Scot Yarnell and Jill Hulse, native Kansans, were eager to accept positions at The Center for Counseling & Consultation because they believe they can satisfy local needs that continue to grow.
Yarnell is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, while Hulse is a family practitioner studying to add (PMH NP) to her credentials.
This specialty addresses psychiatric illnesses for outpatients and inpatients.
“Since we are both family practitioners, we have the knowledge to differentiate between physical and mental-health issues,” Yarnell said.
“I worked in emergency rooms and corrections facilities, and learned that sometimes patients have more of a psychiatric need than a physical need.”
While Yarnell and Hulse treat a variety of illnesses and conditions, they are especially interested in substance-use disorders.
“This is really big,” Yarnell commented. “The need for these services is definitely here.”
Statistically, he noted, 40 percent of people with an addiction have a mental illness independent of that addiction.
“Our experience guides us to offer services specific to each patient,” Yarnell noted. “If a patient is motivated, we can help. I always say ‘don’t give up on me and I won’t give up on you.’”
Hulse noted that she and Yarnell were searching for a smaller community in rural Kansas to establish their practices.
“We were living in Wichita and learned these positions became available,” she said. “We are happy to be in a place that has so many resources; we are definitely going to use them.
“For example, The Center has professional and compassionate therapists, case managers and a great support staff at its four locations. We are quite impressed with everyone here.”
When they lived in Wichita, they would see patients who traveled for several hours for appointments.
“But we know there are others who didn’t come because of a lack of transportation or they couldn’t take a day off work,” Hulse said. “We hope to help fill this gap in central and western Kansas.”
Hulse and Yarnell see patients age 6 and older at the Great Bend location, 5815 Broadway. They also have tele-health capabilities for The Center’s service area of Barton, Pawnee, Rice and Stafford counties.
Yarnell is from a farming background at Buffalo in southeast Kansas; Hulse is a Lindsborg native. They have rented a house in Great Bend.
Their backgrounds include experience in emergency and acute care, pediatrics, geriatrics, family medicine, psychiatry and addiction.
Yarnell earned his associate’s degree in nursing in 2013 at Neosho County Community College; bachelor’s in nursing in 2014 at Wichita State University; doctor of nursing practice in 2018 at WSU; and PMH NP last year at Washburn University. He also received a bachelor’s in chemistry, physics and plastics engineering technology in 2001 at Pittsburg State University.
His professional experience includes positions at Psychiatric & Addiction Services, Holland Pathways Addiction Treatment Center, AdventHealth in Shawnee Mission, Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita, Medicalodges in Wichita and Deseret Health Care in Yates Center.
Hulse earned her bachelor’s in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2011 at Emporia State University, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing in 2012 and 2016, respectively, at the University of Miami, Coral Gables. She is studying for her PMH NP at Washburn.
Hulse has served as a family nurse practitioner at Psychiatric & Addiction Services in Wichita, Wichita Medical Associates, Scott County Hospital, Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup, N.M., and Hunter Health Clinic in Wichita.
Julie Kramp, The Center’s executive director, said “our service area is incredibly fortunate Scot and Jill chose to join us in Great Bend. Their education, experience and skills, along with a passion for their work, has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life for the people we serve.
“They are great additions to our fantastic medication team with specialized experience,” she continued. “Scot and Jill truly have a heart for this important work.”
The Center for Counseling & Consultation is a Community Mental Health Center serving Barton, Pawnee, Rice and Stafford counties. Professionally trained personnel offer: individual and group therapy; marriage and family counseling; community-support services; community-based services; psychosocial rehabilitation; peer support; and medication management. The confidential 24/7 crisis hotline number is 800-875-2544.
