Scarlette Owens, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, has spent her entire career caring for patients. First, as a nurse in obstetrics and gynecology, then as a nurse practitioner.
With decades of practice in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area, the word has gotten out that Scarlette is a knowledgeable, experienced primary care practitioner who listens to her patients and treats them with compassion and care.
When Scarlette found herself at a career crossroads, the timing seemed perfect for her to open a new primary care practice of her own.
So, Scarlette joined fellow nurse practitioner Megan Dudley, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, to open The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel just after Memorial Day weekend of this year. The office is located in the new Cypress Bend Professional Park, off Wesley Chapel Blvd., next to Harley Davidson of Wesley Chapel.
The letters behind their names mean Scarlette and Megan have advanced credentials and participate in ongoing training to treat both female and male patients, ages 18 and up. They have each received a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, earned credentials as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and have earned Board certification as family nurse practitioners (FNP-C) by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board.
Both Megan and Scarlette say they were looking for more flexibility in their work/life balance and thought that opening a new practice, with each of them as part owner, would give them that opportunity.
Megan, as the mom of 10-year-old twins, wanted a schedule that would allow her to chauffeur her kids to soccer games and figure skating practice. Scarlette, after 18 years in internal medicine as a partner at a local Florida Medical Clinic office, was looking to slow down with a schedule that allowed her to work just four and a half days each week.
As a member of the clinical faculty at the University of South Florida, in Tampa, Scarlette says she has trained many nurse practitioners.
âI made a big leap to leave all of that behind,â she says, adding that she had signed a contract to work for a company that was putting primary care practices inside of Walgreens pharmacies. At the last minute, that company pulled the plug on the practice and told Scarlette they no longer had a job for her. She attempted to return to primary care, but the right fit wasnât available, so she started working in urgent care for Florida Medical Clinic.
âI loved the crew there,â Scarlette says. But, she also says that her former patients were tracking her down, asking her where they could see her for primary care again.
âIt was very humbling,â Scarlette says. âYouâre busy doing your job, so you donât realize how much your patients appreciate you and want to see you.â
In addition to Scarlette and Megan, The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel has two employees who are both cross-trained as front desk staff and medical assistants, Alexis and Maggie. Scarlette says she expects them to become the leadership team as the practice grows.Â
There also are two other providers in the office. Fellow Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Patricia Moore, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, is a part-time provider who focuses on womenâs health. While sheâs trained as a primary care provider, Patricia can take the time to have more lengthy conversations surrounding womenâs issues and problems, such as hormones, bladder issues and contraceptives.
And, occupational therapist Irfan Choudhry, OT/PTA, is expected to offer occupational therapy services at the practice starting in a couple of months.
Scarlette and Megan say they are both focused on being available, accessible and good listeners, proactive in decision making and taking care of people.
âSo many people canât get in to their primary care provider for six months,â explains Scarlette. Or, she adds, they may have an urgent issue â such as an infection or low blood sugar â and theyâre told they can wait three weeks for an appointment or go to the emergency room, because those are the only options.
âThey donât feel cared for,â Scarlette says. âI saw it from the urgent care perspective. All these people were there because they couldnât get into primary care.â
Telehealth Benefits
So, at The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel, the team has Telehealth appointments available every day. If someone is on vacation and needs antibiotics or has high blood pressure or is having an allergic reaction, they can speak to a health care provider right away.
âWe are small, but thatâs what makes us special,â says Megan. âWe know our patients expect us to have knowledge and experience but we also want to have kindness and personal interactions. I hope people feel listened to, heard and valued. Thatâs what weâre here to do.â
Megan says she often has patients she recognizes from her kidsâ school or activities in the community, since she and her husband have lived in Wesley Chapel for more than 10 years now.
âWe live here, weâre raising our kids here, we go to church here and they go to public school here,â Megan says. âWeâre entrenched in our community, and I love that Iâm home from work in less than 15 minutes.â
Scarlette says it means a lot to her that her patients continue to seek her out.
âAs a former OB nurse, I have patients who remember that I was the one who told them they were pregnant, and Iâm still seeing them,â she says. âAnd now, those babies I delivered are all grown up and sometimes I see them, too.â
One of Scarletteâs long-time patients is Donna, who asked that we not use her last name. She says she first met Scarlette nearly 20 years ago.
âShe is always so responsive and caring,â says Donna. âWhen I first became her patient, she spent so much time going through my chart, making sure she was very familiar with everything. She really listens and doesnât just run in and out of the room.âÂ
Donna says sheâs already seen Scarlette at The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel for both an in-person well check and sick visits via Telehealth.
âThe whole staff is so personable,â Donna says. âThey seem so genuine and caring. And the office is beautiful.â
The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel accepts many major health insurance plans, Medicare and some plans from the âObamacareâ marketplace. Patients also can self-pay if they donât have insurance.
The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel is located at 2935 Pearson James Pl., off Wesley Chapel Blvd. It is open Mon.- Fri., 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For appointments or more information, call (813) 991-4243 or visit PrimaryCareWesleyChapel.com.Â
