Family Health Honors Mobile County Nurse Practitioners During National Nurse Practitioner Week
Family Health and Mobile County Health Officer Dr. Kevin Michaels are recognizing local nurse practitioners during National Nurse Practitioner Week, Nov. 8-14.
MOBILE, Ala. — Family Health is recognizing the nurse practitioners who care for patients at its Mobile County clinics as part of National Nurse Practitioner Week, which runs Nov. 8 through Nov. 14, 2026, under the theme “At the Heart of Health Care.”
The annual observance honors the work of nurse practitioners, or NPs, who have become a central part of how Americans receive health care. Leaders with Family Health and the Mobile County Health Department used the week to thank the NPs who see patients across the county every day, many of whom serve families that might otherwise struggle to get care.
Family Health Leaders Praise Nurse Practitioners
Kelly Warren, executive director of Family Health, said the organization’s NPs show their dedication through the care they provide.
Warren said Family Health’s nurse practitioners demonstrate a daily commitment to a healthier community through their service to patients, and expressed gratitude.
Dr. Kevin Michaels, the health officer for Mobile County, said NPs have become familiar and trusted faces for many local families.
Michaels said nurse practitioners are central to the care provided, and many families view them as trusted health partners. He added that their dedication keeps people connected to essential services and benefits every Mobile County community.
Michaels’ comments echo this year’s national theme, which places nurse practitioners at the heart of health care — a reflection of how often patients now see an NP for checkups, chronic disease management, sick visits and preventive care.
What National Nurse Practitioner Week Celebrates
National Nurse Practitioner Week is held each November to highlight the contributions NPs make to patients and communities. The observance is promoted nationally by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and health systems, clinics and hospitals across the country use the week to recognize their own NP staff.
The scale of the profession has grown dramatically. The United States now has more than 461,000 nurse practitioners, according to figures cited for this year’s celebration, and NPs account for more than 1 billion patient visits each year.
Those visits happen in a wide range of settings. Nurse practitioners work in:
- Primary care clinics and community health centers
- Hospitals and emergency rooms
- Urgent care centers
- Nursing homes and long-term care facilities
- Private practices
In short, NPs practice wherever patients need care, from large urban medical centers to small rural clinics.
A Profession That Began in 1965
The nurse practitioner role is a relatively young one in the history of American medicine. In 1965, Dr. Loretta Ford, a nurse, and Dr. Henry Silver, a pediatrician, developed the first nurse practitioner program at the University of Colorado. Their program trained registered nurses to take on an expanded role in caring for children, particularly in communities that lacked enough physicians.
From that single program, the profession has grown into a national workforce of hundreds of thousands of clinicians. Today, nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have completed graduate-level education — a master’s or doctoral degree — and earned national board certification in a specialty area, such as family practice, pediatrics, adult-gerontology, women’s health or psychiatric-mental health.
NPs can assess patients, order and interpret diagnostic tests, diagnose illnesses, manage chronic conditions, prescribe medications and provide health education and counseling. In Alabama, nurse practitioners practice under collaborative agreements with physicians, as required by state law.
Supporters of the profession say NPs have been especially important in addressing shortages of primary care providers, particularly in rural and underserved communities — the same kinds of communities the first NP program was designed to help.
Family Health’s Mission in Mobile County
Family Health has served Mobile County since 1979. Operating as part of the Mobile County Health Department, the organization provides care to uninsured, underinsured and insured patients, as well as residents of medically underserved areas of the county.
Its services span far more than routine doctor’s visits. According to Family Health, its offerings include:
- Primary care
- Behavioral health
- HIV early intervention services
- Nutrition services
- 340B pharmacy
- Social services
- X-ray and lab services
- Dental care
- Interpretation services
- Family planning
Nurse practitioners play a key role in delivering many of those services. For patients without insurance or with limited coverage, a visit with an NP at a community clinic may be their most consistent connection to the health care system — the place where blood pressure gets checked, prescriptions get refilled and early warning signs get caught before they become emergencies.
The 340B pharmacy program listed among Family Health’s services is a federal drug pricing program that allows eligible safety-net providers to buy outpatient medications at reduced prices, helping stretch resources to serve more patients.
Why Nurse Practitioners Matter Locally
Access to primary care remains a challenge in many parts of Alabama, including some neighborhoods and rural areas of Mobile County. Community health providers such as Family Health aim to fill those gaps by offering comprehensive services under one umbrella, often regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.
Nurse practitioners help make that model work. By handling a broad share of everyday medical needs, NPs allow clinics to see more patients, shorten waits for appointments and offer continuity of care to families who return year after year.
As Michaels noted, many local families now consider their NP a trusted partner in their health. National NP Week offers a moment for patients to recognize that relationship as well.
How to Learn More
Residents who want to learn more about Family Health’s services, including how to become a patient, can contact the Mobile County Health Department or visit its website for clinic locations and appointment information.
Patients who see a nurse practitioner at Family Health or elsewhere can mark NP Week simply by thanking their provider during their next visit. National Nurse Practitioner Week continues through Saturday, Nov. 14.
