prenatal care, adult/child psychiatry,
geriatrics, pediatrics, HIV care, Hepatitis C, newborn nursery, dermatology, health care for the homeless
• Mentored Clinics (3 sessions/week) - Sessions with a clinician mentor focused on practice of episodic and acute care
• Didactic Sessions (1 session/week) - Sessions on high volume/risk/burden conditions frequently seen in FQHCs
• Continuous training to HealthLinc’s model of a high performance health system: access, continuity, planned care, team-based,
prevention focused, use of data and technology
• Ongoing multi-input evaluation component using qualitative and quantitative measures
• Training on the quality improvement model, including clinical microsystems and acilitation, as well as leadership development
Qualifications:
Applicants must be recent graduates (less than 18 months) from an accredited Masters or DNP program, licensed (IN APRN)
and credentialed (FNP-C) or license/credential eligible as FNP, with a stated commitment to practice as a primary care provider
in a FQHC or other safety net settings upon completion of the residency.
Residency Features
HealthLinc’s Family Nurse Practitioner Residency Program will provide intensive training on both the clinical
complexity of family practice in a safety net setting and on a high-performance, Patient-Centered Medical
Home model for primary care. The program is specifically intended for new family nurse pracitioners who
are committed to practicing careers as PCPs in the challenging setting of community health centers and
other safety net settings. The residency is a full-time, two year program, with residency for the first year and
a practical application for the second year. The position is salaried with benefits. The program structure
includes precepted primary care sessions, specialty rotations, mentored independent clinics and online
didactic sessions with colleagues around the country.
About HealthLinc
HealthLinc is a Federally Qualified Health Center and Patient-Centered Medical Home Level 3, where there
is a multi-disciplinary approach to patients. With clinics throughout Northern Indiana, our mission is to
improve communities by expanding access to exceptional health care. We are committed to providing
coordinated, comprehensive and accessible care in the fields of primary and preventive care, men’s and
women’s health, prenatal care, behavioral health, dental, optometry, pharmacy services and more. In addition
to nurse practitioner residents, there are pharmacy practitioner residents and students on site.
Contact
Specific questions about the residency program should be addressed to the Residency Program Coordinator,
Amy Costello, at npresidency@healthlincchc.org or 219-413-5100 x 2802.
make a difference
• Disability Insurance
“I worked full time as a nurse while going through a masters degree program in Nursing.
Even with the required clinical rotations, I knew I was not ready to be on my own.
HealthLinc’s Family Nurse Practitioner Residency program provided the perfect place for me
to feel comfortable and grow in my new profession. HealthLinc has a vision of community
service that resonated with me. The dedicated employees at HealthLinc have helped me to
grow into a more polished family nurse practitioner.”
Eliza Henley
Nurse Practitioner Resident
“I am thankful each day that I am a part of HealthLinc’s Family Nurse Practitioner Residency
Program as I knew I wanted more direct support in my first family nurse practitioner role.
Some stand out strengths that attracted me to HealthLinc was that it offered two precepted
days with wonderful family nurse practitioners, a mentored day with a family physician, a
specialty rotation day, a weekly online didactic lecture, and chronic pain/quality improvement
seminars. These wonderful supports would simply not have been offered at a routine
entry level family nurse practitioner position. I can say with confidence that once I complete my residency, I will be a
better family nurse practitioner with an incredibly strong foundation to continue to build on with my clinical knowledge,
practice, and inter-professional relationships.”
Carolyn Horin
Nurse Practitioner Resident
“Transitioning from a registered nurse to a provider role has been a formidable change in
my career. The program in which I was chosen to be a part of at HealthLinc has given me
additional opportunities to further my education and clinical experience. Helping patients
become their best self is celebrated at HealthLinc. I chose to be a part of this specific
program because I feel as though my values align with those of HealthLinc’s: to foster growth
in all individuals so they can reach their greatest potential.”
Restaurants Outdoors
• Albanos Pasta Shop • Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
• Pikk’s Tavern • Indiana Dunes State Park
• Kelsey’s Steak House • Taltree Arboretum and Gardens
• Stacks • Ogden Gardens
• Sage Restaurant • Flint Lake
• Blue Point Oysters & Sushi Bar • Robbinhurst Golf Club & Driving Range
• Blackbird Cafe
Education
Things To Do • Top rated school system (K-12)
• 49’er Drive-In Theatre • Purdue University Northwest
• Brauer Museum of Art • Valparaiso University
• Memorial Opera House • Indiana University Northwest
• Central Park Plaza • Ivy Tech Community College
• Front Porch Music
• Porter County Expo Center Family Fun
• Porter County Museum • Bellaboo’s Play and Discover Center
• Fair Oaks Farms
Apartment Living • Wolf Lake Aquatic Play Center
• The Lakes of Valparaiso • SK8 World
• Preserve at Grand Oaks • Zao Island
• Hills of Aberdeen • Deep River Waterpark