Milford Family Care Announces New Practitioner

posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 in General

Area healthcare nurse practitioner and local resident Jessica Kelley will be joining the staff of Milford Family Care of Spencer Hospital in September as its primary care provider.

Kelley has over 12 years experience as an advanced registered nurse practitioner.  During that time she has served patients and families at clinics located in Windom and Spirit Lake.  She earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree from Allen College in Waterloo in 2005 and her Master’s degree from South Dakota State University in 2010.  Kelley worked as a registered nurse at Spencer Hospital while she worked towards becoming a nurse practitioner. She values the experience she gained as a nurse prior to becoming a provider.

“I absolutely love being a nurse and now a nurse practitioner for the past 12 years,” Kelley remarked.  “There is something very special about the experience we gain starting as CNAs (certified nurse assistants), then advancing our nursing skills, and having the experience of being there for the first breaths of a baby entering the world, holding hands of dying patients and everything in between. Those patient experiences as a nurse help the nurse practitioner see the patient as a whole and really listen to the patient’s concerns as their provider.”

She continued, “Practicing in a rural area offers a unique opportunity to care for entire families and see a wide spectrum of health care conditions acute, chronic and well. I enjoy the relationships that are built with patients and extending those relationships as not only their care provider but as fellow community members.  Also, we are fortunate to have a great community of physicians and specialists in this area to work with and lean on their expertise when needed.”

Spencer Hospital president Bill Bumgarner commented, “We couldn’t be more pleased that Jessica will be assuming leadership of Milford Family Care.  She offers many years of experience in family medicine and is greatly respected throughout the region.  We know Jessica will serve Milford and area communities well.”

Kelley and her husband Jeremy are active members of the Milford and Arnolds Park communities. Their oldest daughter, Cora, will be a second grader at Okoboji Community Schools this fall, and daughter Stella attends daycare in Milford.  They keep busy coaching their daughter’s YMCA soccer team and love golfing and boating as a family. They enjoy all the fun activities the Lakes area offers year round. The Kelley’s are longtime members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Kelley will join Milford Family Care effective September 19.  She will be replacing Jamie Billings, who is transferring to the new Hartley Family Care Clinic of Spencer Hospital, located in her hometown, in mid-August.  Experienced family medicine providers with Avera Medical Group Spencer will provide transition coverage at the clinic during the interim period between Billings’ mid-August departure and Kelley’s September arrival. 

Milford Family Care is owned and operated by Spencer Hospital with professional medical services provided by Avera Medical Group Spencer.  Appointments can be made on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 8:30 am and 5 pm.  Same day appointments are often available.