Sharon Atwood
DEALING WITH DIABETES IS NOTHING NEW to Sharon Atwood. Both sides of her family have a history of it, and she has made many lifestyle changes to keep it under control. Diabetes has not only required Sharon to alter her diet, but it has also made her unable to work at times. While these challenges have been difficult, she appreciates the people at Intermountain Healthcare and the excellent care she’s received.
Sharon has seen other doctors for diabetes, but in January 2012 she found “a real gem” at Intermountain’s Dixon Clinic. “Julianne Fallentine, FNP (nurse practitioner), treated me like a person and not a number,” she said. Since Sharon started going to the Dixon Clinic her blood sugar levels have stabilized, and she has figured out new ways to live with diabetes. She says there were a lot of things she took for granted that she appreciates more now.
She’s most grateful for the compassionate Intermountain caregivers. In her own words, “The entire staff has been very caring. They took the time to listen, understand me, and care about what I was going through.” Thanks to taking an active role in her health and the medical help she received, Sharon is now able to do what she loves; helping dogs. Sharon breeds dogs and helps raise funds for bulletproof vests for crime dogs.
When asked what it means to her to have a caregiver she can trust, she said, “If anything goes wrong, I know where I can go to receive the best treatment. It means a lot to know my caregivers actually care.”
Community clinics provide what some patients might not otherwise find: convenient and affordable access to high-quality care.