This newsroom series highlights and celebrates our DFM clinics through light-hearted and educational short stories. Showcasing each clinic through photos and interviews, the series aims to promote awareness of the important work being done by our providers and in our clinics.
For more than a decade, UCHealth Primary Care – Lone Tree has been a cornerstone of the Lone Tree Medical Campus—a “mini campus” of neighboring UC Health offices including various imaging, audiology, ophthalmology, physical therapy and more! This hub provides comprehensive and responsive care as providers can send their patients, quite literally, across the street to continue treatment with other specialists. Described as a team of “superheroes” who care as deeply for one another as they do for their patients, the Lone Tree Primary Care Clinic is the latest feature in the Department of Family Medicine’s Clinic Spotlight.
The Lone Tree Primary Care Clinic is home to 26 dedicated providers delivering a full range of health care services, specializing in family medicine, geriatric medicine, sports medicine, internal medicine, and behavioral health—supported by a highly-trained and compassionate staff.
Friendly smiles and warm welcomes aren’t the only qualities patients love about this clinic. They also benefit from a wide range of in-clinic services, including x-ray imaging, behavioral health support, and physical therapy. By working closely with internal medicine physicians and offering in-office physical therapy, the clinic ensures patients receive timely, specialized care tailored to their needs.
Beyond comprehensive care, Lone Tree Primary Care stands out for its innovative team structure designed to enhance efficiency and improve patient experience. One example is the combination of clinical Advanced Practice Provider (APP) roles and non-clinical Administrative Care Coordinator (ACC) roles.
APPs include all Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs), but one APP—Olive Muga, NP—has a unique role. The majority of her time is dedicated to supportive tasks as she works asynchronously, managing in-basket messages, answering clinical questions, placing orders, and more—helping the team stay responsive and organized behind the scenes.
Similarly, Administrative Care Coordinators (ACCs) play a vital role in reducing provider workload while enhancing patient communication. These coordinators manage incoming in-basket messages, promptly responding to patients and resolving non-clinical tasks before directing clinical concerns to the appropriate care team member. This streamlined communication model improves efficiency, reduces clinician stress, and ensures every team member works at the top of their scope to meet patient needs quickly.
Lone Tree Primary Care thrives on connection, camaraderie, and mentorship. Programs like the Clinical Ladder Mentor Committee help Medical Assistants (MAs) advance their careers (see Jennine Woodruff below), while the clinic’s Employee Engagement Committee (EEC) keeps morale high with activities and celebrations, from employee shoutout boards to a “destress coloring wall” in the break room.
Enjoy these inspiring stories and quotes from the Lone Tree Primary Care Clinic. While we can’t feature every team member and their hard work, these voices help capture the spirit of what makes this clinic thrive. (Individuals are listed alphabetically by last name.)
“The absolute best part of my job? Hands down, it’s our incredible staff and providers! We’re lucky to have a team that truly understands what collaboration means—lifting each other up, sharing the wins, and always striving for excellence together. It’s like working with a group of superheroes who also happen to be really fun to be around!”
“We offer [registered nurse] RN-led Medicare Annual Wellness Visits, where the RN completes assessments such as the Health Risk Assessment, cognitive screening, medication reconciliation, and preventive care education. Any unrelated medical concerns are deferred to the provider appointment that immediately follows the RN visit. Due to their scope of practice, RNs are well positioned to discuss preventive health strategies and assess health risks for patients. Patients have reported high satisfaction with the one-on-one preventive health education and the thorough approach to their healthcare.”
“Our team is crushing it when it comes to quality metrics. This is evident in the work we’ve done to meet our HTN control goals. We implemented sustainable initiatives that have helped us meet these goals. Now we’re geared up to tackle even more metrics and continue raising the bar for excellence.”
“One of my favorite aspects of being a Family Medicine provider is being one of the family. It’s been a privilege to build longitudinal relationships with my patients, my medical colleagues, and my clinic staff. I typically tell new team members to get prepared for the day-to-day silliness and laughter. We work hard and joke harder!”
“Isolation in older adults is a mental health concern that heavily impacts the Lone Tree community and is a major contributor to adverse health outcomes. I’ve encountered this issue frequently in my patient care, and when addressed effectively, the improvements often create positive ripple effects across personal, family, and community levels.”
“Here is an example of one of the many proud moments that I have had at Lone Tree. Our front desk alerted me that a patient was calling the clinic highly confused, and I scheduled a next-day co-consult with their Primary Care Provider (PCP). I completed a psychological evaluation, confirmed a current manic episode, and discussed findings with patient and spouse. The PCP was able to start medication and get the patient an urgent visit with tele-psychiatry. Through this team effort, the patient was stabilized in crisis and continues to do well today in outpatient psychiatry.”
“We love any and every holiday at Lone Tree! Whether it’s Halloween (Last year I was Ms. Frizzle and one of the providers was Gru with MAs dressed as Minions) or National Oreo Day (featuring all flavors of Oreos that filled the conference room), we go all out. We celebrate everyone’s birthdays and special events like weddings. There are decoration contests throughout the year. This year the biohazard door was dressed up as a monster. I ran a Kindness Campaign last election week to reduce stress and encourage connection, and it made the week so much fun!”
“I love being able to have meaningful, impactful, evidence-based discussions with patients about how we can maintain their health and wellbeing with the ever-evolving healthcare landscape. I take great pride in being a trusted voice for patients in their lifetime health journeys.”
“I think a national health issue, which potentially could have the greatest impact for many in the Lone Tree community, is the political polarization of healthcare with inconsistent messaging from federal agencies. Many of these unsubstantiated messages fundamentally conflict with Primary Care’s model of following evidence-based medical practice. Unfortunately, this can lead to confusion in the community and sow public distrust in medicine at a time when Primary Care Providers are trying their best to carry a voice of reason for patients while trying to improve overall community health.”
“Honestly, any moment a patient tells me how grateful they are for the care we deliver at Lone Tree Primary Care. No matter what job or title someone has, we can all get lost in the weeds with daily job tasks and responsibilities. However, hearing this gratitude makes all the extra in-basket work and emails worth it every time.”
“I think the everyday camaraderie amongst clinic staff and providers is exemplary. We work extremely hard to make sure patients have a great overall clinical experience but also know how to keep things lighthearted and still have fun and laugh with each other every day.”
“One of my favorite aspects of my role is coaching and developing medical assistants and watching them grow into strong, confident professionals who excel in their positions. It is incredibly rewarding to support new hires as they build their skills and gain confidence. I also find deep fulfillment in directly serving and caring for patients, as I truly believe healthcare is my calling. Working at Lone Tree Primary Care is especially meaningful because we operate as a cohesive, collaborative team. Our strong sense of unity and shared commitment to exceptional patient care creates a positive environment that benefits both our staff and the patients we serve. This combination of mentorship, patient care, and teamwork is what makes my work both purposeful and enjoyable.”
“What many people might not realize is the extensive amount of behind-the-scenes work that our entire team does daily to ensure our clinic runs smoothly and our patients receive exceptional care. For example, front desk staff do much more than check patients in—they manage complex scheduling, insurance verifications, and often serve as the first point of contact, setting the tone for the entire patient experience.
Medical assistants, like myself, not only perform vital clinical tasks such as taking vitals and preparing patients for exams but also anticipate providers’ needs, coordinate care, and offer emotional support to patients, helping to ease their concerns. Nurses work tirelessly to monitor patient health, provide education, and coordinate follow-up care, often going the extra mile to advocate for patients’ well-being.
Providers balance managing complex medical conditions with delivering compassionate care, all while staying up-to-date with the latest medical guidelines and treatments. Together, our clinic consistently goes above and beyond to service our patients. This teamwork and dedication behind the scenes are critical to creating a seamless, supportive, and caring environment that patients truly appreciate.”
“One of my proudest accomplishments has been developing the sports medicine procedural guideline, specifically for steroid injections, and training all MAs on how to properly set up for these procedures. Sports medicine can be challenging for MAs who don’t routinely handle these tasks in a primary care setting. Recognizing this, my team and I created clear, step-by-step guidelines to standardize the process and reduce anxiety among staff.
These guidelines include detailed instructions on using the ultrasound machine to capture imaging during steroid injections, a critical component for ensuring accuracy and patient safety. Today, this procedural guide serves as the go-to resource for medical assistants seeking additional training in sports medicine cases.
Providing this level of support to my colleagues has not only improved workflow but also enhanced the quality of care we deliver to our patients. This initiative is something I’m truly proud of, as it reflects both my commitment to professional development and the well-being of both our team and patients.”
“While there isn’t one specific moment that stands out, I believe the true heart and spirit of our clinic is reflected in the way we consistently come together as a team to support our patients—no matter the circumstance. Whether it's assisting someone who’s taken a fall in the parking lot, responding quickly to a patient experiencing sudden symptoms in the waiting room, offering comfort during emotional struggles with anxiety or depression, or simply holding a hand to ease nerves during a blood draw or immunization—our team always shows up with compassion, professionalism, and unity. These everyday moments, though small on their own, speak volumes about our commitment to patient-centered care. At Lone Tree, rising to the challenge and treating each patient with kindness and respect isn’t the exception—it’s the standard.”
A big thank you to the Lone Tree Primary Care team for giving us a glimpse into the heart of their clinic! Their commitment to enhancing patient health, strengthening community well-being, and fostering their own team’s growth reflects not only their innovative spirit but also the joy and collaboration that drive their success. Lone Tree may feel like a “mini-campus,” but its impact on patients and the community is nothing short of mighty.