Greater Danbury Nurse Practitioner/Physician’s

Assistant Organization Established In Newtown

Lisa Hunt, a family nurse practitioner, has established the Greater Danbury Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant Organization in Newtown. Nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA) in Fairfield and Litchfield counties are invited to participate and attend the monthly meetings.

The group is supported by various pharmaceutical companies in the area and is the only full service organization for nurse practitioners and physician assistant of all specialties in the area.

The purpose of this organization is to serve as a resource for nurse practitioners, their patients and other health care consumers. It will offer educational opportunities to nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Most practice in individual practices, which does not allow for educational activities on a regular basis.

The organization will provide support for NP/PAs in the work place as far as contracts, job opportunities, legislative issues, and clinical problems. It also will provide support as NP/PAs venture into independent practice.

It will educate the public on the role of the NP/PA. The more education the public has, the better the acceptance the midlevel provider has in rendering healthcare, Ms Haut said. It will also advocate for access to quality, cost-effective health care, and will be a networking resource for education, careers, and medical innovations.

Each month a speaker will be featured on a topic that is suggested by the group. The July meeting held at the Mona Lisa Restaurant in Newtown was about depression. The next meeting will be in September.

Lisa Haut has been a nurse practitioner for more than five years and has practiced in Newtown for the past three years. A Gaylordsville resident, she has more than 20 years of nursing experience.

A native of New Jersey, Ms Haut graduated with honors from St Joseph college with a master’s degree in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. Her clinical relations in the master’s program included Hartford Hospital Emergency Department, family practice –– both acute and in an office setting –– pediatrics, and women’s health. She also graduated with honors with an MS in nursing and education from the University of Hartford.

Lisa Haut and John Pendergast, a physician’s assistant, recently announced the opening of a new family practice, Associates in Family Practice, LLC, at the Brookfield Commons in Brookfield.

Previously Ms Haut was a family nurse practitioner at Community Health Associates in Newtown and Mr Pendergast was the clinician and director of his own occupational medical practice, PROS Medical Services in Newtown. For more information on the NP/PA Organization, call Ms Haut at Associates in Family Practice, LLC, 775-3290.