After a decade caring for patients during some of their most critical moments, Devan Hoekman is shifting her focus to what can happen long before an emergency.
Hoekman, a certified nurse practitioner who recently joined Horizon Health in Wessington Springs, spent 10 years as a CareFlight nurse for Avera McKennan Hospital. Seeing the long-term effects of chronic diseases helped shape her interest in prevention and family medicine.
“I think that’s a huge part of it, just the CareFlight side of things and seeing the long-term effects of chronic diseases,” Hoekman said. “I look forward to shifting my focus more on the prevention side.”
Originally from Tulare, Hoekman earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from South Dakota State University in 2010 and completed her Master of Nursing-Nurse Practitioner degree from Mount Marty University this year.
Moving from CareFlight to family medicine also means a change of pace after years of 24-hour shifts.
“Most of my background is emergency or that critical care emergency with CareFlight, so this is a very different world,” she said.
Hoekman’s interests include family medicine, women’s health, pediatric care, substance abuse issues and chronic disease management. Conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are among those she saw take a significant toll on patients during her years in critical care.
“A huge part of it is lifestyle,” she said. “Focusing on those aspects too — the importance of prevention.”
Education will be an important part of that approach, along with making patients active participants in decisions about their health.
“My goal is to include the patient in on those decisions,” Hoekman said. “What are they comfortable with, and what is going to work as far as options?I think it’s more just working with the patient — it's about true teamwork.”
She is also particularly interested in women’s health and the growing number of options available to women experiencing hormonal changes associated with perimenopause and menopause.
“There are a lot of options out there for people,” she said. “You don’t have to suffer through as much as people think they do.”
Hoekman will also take call at the hospital, allowing her emergency and critical care background to remain part of her work.
She said rural family medicine offers something different from her years in emergency care — the opportunity to build lasting relationships with patients.
“Working within a rural community, Horizon allows me the opportunity to establish relationships with my patients and improve the health and health care in these small communities,” Hoekman said.
Hoekman is currently seeing patients at Horizon Health in Wessington Springs. Appointments may be scheduled by calling 605-539-1778.