Heather Irving APRN

11/17/2025

PSA:Thyroid meds such as levothyroxine have a Black Box warning AGAINST prescribing for weight loss.

10/03/2025

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Did you know: you can call and schedule your mammogram without an order?

08/05/2025

Experience grants you more than just knowledge.

It has taught me to set my boundries. Some things I do now that I haven't always done:

1. Take my vacation days.
2. Eat my lunch every day. (Even if it is only a protein drink when I have to go to a different location or a meeting)
3. Set boundries on my schedule.

This allows me to continue to work, provide for my patients and be present for my children.

This is not an 8-5 job:

*We take calls in the evenings with stat labs, radiology reports and from patients.
* Provide education to those around us constantly.
*Chart in the evenings, on weekends and during lunch breaks.
*Research what our patients need and the most up to date work ups and treatments
*And mourn patient's cancer diagnosis', your lost loved ones, your difficulty with your child's rebellion, an assault, your job loss...

And we do it silently.

08/03/2025

I am now full time at the SCK hospital location.

This means:
I can take both occupational health AND family practice patients throughout my day increasing availability for everyone.

I missed family care and my people tremendously. Getting to see people for work comp, pre employment physicals and DOT physicals opens a door to those that don't otherwise seek care.

I have a passion for health and everytime I can get someone as excited about theIr health as I am- well 🤗

04/17/2025

Come Join us and see how we are looking to reach Health for the entire community!

Today is the day! Join us at 10:30AM at SCK Health for the ribbon cutting on our new location of our Occupational Health Department!

Meet our new CEO, Margaret Grismer, and learn more about our Occupational Health offerings as you enjoy a tour of our newly remodeled Occupational Health Department!

02/16/2025

Why does what insurance you have drive your care?

Because podiatry and sleep studies aren't approved by Medicaid.

Because Medicare only covers a screening cholesterol every 5 years.

Because a 2024 study found only 18% of large companies insurances cover Glp-1s for weight loss.

Because to get an MRI approved without certain OBJECTIVE findings you will need physical therapy.

Because if you are self pay you may benefit from going to a certain place for your testing or there are certain programs to get your medications.

Because if you are self pay taking 1/2 of the 10 mg tablet maybe 4 times cheaper than sending in the 5 mg tablet.

How do I know these things? -from experience, from reading, from you. Formularies change every year. The staff have to submit new prior authorizations for medications at the beginning of every year.

01/02/2025

It is a NEW YEAR!

I will be BACK doing family care part time at SCK Primary Care!

09/06/2024

Percentages of Advantage plans that require prior authorizations by service.

09/05/2024

02/15/2024

Heart attack risk...