Ashley Murrey has been a dedicated Nurse Practitioner for over fourteen years. She has made an immense impact in the Bismarck community providing comprehensive care. Ashley’s career journey spans from the ICU, Oncology, Family Practice, and now, House Calls.

A Journey to Nursing:

Ashley’s journey in healthcare began in 2004 when she graduated with her RN degree. She started her career at St. Alexius Medical Center, where she worked in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Her original goal was to become a Nurse Anesthetist, but her time in the ICU led her down a different path. Ashley realized her passion for connecting with patients and knew she wouldn’t be content without conversation. This led her to change her career path towards becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP).

From Oncology to Family Practice:

Ashley enrolled in Nurse Practitioner school at the University of Mary in Bismarck. During her time as a student, she worked part-time at the St. Alexius Heart & Lung Clinic. After graduation, Ashley applied for jobs across the Bismarck-Mandan area. Ashely started working in Oncology where she continued increasing her knowledge and learning. After spending time working in Oncology, she made a switch to Family Practice for six years, but ultimately decided to go back to Oncology. After some clinic closures and transitions, Ashley knew she wanted to find a job with as much meaning and purpose as her NP job in Oncology. After learning about the NP opening with House Calls, Ashley knew it was just what she was looking for.

Embracing House Calls:

Ashley’s commitment to patient care led her to an exciting new opportunity with House Calls. She was drawn to the idea of connecting with patients on a personal level, beyond the clinic. House Calls allows her to build trust with the patients and families she cares for and offers her the ability to provide comprehensive care directly in her patient’s homes. This approach is especially beneficial for patients with chronic conditions and those who have a difficult time traveling long distances for appointments.

Supporting Caregivers:

House Calls not only benefits patients but also helps ease the burden placed on caregivers. Many elderly individuals value their independence and don’t want to rely on family members to transport them to appointments. House Calls ensures that patients receive care in the comfort of their own home.

Collaborative Care:

Ashley’s role in providing care extends beyond the home. She collaborates with other healthcare specialists to ensure her patients receive comprehensive and coordinated care. By providing care directly in a patient’s home, she aims to reduce the need for multiple clinic visits, making healthcare more convenient for patients.

Making Informed Decisions:

Ashley doesn’t hesitate to have difficult conversations with her patients. She believes in addressing sensitive topics early, ensuring patients have the information they need to make informed decisions about their healthcare. This proactive approach helps patients live their best lives. Ashley reflects on her own small town roots, and wants her patients to rely on her as they would a neighbor. Her goal is to build a positive and trusting relationship with those she cares for.

Ashely Murrey is a Nurse Practitioner dedicated to going above and beyond for her patients. Ashley’s unwavering dedication and commitment to providing meaningful care makes her a valuable member of the House Calls team.

About House Calls

Serious illness, aging or side effects of treatment can make getting to scheduled medical appointments a challenge. House Calls brings quality medical care directly to you in the comfort of your home. Imagine not having to worry about transportation or how you will get in and out of the clinic for routine check-ups and exams. Relax, and let our medical team come to you.

For more information about House Calls, call (800) 929-8891 or (701) 356-1560, or visit CareThatComesToYou.org.

Leah Neugebauer has been a compassionate Nurse Practitioner making a difference in the lives of her patients since 2010. Her journey in the healthcare world began in the labor and delivery room, where she spent many years as a labor and delivery nurse. With Leah’s drive and determination in her heart, she decided to pursue her dream and return to college to attain her master’s degree. Her goal was to become a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, and she succeeded, becoming the second Women’s Health NP in the state of North Dakota.

A Commitment to Serving:

Leah’s journey led her to the Standing Rock Indian Health Service in Fort Yates, North Dakota. Here, she worked as a Locum, providing care to the community. Her weekly routine involved one to two days at the health service and women’s health clinic. She passionately cared for patients, specializing in pre-natal care and primary care. Her dedication earned her immense respect from her patients and colleagues.

Embracing Change:

As Leah’s career progressed, her colleagues recognized her exceptional ability to connect with patients and approached her with a unique proposition. They asked if she would consider going back to school to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. Patients loved her, and they were willing to support her in this endeavor. She accepted the offer and completed her training in 2013. Her journey continued at Standing Rock for another five years, ensuring the health and well-being of her community.

Inspired by a Beautiful Goodbye:

Leah’s career was profoundly influenced by a personal experience at the age of 19 when her grandfather received hospice care. His dignified passing in the comfort of their home inspired Leah to become a nurse, driven by the beauty she witnessed in the care provided by hospice nurses.

Patient Centered Care:

In her role, Leah’s goal is to make her patients feel comfortable and receive the care they deserve without unnecessary struggles. Leah believes in meeting patients where they are, whether in their homes or a clinic and involving caregivers in the care process. Going into someone’s home offers an intimate perspective on patients’ lives, creating a sense of comfort and relaxation often lost in clinic settings. Leah believes going into a patient’s home helps in focusing on their unique needs and goals.

Passion for Making a Difference:

Leah’s passion for her work is rooted in her deep sense of faith and her belief that she is meant to serve others. She understands the importance of managing both wellness and illness and tailors her care to each patient’s individual needs and goals.

Life Beyond Healthcare:

Outside of her role as a Nurse Practitioner, Leah enjoys spending time with friends and family, practicing yoga (she’s a certified yoga teacher) and sailing with her husband on their sailboat.

Leah Neugebauer is a compassionate Nurse Practitioner whose journey has been guided by a strong sense of purpose and a deep connection to her patients. She is committed to providing quality care to her local community. Leah’s passion for serving others is evident in the work she does everyday.

About House Calls

Serious illness, aging or side effects of treatment can make getting to scheduled medical appointments a challenge. House Calls brings quality medical care directly to you in the comfort of your home. Imagine not having to worry about transportation or how you will get in and out of the clinic for routine check-ups and exams. Relax, and let our medical team come to you.

For more information about House Calls, call (800) 929-8891 or (701) 356-1560, or visit CareThatComesToYou.org.

Breanna Mohagen is a dedicated Nurse Practitioner with over sixteen years of nursing experience. Her journey from LPN to Gerontology Nurse Practitioner reflects a passion for personalized geriatric care. Beyond medicine, Breanna finds joy in family, adventure and empowering patients and caregivers alike.

Breanna’s Background:

Sixteen years ago, Breanna began her nursing career as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at Meritcare. Her experience encompassed various disciplines in hospitals and clinics. Transitioning to skilled nursing facilities, she devoted herself to caring for geriatric populations in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. Seeking advancement, she pursued a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from North Dakota State University (NDSU), along with board certification in Gerontology. After a decade, she embraced management roles in skilled nursing facilities until she ventured into becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP) with a Master’s degree.

A Passion for Geriatric Medicine:

Breanna’s dedication to geriatric medicine makes her a valuable member of the House Calls team. She has the ability to connect with elderly patients, empower them to make informed decisions and provide specialized care tailored to their unique needs. Breanna is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of the elderly and their caregivers.

Bringing Care to the Home:

Visiting geriatric patients at home offers Breanna a unique opportunity to provide specialized care. Elderly bodies function differently, making personalized medication and emotional support crucial. Beyond routine assessments, she prioritizes understanding patients’ concerns, giving them a voice often lost in clinics. Home visits allow time for comprehensive assessments, focusing on both physical and emotional needs.

Empowering Caregivers:

Breanna’s role extends to caregivers, who play an integral role in a patient’s life. Caregivers often lack medical expertise, yet their dedication is undeniable. Providing education, emotional support and resources helps them manage caregiving demands. Addressing their needs is equally vital to ensure both patient and caregiver well-being.

Encouraging Autonomy in Patient Care:

Breanna’s approach emphasizes patient autonomy. She strives to empower patient’s to make informed decisions about their health. It’s not about following her recommendations solely, but about patients and families having confidence in their care choices. Regardless of agreement, Breanna’s support remains unwavering, always keeping the patient in charge.

Breanna Mohagen’s commitment to compassionate care is clear in her role as a Nurse Practitioner. Her journey from nursing to specialized geriatric care showcases not only her expertise but also her genuine care for patients and their well-being. Through House Calls, Breanna continues to inspire and uplift the patients and families she encounters.

About House Calls

Serious illness, aging or side effects of treatment can make getting to scheduled medical appointments a challenge. House Calls brings quality medical care directly to you in the comfort of your home. Imagine not having to worry about transportation or how you will get in and out of the clinic for routine check-ups and exams. Relax, and let our medical team come to you.

For more information about House Calls, call (800) 929-8891 or (701) 356-1560, or visit CareThatComesToYou.org.

Melissa Fofana is a dedicated Nurse Practitioner with a background in nursing and experience in hospice care. Her journey from specialized wound care to pediatrics and NICU has shaped her empathy and love for helping people. In 2016, she ventured into hospice care, where she discovered the value of providing in-home assistance and personalized care for patients and their families.

Passion for Home-Based Care:

Melissa’s time in hospice care sparked her interest in becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Working in patients’ homes allowed her to connect with them on a deeper level, understanding their unique challenges and needs. This personalized approach inspired her to pursue a career that centered around home-based care.

Enhancing Support through House Calls:

As part of the House Calls program, Melissa and her team focus on chronic care management. They collaborate with patients, families and healthcare providers to address long-term health issues and prevent hospitalizations. This tailored approach ensures that each patient receives the individualized attention they deserve.

Building Collaborative Care:

Melissa emphasizes the importance of collaboration with other doctors involved in a patient’s care. By maintaining open communication and seamless information transfer, they can deliver consistent, comprehensive care that benefits the patient.

A Source of Fulfillment:

For Melissa, fulfillment comes from supporting individuals in their homes, helping them achieve greater independence and happiness. She cherishes moments when patients make significant progress, enabling them to live more fulfilling lives.

Promoting Open Discussions:

Melissa encourages discussions about advanced directives, helping families understand their loved ones’ wishes and providing guidance for personalized care. Open and receptive conversations lead to better support for patients and alleviate burdens on caregivers.

A Day in the Life:

During a visit, Melissa takes time to get to know the patient, their background and concerns. She conducts assessments and vital sign checks, ensuring comfort and providing care where it matters most to the patient. Near the end of the visit, Melissa will review and discuss a plan of action with the patient.

Frequency of Visits:

The frequency of visits varies based on each patient’s needs. Melisa follows up closely after hospitalizations, and for patients with ongoing symptoms, visits may occur every two weeks. Those who require monitoring and support might have visits every two to three months. Routine visits allows for a patients symptoms to be managed more effectively and for Melissa to provide routine care necessary for patients.

Melissa Fofana’s passion for personalized care, empathy and dedication to her patients make her an invaluable member of the House Calls team. Through her work, she strives to make a positive impact on the lives of those she serves enabling them to achieve greater independence and happiness in their lives.

About House Calls

Serious illness, aging or side effects of treatment can make getting to scheduled medical appointments a challenge. House Calls brings quality medical care directly to you in the comfort of your home. Imagine not having to worry about transportation or how you will get in and out of the clinic for routine check-ups and exams. Relax, and let our medical team come to you.

For more information about House Calls, call (800) 929-8891 or (701) 356-1560, or visit CareThatComesToYou.org.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are a valuable part of any clinical team but can especially shine in their role with House Calls.

They are qualified to diagnose and treat complex health conditions through graduate and/or doctorate level degrees and hours of family medicine and clinical training.

House Calls nurse practitioners care for our patients wherever they call home, allowing patients to remain comfortably and safely at home.

Megan Ahern is one of the NPs on the House Calls team. Read as she shares more about her passions and experiences.

Describe your Background.

I grew up in a small town in North Dakota and am the oldest in my family. My interest in healthcare started with my first experience as a certified nursing assistant (C.N.A.) at the local nursing home and later the Anne Carlsen Center in Jamestown. In my time at Anne Carlsen Center, I loved that I was able to see new aspects of healthcare in this environment and all the community services that they offered. I went on to earn my nursing degree and worked in the hospital where I gained all sorts of experience, especially with post-surgical patients. As a nurse working alongside other healthcare professionals, I was inspired by the nurse practitioners serving patients as I witnessed the difference they made and really set patients up for success as they were leaving the hospital. All these experiences come together for me as a nurse practitioner with House Calls as I focus on helping people stay in their homes by bringing healthcare to them and connecting them to community services they may benefit from.

What drew you to House Calls?

I was drawn to House Calls because I was really looking for a role in primary care. I love health promotion and helping patients figure out what makes them feel healthy. In my role as a nurse practitioner, I get to help my patients feel good by helping with symptom management. It’s important for me to help my patients control their symptoms so they can still do the activities that make them feel good and happy even if they have an illness. I find a lot of joy being able to help with this.

Describe your role at House Calls.

In my role as a nurse practitioner with House Calls, I am serving my patients as their primary care provider. So just like your primary care doctor, anything you would talk with them about, or that they would help you take care of, I am able to do. The difference is that I come to you, so you don’t have to leave your home if that is difficult for you to do.

How does House Calls work with a patient’s specialty doctor?

We communicate with our patient’s specialty doctors and would continue with the recommendations that they have. They would receive your House Calls health record, so they know what’s going on with your other health conditions.

What is it like visiting patient’s in their home?

Whether home is a residential home, independent living community, or assisted living community, joining a patient in their home makes such a difference. We travel to a variety of different places to make our House Calls visits. From the Fargo-Moorhead metro to rural areas, we travel to the patient. I like to remind patients of this as we are all over the region, so call if you need my help.

How does House Calls interact with a patient’s caregiver?

A patient’s caregiver can always call House Calls with any questions or concerns that they have. We can answer questions over the phone or can always schedule a visit sooner than usual to come visit in person. The caregiver is the eyes and ears for the patients, so it’s important for me to create a relationship with them. House Calls realizes that transportation to medical appointments can be a large burden on a caregiver so that’s why it’s great that we can come to your home.

What is important when finding a primary care provider?

It’s important to find a provider who is going to listen well, be honest and take complaints seriously. Find someone who is good at explaining things in a way that is easy to understand and someone who is easily available to help when issues arise.

What does a typical House Calls visit look like?

When I arrive in a patient’s home, I will introduce myself and have any family or friends present at the house introduce themselves as well. This is important so I understand their relationship and connection with the patient. I then will figure out if my patient wants people around during the visit or if we should go to a private room. Even though I am in a patient’s home, it is still a similar set up to being in a clinic. I’ll take a patient’s vitals, ask lots of questions and do a physical exam. I will then talk to the patient about a plan and address any concerns they may have.

How often do you see a patient?

At a minimum, we typically try to see a patient every three months. If there is anything going on or if we are making changes, we will follow up sooner. If a patient calls before their scheduled visit, the House Calls team can go out and visit sooner.

Do you have any advice for staying well, avoiding the flu?

Wash your hands, cover your nose and stay home when you’re sick. My advice is that if you aren’t sick, don’t be afraid to be around your family members. Especially during the holidays, being around family, can really help brighten your mood.

How do you work with the rest of the House Calls team?

I am in constant communication with the rest of the House Calls team through phone calls, text messages, etc. Even if I don’t physically see the rest of the team, we always stay in constant communication throughout the day.

Is there any contrast between going to an assisted living facility versus going to a patient’s home?

The main difference between going to an assisted living facility, versus a patient’s home is that at an assisted living facility, the nurses there can give updates on a patient. We work closely with the staff at the assisted living facility, and stay in close contact with them. They are a valued member of the team. Even if we are not meeting with a patient, we are in the facilities quite often and can communicate with the nurses there to see if there are any concerns or things that we should look out for during our scheduled visit. This is helpful because they can help fill in some of the blanks that a patient may not remember. However, just like at a patient’s house, we will come right up to your room and visit at the table there.

In the time that you’ve been doing this, has there been one scenario or experience that stands out to you as being very impactful?

The most common thing that I encounter are people who really struggle to get out of the house. This can be for a variety of reasons such as anxiety or they could get short of breath quickly because of their physical state. What ever their physical limitation is or what ever causes them stress. I can come to their home and help alleviate that stressful situation.

What do you do for fun?

I am a mom, so I play with cars on the floor and watch a lot of Disney movies. In the summer, I like to sit on my patio and drink coffee. I also enjoy a lake day in the sun. In the winter, I love to have a movie day.

About House Calls

Serious illness, aging or side effects of treatment can make getting to scheduled medical appointments a challenge. House Calls brings quality medical care directly to you in the comfort of your home. Imagine not having to worry about transportation or how you will get in and out of the clinic for routine check-ups and exams. Relax, and let our medical team come to you.

For more information about House Calls, call (701) 356-1560 or (800) 929-8991, or visit CareThatComesToYou.org.