Please join us in welcoming Bekki Hammill, Nurse Practitioner (NP), to our team.
Bekki works alongside the wonderful team at Bear Street Family Physicians in Banff seeing patients across the whole spectrum of primary care. Bekki’s role is to increase patient access to care within the clinic, as well as provide coverage for our PCN clinic Nurse Practitioner, Trina, when needed. Bear Street Family Physicians is currently accepting new patients.
What topics are you most passionate about in your work?
I have always been very passionate about well woman and well baby care- everything from sexual health, contraception and family planning, through to menopause and beyond. If I had not found my place in family medicine, I likely would be working in pediatrics in some form. I love supporting parents and caregivers through all ages and stages, including breastfeeding education and support, healthy growth and development, and the many coughs, rashes and colds along the way! I also love the full range and variety that primary care offers; no two days are the same. One of the most rewarding parts of team-based primary care is developing strong collaborative relationships with the interdisciplinary healthcare team as a whole to support patients and their families, we are always learning from each other!
What is your professional background?
I have spent the bulk of my nursing career working in team-based primary care settings in Ontario called “Family Health Teams”, similarly structured to Primary Care Networks here in Alberta. I worked for many years in a Registered Nurse role at a large academic primary health care team in Toronto, and was fortunate enough to transition into the Nurse Practitioner role with this team once I completed my Master of Nursing and Nurse Practitioner degree. More recently, I was the Nurse Practitioner Team Lead in a rural Ontario Family Health Team providing full scope primary care. I also really enjoy teaching and have had the opportunity to support and precept many Nurse Practitioner students. I recently relocated to the Bow Valley to be part of the amazing team here at the Bow Valley PCN!
What is something that you think is important, but most people tend to overlook?
The importance of SMART goal setting when it comes to managing your overall health or chronic diseases. That is goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Having this clarity in your goal-setting provides the motivation and focus to be successful! For example, if someone was interested in increasing their weekly physical activity instead of just saying “I’m going to go to the walk more”, we know that individuals are more likely to be successful in achieving their goals if it is framed more specifically such as “I will go for a brisk 30min walk after dinner 4 days per week”.
What is your favourite thing to do in the Bow Valley?
I love that there are activities for every season! I really enjoy horseback trail riding and hiking in the summer months, and downhill skiing in the winter.
Bear Street Family Physicians is currently accepting new patients, you can contact the clinic directly to book an appointment.