“You Just Become Part of a Family” [Tammy Snyder]

This video shares a patient perspective on the value of having local, accessible healthcare in a rural community. Tammy, a retired nurse, explains how close-to-home care, strong communication, and personal relationships create a supportive, family-like experience.

  • Local access to care matters: Having a nearby clinic makes it easier to stay on top of routine care, especially during challenging conditions like winter travel.
  • Strong provider relationships: A trusted primary care provider builds confidence, comfort, and continuity in care.
  • Proactive communication: Ongoing communication between the clinic and patient ensures coordinated, attentive care.
  • Community-centered care: Small-town clinics foster closer relationships, making patients feel known and supported.
  • A family-like experience: Patients feel valued and cared for, creating a sense of belonging beyond traditional healthcare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Community-based primary care is healthcare delivered close to where patients live, focusing on routine checkups, prevention, and ongoing relationships with a trusted provider.

It improves access to care, especially for routine visits and in challenging conditions, and helps patients stay consistent with preventive care.

Strong communication ensures providers stay informed, coordinate treatment, and follow up with patients, leading to better outcomes and a more seamless experience.

Patients may travel to larger healthcare facilities, use telehealth services, or visit urgent care centers, though these may lack the same continuity and personal connection.

Some smaller clinics may have limited on-site services, which could require referrals to larger facilities for specialized care.

Video Transcript

Hi, I'm Tammy. I am from Arlington. We live on a farm just south of Arlington. And I am a retired nurse. 

Why is the Arlington clinic important to you?

I don't know that we would seek the health care we needed if it wasn't there. In the wintertime, I don't like to get out on the roads anyways. And I've never had a problem or anything, but I don't want to push it either. You know, if I don't have to go, I'm not going. If I'm not sick or injured or something like that, I'm not going to go to the doctor. But with the clinic there, I can go in and get my well checks.

Why is it important to have your primary care provider close to home?

We have Anna Gebhart, who is our primary care. She is amazing, truly amazing. And if you need anything, she's always there. We've never had any problems with that clinic. 

How was the communication between the hospital and your primary care provider?

My husband was going to call them and let them know what had happened. Well, by the time he got home, they already knew. They were following everything that happened with me. In fact, they do that all the time at the clinic. She would text me and say, "Okay, how's it going? How is this working out?" And stuff like that. They reach out all the time. That's what blows my mind.

What do you appreciate most about the Arlington Medical Center?

Everybody knows everybody, and you become a little closer that way. It's just more comforting to know that they're there. And if we need something, we can get it done. Because if we had to keep coming to Brookings, Brookings is a nice town. We like it. But Arlington is a small community, and to have the clinic there close by, there's a lot of people that are so happy it's there. A lot of our neighbors reach out, "Oh, I'm so glad that clinic's there." Because we know. We know we can get good care there. We know that they care. You just become part of a family. It's like a family.

Are you one of Brookings Health System's grateful patients who would like to give back to us? Learn more about how you can give back at brookingshealth.org/MyThanks.

Related Info