Ashley Munn’s 3-year-old daughter Aspen is quiet and shy. Ashley
says Aspen, “doesn’t really warm up to people,” so interactions
with other adults can be a challenge, even something as simple as going
to the doctor.
Struggling to find a practitioner who could help Aspen feel more comfortable
during appointments, someone recommended that Ashley take Aspen to Campbell
County Medical Group’s
Kid Clinic, where practitioners specialize in working with children. Created through
a partnership with Campbell County Health and
Campbell County School District a few years ago, the Kid Clinic is a school-based pediatric clinic offering
medical and counseling services for children.
Nurse practitioner
Holly Hink joined the Kid Clinic last year, and when Aspen and her mom Ashley first
met Holly, they were impressed.
“She’s very welcoming,” Ashley said. “Holly makes
you feel super comfortable. She will sit and talk with you, and you’re
never rushed out of the office.”
Although Holly is a nurse practitioner, Ashley affectionately refers to
her as “Dr. Holly,” which speaks to the trusting relationship
that Holly tries to build with each patient and their parents.
“I have only ever wanted to work with children,” Holly said.
“It’s a different mentality of getting on their level,”
which is exactly what Holly does during appointments. Usually she is down
on the ground playing with a child or conversing with them about their
favorite toy, or visiting about how school is going so the children feel
comfortable with her.
“You have to allow the child to develop trust in you and be patient
with them,” Holly said.
One of only a few school-based health clinics in the country and the only
one in the state, the Kid Clinic is a unique mix of medical and mental
health practitioners who can coordinate with school counselors to provide
consistent care for children in the community.
Working with children from 2 weeks old to 18, Holly not only sees patients
on the medical side of the clinic, but she also collaborates with the
counselors at Kid Clinic so the children they work with have their needs met both
physically and mentally.
“It’s a huge blessing having counselors right outside my office
door,” Holly said. “Having them here in clinic with me is
a huge benefit for patients. I can just walk across the hall and communicate
with them.”
While Ashley is early in her parenting journey with Aspen and another baby
on the way, she already sees herself bringing her children to the Kid
Clinic far into the future. Because of Holly’s ability to help Aspen
feel comfortable and address any concerns that Ashley has about her, Ashley
said bringing her children to the Kid Clinic is an easy choice.
“It’s a different experience,” Ashley said. “Dr.
Holly will sit and listen to you and your concerns.”
Holly wouldn’t have it any other way.
“My goal is to treat patients and families the same way I treat my
own family,” Holly said.
The
Kid Clinic is a school-based pediatric clinic in Gillette, Wyoming. The medical clinic
serves children ages 2 weeks to 18 years old; and counseling services
for children 4 years old to 21 years old. It is located at 800 Butler
Spaeth Rd., across from St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Gillette,
Wyoming. The Kid Clinic is open Monday-Friday from 8 am-5 pm. For more
information, call 307-688-8700 or visit
www.cchwyo.org/kidclinic.
Article written by Kim Phagan-Hansel, Wyoming freelance writer