(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Certified Nurse Midwife Patty Thornton has just joined the PeaceHealth Medical Group Women’s Health Clinic in Ketchikan, Alaska.

Patty Thornton, CNM, MS(N), has been a Certified Nurse Midwife since 2001, but began her career in nursing in 1978 when she received her Associate of Applied Science from Lincoln University. She later went on to complete her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science at University of Missouri - Columbia.

During her career, Thornton has provided nursing care for patients in Labor and Delivery, Surgical Intensive Care, Newborn Nursery, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and High-Risk Labor and Delivery. Since becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife, she has served in full-scope midwifery practice providing normal through high-risk care including all aspects of gynecology, family planning, prenatal care and labor and delivery. She specializes in caring for patients with diabetes, lupus, cardiac and renal ailments, hypertension, and multiple pregnancies. Thornton has also worked as a perinatal educator responsible for the development of nursing staff and has presented on a number of topics at professional meetings.

Most recently, Thornton worked with the Navajo Nation as the first CNM at the Pinon Health Center satellite clinic of Chinle Service Unit in Pinon, Arizona. The Navajo reservation is the largest land reservation in the country and the largest tribe with more than 250,000 members. The satellite clinic in Pinon served a population of about 14,000 people, similar to the population size served by our local clinic. During her service in Pinon, Thornton worked hard to improve the patient care services, satisfaction and efficacy.

Having first visited Ketchikan in the summer of 2012, Thornton and her husband Sam have already gotten a taste of the community and are struck by how friendly people are in Ketchikan. They hope to spend time enjoying the outdoors while hiking, camping, fishing and kayaking. Thornton looks forward to serving the community with her passion for, “easing life onto the planet.” She counts it a privilege to care for families in such an intimate way and recognizes the great responsibility she has at the same time.

The Women’s Clinic team says they welcome Thornton to the team and are excited about the skills she brings to their growing team and how well prepared she is to serve women in our community.

Source of News:

PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center
www.peacehealth.org/ketchikan

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