Expanded Behavioral Health Team to Meet Growing Demand for Mental Health Care

Because of the overwhelming need for mental health care, both Janet Hunter, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, (PMHNP) and Angela Taylor, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), have joined Tara Fink in providing behavioral health care services in northeast Iowa.  Both Janet and Angie have many years of nursing experience and have seen the great need for behavioral health care during their careers.  This is why they both went back to school to earn their nurse practitioner degrees in behavioral health care.  All three of these behavioral health providers accept patients of any age.

“During my 20+ year career with Luther College, addressing student health issues, mental health always emerged as the most pressing need.  I saw students waiting months, sometimes a year, to see a provider for medication management.  Too often, that delay meant they weren’t able to thrive academically or personally and had to step away from school,” explains Janet Hunter, PMHNP.  “Those experiences motivated me to pursue my PMHNP licensure so I could combine my passion for prevention and the ability to provide treatment.”

Angela Taylor, PMHNP, spent nearly the last 25 years as a nurse at the Regional Medical Center in Manchester working in a variety of roles.   She chose to become a PMHNP to provide a positive impact and improve the quality of life for individuals in the community. 

“Years of nursing taught me how mental well-being affects multiple aspects of one’s life, including physical health,” explains Angela.  “Behavioral health is an expanding service.  I am excited to see how we can best meet the community’s needs and what services will be offered in the future.  The warmth and compassion of the VMH team, along with a progressive, rural environment, is what drew me to this facility.”

Both Janet and Angela are accepting patients of all ages.  In the first appointment, they will conduct roughly an hour-long assessment to formulate a diagnosis after which will follow  psychoeducation and treatment options including suggestions for natural treatments and lifestyle changes as well as prescribed medication, when needed. 

            Patients can self-refer to see Angela, Janet or Tara by calling the Postville Clinic at 563-864-7221 or the Waukon Clinic at 563-568-5530.