March 29, 2024

Family Health Clinic changes ownership

Family Health Clinic, which was started by Ava Eagles in September 2011, has a new owner.

Many people have already met Crystal Johnson, ARNP, who has worked for Eagles at the clinic. Johnson assumed ownership of the clinic on Feb. 16, 2014, and will be continuing the quality health care for which Family Health Clinic has been known.

Johnson lives in Tingley and worked as a family nurse practitioner at the Lenox Medical Clinic for the past two years. Her husband, Rich, is a farmer and farms land in Decatur, Ringgold and Clarke counties.

They have four adult daughters and five grandchildren. Johnson had been filling in for Eagles at Family Health Clinic and really enjoyed caring for the residents of Decatur and surrounding counties. She is now at Family Health Clinic on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with the goal of increasing days as needed.

Johnson graduated from Graceland University’s MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner program in August 2011, and did her BSN at University of Iowa. She has known Eagles for several years, having been her student when she was in the FNP program.

Prior to working at Lenox Medical Clinic, she worked at Mercy Medical Center and has also worked in long-term care. She also taught nursing at Kaplan University and Ellsworth Community College and has served as a preceptor for Upper Iowa University’s BSN program and Clarkson College’s MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner program.

“I chose Family Practice because I love working with all ages and the varied areas of healthcare,”Johnson said. “Patient satisfaction is very important to me. I believe that good health outcomes are a result of the collaboration between both the patient and the health care provider. I think of myself as a patient advocate and I believe all should be treated with respect, honesty and compassion. I try to deliver the same kind of care I expect for myself and my family. I want them to know I care.”

As many know, Eagles is now known as Ava Chase. She has recently married and relocated to California. She still has a house in Lamoni and comes back into town frequently and will occasionally be working at the clinic to help Johnson.

“I have loved working in Lamoni. Even though I did not grow up here, Lamoni has been like a hometown to me,” Eagles said. “I will always have ties to this community as my children grew up here and my daughter is a graduate of Lamoni High School. I also have strong ties to Graceland and continue to teach in the graduate nursing program. I will miss my patients and hope that when I am in town working, they will come see me! I am proud of the clinic and am so excited that Crystal will be carrying on the business. She is very dynamic and is an excellent provider. I would feel completely confident having her as my personal provider. I am also so happy that Dee Rouse, Jan Redman, and Marlys McPherson will continue on at the clinic. I think it will be a very smooth transition.”

To contact Johnson or any of the staff at Family Health Clinic, call 784-7526. If you have any questions about the clinic or need to make an appointment, the staff is available Monday through Friday.