The Office of Primary Care and Rural Health (PCRH) recognized April Terry with an Impact Award, a tribute to rural healthcare professionals who embody the “power of rural.” Terry, who has served as Main Street Family Medicine’s lead medical assistant, vaccine coordinator, and chronic care manager since they opened in November, 2021, received this award for her passion and devotion to the health of her community in Enterprise.
Terry has worked in the medical field for more than 20 years. Her work at Main Street Family Medicine includes training staff, assisting with patient care, and coordinating vaccine inventory. She is also the clinic’s liaison for The Homer Study, a treatment program for opioid substance abuse patients starting suboxone therapy. Terry places a high value on the team environment that the clinic has cultivated.
Dr. Colten Bracken, owner of Main Street Family Medicine, and Bonnie Goff, Clinic Manager, nominated Terry for the award. “She has been an invaluable asset, and our facility would not be able to operate at such a high level of quality without her,” Bracken said. “It has been 2 years since we opened our doors, and every day she continues to go above and beyond in every aspect,” Goff added.
One of Terry’s favorite parts of her work is the Chronic Care program. In this role, Terry acts as a liaison between patients and providers. Most of the patients in this program are elderly, and she performs in-home check-ins and monthly phone calls to ensure the participants are keeping up with their medications, quality measures, and appointments. “Most of these patients are friends and family,” Terry said. “There’s a trust factor there, and I help make them feel secure.”
Terry is a part of the Occupational Advisory Committee for Southwest Technical College in Cedar City, Utah. The main purpose of this position is to strengthen the career and technical education program by making recommendations for Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy program improvement and providing technical assistance to assure the most up-to-date curriculum content and resources.
Terry’s commitment to the health of her community extends beyond Main Street Family Medicine. As one of the community’s few Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Instructors, she volunteers with the EMS team, and assists at training other EMS volunteers for the City of Enterprise.
“We are pleased to recognize April Terry and Main Street Family Medicine,” said Marc Watterson, PCRH office director. “Terry exemplifies the power of rural by helping ensure critical EMS in Enterprise for the past 10 years. She is a crucial part of the healthcare workforce providing critical primary care services to residents.”
Main Street Family Medicine is located in Enterprise, a rural city in southwest Utah. Their mission is “Lighting the Path to Better Health.” They offer a variety of services, from preventive visits to drug testing and medical procedures.
Each year, PCRH celebrates National Rural Health Day to bring attention to the incredible efforts of rural healthcare providers, communities, organizations, State Offices of Rural Health, and other stakeholders dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of rural America.
PCRH works to improve access to quality primary, behavioral, and oral healthcare in rural and underserved communities. PCRH is an office of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and receives funding from federal grants and state appropriations. For more information, visit https://ruralhealth.utah.gov/.