MEN WI N HEALTH www. Char l es tonPhys i c i ans . com | www.Hea l thL i nksChar l es ton . com | 35 Keshia Wigfall grew up possessing both a compassionate heart for those who were suffering and a fierce passion to do something someday to help alleviate pain and distress, especially for the elderly. However, her journey into the important but behind-thescenes world of health care management has not been a direct path. During the past 20 years working in a local hospital, she earned her medical billing and coding certification from Southeastern Institute in 2013. In 2018, she accepted a position as an insurance specialist with Palmetto Primary Care Physicians. Most recently, in January of 2022, Wigfall stepped into the position of site supervisor at the PPCP Urgent Care Center in North Charleston. If life wasn’t busy enough before, it certainly is now. “I oversee a team of 30 people, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, phlebotomists, certified medical assistants and front desk staff. My responsibilities require providing leadership and communication in accordance with PPCP policies. It is my job to see that we maintain an efficient and well-organized urgent care,” explained Wigfall. “Our team must be ready at all times. We are open seven days a week, so a big part of my job, especially during the pandemic, was making sure that we were always properly staffed while keeping the team members safe so that we could continue to serve the community.” Executive Director of Marketing Vivian Walton concurred: “Keshia leads our team in a fast-paced environment, where we treat walk-in patients with high acuity and often in high volumes. This means having both medical and nonmedical staff members that are prepared for anything.” As is typical of the more than 9,000 urgent care centers in the United States, the very nature of this health care setting is demanding. Each day brings a variety of new patients who have been unable to schedule a necessary appointment with their primary care physician. Treatment might be offered for anything from an earache to a fracture. Those patients requiring more advanced care must be assessed quickly and referred to an acutecare facility. For Wigfall, building healthy relationships among her team members is one of the favorite parts of her job. Admiring their hard work and dedication, she employs a variety of proven communication skills to make sure everyone hears what she is saying and understands thoroughly. Good communication has helped the team develop strong relationships, but, more importantly, it has also helped in providing the best patient care. Wigfall is also known and appreciated for her ability to adapt to constantly changing and challenging daily work situations. “Urgent care is unpredictable, and it’s just like life. You never know what is going to be thrown at you. Adaptability expands our capacity to handle changes no matter what they may be. It is my job to be well-prepared and ready,” she acknowledged matter-of-factly. Wigfall’s passion to help others in distress has found its home at the Palmetto Primary Care Physicians Urgent Care Center. By Janet E. Perrigo Keshia Wigfall PALMETTO PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS North Charleston 843-572-7727 palmettoprimarycare.com @palmettoprimarycare Good communication has helped the team develop strong relationships, but, more importantly, it has also helped in providing the best patient care. " " Photo by Jenn Cady.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1