by Daniel Leonetti
TRINIDAD — Lucy Norrell was inspired by “The Lady with the Lamp” making her rounds of wounded soldiers at night during the Crimean War. Florence Nightingale rose to prominence by improving hygiene and living standards to drastically reduce death rates from septic and other infections. In 1860, she laid the foundation of professional nursing with the establishment of her school in London.
“She was a big inspiration to me in high school,” Norrell said “and how she improvised for the good of humanity. She recruited prostitutes off the streets and paid them to work and clean and sanitize in the medical field,” killing two social issues with one trumpet blast. Nightingale became the mother of nursing.
For a young girl in Nigeria, Nightingale ignited Norrell with the burning passion to become a nurse. And later, she was the guiding motivation to open the Telemed Nightingales Proactive Care, located at 2202 Freedom Rd in Trinidad (next to Big R).
“During Covid, I saw how difficult it was for people to see doctors or get medical care. I worked in an on-line health clinic that offered video consults, and I saw the immense value in the process. I started Telemed Nightingales online in 2021, and opened the physical clinic in June of 2023. It’s where you can go if you have a non-life-threatening illness or injury but can’t wait for a visit with your physician. I wanted to provide an after-hours, walk-in clinic with accessible hours and cheap rates for certain medical services for the community and surrounding areas.”
It was only proper to name the clinic after her iconic hero.
The clinic offers a variety of medical services, complete with a portable EKG machine, and care for such maladies as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, allergies, COPD, COVID-19 screenings, asthma, gout, erectile dysfunction, urinary tract infections, vaginal and yeast infections, etc., along with IV hydration and corticosteroid shots for knee and shoulder, plus allergy injections. The clinic can provide sports physicals for $35 and CDL physicals. DOT physicals are currently in the works. The clinic has Diamond, Gold, and Silver medical plans.
Norrell also offers video calls on numerous medical issues. “The telephone/video consults are ideal for people who don’t want to travel in bad weather with children or leave their work sites and college students. We can also cater to the disabled and elderly. The clinic has Wellness products, which is “food as medicine” for diabetes, blood pressure and assorted ailments.
Norrell made the difficult immigration to America in 2008 and attended numerous nursing schools before finally attaining her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Abilene Christian University in 2020. Shortly after, she was hired by the Veterans Administration to tend to Colorado and New Mexico veterans. With her Doctorate Degree, Norrell is qualified to write prescriptions, refills, return to work clearances, and referrals to specialists. She functions as a physician in nurse garb.
Norrell is in the process of getting credentials for Tri-West (VA) and recently spoke to the American Legion about the possibility of caring for veterans in her new clinic. Ray Odum, the local Veterans Service Officer, spoke to the VA in Denver on behalf of Norrell who recently purchased a home in Trinidad with her husband James Lloyd.
“I’m looking to be the bridge for veterans,” she explained, “I already know the system. I’m ready. I have previously worked with all the veterans and it would be a wonderful thing to treat the veterans from the surrounding areas in my clinic.”
The clinic will accept major insurances, Medicare, BCBS, Colorado Access, and Humana, and isworking on other insurances. Current walk-in hours are from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. (Hours may grow as staff is added). For more information call: 719-398-0806 or 903-707-9134.
