By Don Steen ~ Staff Writer – reporter@psci.net
ROCKPORT – A new clinic is accepting patients in the heart of Rockport, at 541 Main Street. Rapha Healthcare, led by Nurse Practitioner Denise Bunner, is offering primary care for wellness, chronic conditions, weight management, and other long-term care. The office can also assist with minor medical emergencies such as lacerations, clogged or infected ears, ingrown toenails, and such.
The new clinic, located in the former H&R Block location on Main Street, has been completely revamped ahead of this week’s soft opening. It now sports five exam rooms, a lab area, office space, and a sizable waiting room.
Denise and her husband of 34 years, Blake Bunner, have called Spencer County home for more than 25 years. She started as a nurse in 1996, and after her oldest child went off to college Denise decided to go back to school herself. She earned her certification as a nurse practitioner in 2012 and has served in that position ever since.
Denise’s past experience ranges from urgent to primary care, and she had been considering opening her own practice for some time. Starting a new clinic is no easy task, however. Even finding a decent location can be a formidable obstacle. When the former H&R Block office space became available right in the middle of Rockport, Denise decided to go for it.
“The timing was never quite right, until now,” she said. “We just decided to do it. There was a need here in the community and we felt it was something we could fill.”
Remodeling the old office to serve as a clinic was naturally a bit of an ordeal, but that was only the start. Denise noted that squaring away all the licensing and insurance requirements for a clinic was just as arduous.
In the end though, the new location is now fit to receive patients from six months on up.
Read more on this story in this week’s issue of the Spencer County Leader!
