Take Care Health Systems' chief NP receives honor
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners has honored Sandy Ryan, Take Care Health Systems' chief nurse practitioner, as a 2009 Fellow of the AANP.
The FAANP program recognizes nurse practitioner leaders who have made outstanding contributions to health care through nurse practitioner clinical practice, research, education or policy, providing a forum to extend and enhance such efforts.
"We're incredibly fortunate to have a leader and healthcare professional of Sandy's caliber at Take Care Health Systems," stated Peter Miller, president and CEO of Take Care Health, which is owned by Walgreens. "Her pioneering spirit and vast array of experience has allowed us to harness the diversified skill-set and patient-centric knowledge of the nurse practitioner community, which in turn enables us to become part of a solution to the healthcare crisis that's currently facing the United States."
One of the six founding officers at Take Care Health, Ryan was the first chief nurse practitioner officer in the convenient care industry. She currently leads nearly 1,300 nurse practitioners and physician assistants who practice at Take Care Clinics. She has played an integral role in the development and implementation of integrated technology, quality assurance programs and evidence-based guidelines at Take Care Clinics.
Ryan, who serves as chair of the Clinical Advisory Board of the Convenient Care Association, has more than 25 years of nursing experience in various clinical, management and leadership settings. She is a pediatric nurse practitioner with 16 years of leadership experience in the U.S. Air Force as a nurse corps officer, working as a clinician, charge nurse and director of ambulatory services in inpatient and outpatient settings.
In 2007, Ryan received the Nancy Sharp Cutting Edge Award by the American College of Nurse Practitioners. In 2008, she received the Leadership Award for her trailblazing efforts in the convenient care industry during the Retail Clinician Education Congress held by Retail Clinician, a publication of the Drug Store News Group, in conjunction with the CCA.
"Sandy's leadership and clinical expertise has been extremely valuable in shaping the convenient care industry as we strive to provide true healthcare access points for millions of individuals and families throughout the United States," stated Tine Hansen-Turton, executive director of the CCA. "The recognition of Sandy by the AANP is well deserved as she continues to be a powerful voice in the healthcare community, creating the framework to allow nurse practitioners to do what they do best -- compassionately and holistically treat patients."