Today we’d like to introduce you to Elishia Featherston.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Elishia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Elishia began in healthcare at the age of 19 as a surgical technologist working at a pediatric hospital. She began attending nursing school at Texas Woman’s University (TWU). Graduating at the age of 22 with her Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN), she then furthered her education through the University of Texas Arlington (UTA). Her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) was completed in 2006 preparing her to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP). After working as a PNP for 7 years Elishia returned to UTA to complete her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP). She has been a Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner for 12 years, serving underserved populations in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area. She prides herself on providing evidenced based health care to all of the children she serves.
Elishia is an advocate for her patients and the profession of nursing. She is involved with nursing legislation and passionate about improving laws in Texas for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN). She has been a board member of the local chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurses in Advanced Practice (NAPNAP) as legislative chair and a NAPNAP representative for the board of CNAP (Coalition of Nurses in Advanced Practice). Last year she testified in the House and the Senate on behalf of APRNs.
Elishia opened True Connections Pediatrics, a primary care clinic in 2017, in Euless serving children in the mid cities and surrounding areas. Here, she cares for both insured, underinsured, and uninsured populations from birth through age 21. True Connection’s Pediatrics is a safe zone for the LGBT youth. Mental health needs in children are also a huge focus in the clinic. The mission of True Connections Pediatrics is to provide support not only for the children but the families caring for children. She believes it truly does take a village to raise a child. Being part of this process is her passion. Teaching children and families about intentional kindness toward others and themselves is a pivotal difference at True Connections compared to other pediatric offices.
When she is taking care of herself she loves to travel. Elishia recently traveled to Thailand and Cambodia. In Thailand she was there primarily to help with elephants but also volunteered in a clinic serving the local community there. In Cambodia Elishia assisted at a school teaching the children English. Giving back to the communities she travels to is important to her.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The journey has been more of a marathon than a sprint that is for sure. It was definitely challenging being a parent, going to school, working full time, and still trying to be involved in other activities. At times it was simply daunting. My oldest child is a child with special needs which brings its own complexity to life. Due to the restrictions in Texas law it was also a difficult process to open a Nurse Practitioner (NP) owned practice.
True Connections Pediatrics – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
True Connections Pediatrics provides primary care services for children from birth to age 21. Most clinics in our area do not currently accept new patients that have Medicaid /CHIPS. We believe all children deserve have a medical home that cares for them no matter what insurance their parents are able to provide. Not only do we care for children who have Medicaid or CHIPS, we also offer affordable self-pay rates.
True Connections Pediatrics also believes all children should receive the same health care no matter what they affirm their gender as or how they chose to classify their sexuality. With that being said we are a welcoming safe zone for the LGBT community. I am proud of being an NP owned clinic who not only spends quality time with the patients we see but whose core is based around acceptance and connecting pediatric medicine with intentional acts of kindness.
True Connections Pediatrics and the staff mentor students. These include future medical assistants and Nurse Practitioners. We also mentor high school students in the HEB ISD school district who have an interest in the medical field. Being able to pass on our love for pediatrics to others ensures a future of skilled pediatric providers.
Employee health is also a priority for us at True Connections Pediatrics. Vendors that provide food to the office are encouraged to bring healthy items. The company provides a gym membership to a local Crossfit gym where we block time in the schedule to go and work out. Employees are encouraged but not required to go. As a Nurse Practitioner I believe in practicing what we encourage our patients to do, including eating healthy and being physically active.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Successful means that I am able to provide a caring, welcoming, and safe environment for the children and families we care for. That families trust us to provide the best evidence based practice we can. We consider every referral given by one of our patients a success because that means they value the care they have received enough to recommend us to someone the know and care about. It brings us joy when older children choose to see us as their provider. As an advocate for the NP profession also consider success when we advanced the profession through new legislation.
Pricing:
- New patient self-pay appointments $120 established sick visits $60
- Sports physicals $20
- Flu vaccines $20
Contact Info:
- Address: 323 Westpark Way Euless Texas 76040
- Website: www.trueconnectionspediatrics.com
- Phone: 6822535437
- Fax: 817-210-4957
- Email: kindness@trueconnectionspediatrics.com
Image Credit:
Brooke Mathis Beautiful Evolutions
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