San Andreas, CA…Guadalupe “Lupe” Robles has a unique perspective on her role as a Family Nurse Practitioner. “I think of every patient as a puzzle. We look for the right pieces to solve what is wrong with the puzzle.” Guadalupe has recently joined the staff at the San Andreas Family Medical Center after two years at the Valley Springs Family Medical Center. She earned her nursing degree at California State University, Bakersfield, specializing in primary care and concentrating on health care needs in the small, rural towns in that region. “Rural communities have always appealed to me,” she says. “That’s why I am so happy to be working here in Calaveras County.

Bob Diehl, President and CEO of Mark Twain Medical Center

“As a little girl all that I ever dreamed of was becoming a nurse,” she adds. “And when that happened, I knew I was meant to help families – to treat patients of all ages. Primary care is my dream come true.”

Nurse Practitioners are noted for putting patients at ease, spending time to get to know the person in order to better understand their health care needs. Guadalupe takes that a step further because she is bi-lingual and can interact with patients in Spanish.

“It makes a big difference,” she notes, because an interpreter is not likely to convey the nuances of “how do you feel” or “where does it hurt?” As an example, she mentions a recent Spanish-speaking clinic visitor who came in for treatment of what was incorrectly interpreted as a sore throat. “There were no indications of a problem with her throat,” Guadalupe says. “Once I was able to talk with her in Spanish, it was clear her issue was something totally different – severe dry mouth. We were able to prescribe medication to clear it up.”

When she is not working, Guadalupe likes to spend time outdoors – especially fishing. “I am a fisher woman,” she smiles. “My husband loves to fish and I love it too.” The couple plans an Alaskan fishing adventure later this year.
They have a grown daughter and three grandsons.

For more information about the San Andreas Family Medical Center, or to schedule an appointment, call 209-754-4564.

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About Mark Twain Medical Center
Founded in 1951, Mark Twain Medical Center is a 25-bed, critical access hospital providing inpatient acute care, outpatient services and emergency services. The Medical Center’s Medical Staff represents a broad range of specialties that ensure access to high quality medical care in a rural community. In addition to being a major provider of health services, Mark Twain Medical Center is also one of the area’s largest employers. More than 300 people are employed at the hospital and its five Family Medical Centers. The Medical Center is a member of Dignity Health, the fifth largest not-for-profit healthcare system in the nation. For more information, please visit our website at www.marktwainmedicalcenter.org. Mark Twain Medical Center is also on Facebook.