Kylee Funk

Part of Interprofessional Partnership to Improve Medical Access

Since 2015, Assistant Professor Kylee Funk has been practicing at the University of Minnesota Health Nurse Practitioners Clinic in downtown Minneapolis, just steps from the entrance to the new Vikings Stadium. One of the only nurse practitioner-led clinics in the region at the time of its opening, the clinic aims to improve people’s access to qualified care providers in a diverse and growing community.

Funk provides comprehensive medication management services at the clinic two days a week. She meets with patients to review and optimize their medications and works to make sure their medications are appropriate, working well, safe and convenient.

“To our knowledge, this was the first time pharmacists had partnered with nurse practitioners to provide primary care in a nurse-managed clinic,” said Funk.

Pharmacy students are also able to complete their clinical rotations at the clinic, which allows them to work in a unique interprofessional setting and learn about and from nurse practitioners and nurse practitioner students.

“We strive to foster a climate that promotes a collaborative approach to care, and we hope to demonstrate the positive impacts that a nurse practitioner and clinical pharmacist provide for patients,” said Funk.

“We are confident that demonstration of this team-based care model will inspire our learners to offer similar services as they transition into provider roles.”

Offering primary care to adults, children, and families, the clinic opened after legislation passed that allows highly educated clinical nurses to practice independently from physicians. The clinic is operated by the University of Minnesota School of Nursing.