El Paso, TX (KFOX14) \u2014 Health does not always stay in neat little categories. Someone may walk into a clinic concerned about anxiety, fatigue, a chronic condition or simply the feeling that something is off. The practical question is whether those concerns are being looked at together.<\/p>\n
That was the part that caught our attention when we visited El Paso Family Medicine and Mental Health Clinic<\/a>. We met with Kristan Bannister, NP, PMHNP, a family and psychiatric nurse practitioner whose practice brings primary care and mental health services into the same El Paso office.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I first opened up this clinic, I wanted it to be very patient centered,\u201d Bannister told us.<\/p>\n For her, patient-centered care means more than completing an assessment and handing someone a plan. She wants patients to help guide the conversation, explain what they are comfortable with and have a real voice in the decisions affecting their health.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s their body,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd they should be able to have a say in how they want things done.\u201d<\/p>\n That sounds obvious when she says it, but it is also the part people do not always experience in a medical setting. Bannister\u2019s approach begins with building trust, listening carefully and getting on the same page as the patient before deciding which direction the care plan should take.<\/p>\n Looking at the full picture<\/p>\n Bannister explained that physical and mental health can affect one another. A person dealing with depression or severe anxiety may find it more difficult to focus on physical health needs. At the same time, living with a chronic medical condition can affect someone\u2019s emotional well-being.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to treat both of them together,\u201d she said. \u201cSo we have the best outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n Treating both does not automatically mean prescribing medication. Bannister said care may also involve counseling, a counseling referral or a broader evaluation of what is happening physically.<\/p>\n During an initial visit, the clinic completes an assessment and works to establish trust. Bannister also discussed using lab work to evaluate factors such as vitamin levels and thyroid function when they may be relevant to the patient\u2019s concerns. The clinic offers an in-house laboratory for essential medical testing, which can help keep parts of that evaluation in one location.<\/p>\n After the assessment and any appropriate testing, Bannister talks with the patient about the kind of plan they are interested in following. She told us every person approaches health differently, so the goal is not to force everyone onto the same path.<\/p>\n One office and one continuing conversation<\/p>\n There is also a practical benefit to combining services. Patients who need both primary and psychiatric care may otherwise find themselves communicating with several offices and trying to keep different providers updated.<\/p>\n \u201cI find it\u2019s very easy for patients to come into one place and have us address everything,\u201d Bannister said.<\/p>\n Having those services in the same clinic can create a more connected conversation about the patient\u2019s needs. It also gives Bannister the opportunity to build a continuing relationship rather than treating each concern as an isolated appointment.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce I build trust and rapport with a patient, the sky is the limit,\u201d she said. \u201cThey enjoy coming in.\u201d<\/p>\n What we liked most was that the philosophy was not complicated. Listen first. Look at the complete picture. Make the patient part of the decision.<\/p>\n For El Paso residents trying to understand how their physical symptoms, mental health and daily life may connect, that kind of conversation may be a useful place to begin.<\/p>\n El Paso Family Medicine and Mental Health Clinic<\/a> is located at 8929 Viscount Boulevard, Suite LLB, in El Paso. Appointments can be requested through the clinic\u2019s official website or by calling (915) 344-7165.<\/p>\n This feature is for informational purposes and does not replace individualized advice from a qualified healthcare professional.<\/p>\n El Paso Family Medicine and Mental Health Clinic (Courtesy: KFOX14)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Caption: El Paso Family Medicine and Mental Health Clinic (Courtesy: KFOX14) More About El Paso Family Medicine and Mental Health Clinic, PLLC<\/p>\n Provider Featured: Kristan Bannister, NP, PMHNP<\/p>\n Address: 8929 Viscount Blvd., Suite LLB, El Paso, TX 79925<\/p>\n Phone: (915) 344-7165<\/p>\n Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m<\/p>\n Official Website<\/a><\/p>\n Request an Appointment<\/a><\/p>\n