Ruby Valley Medical Center Welcomes Judy Weitzel, PMHNP-BC

Judy Weitzel helps fill a critical need for psychiatric mental health care services in the Ruby Valley

The Ruby Valley Medical Center is pleased to announce that Judy Weitzel, PMHNP-BC, has joined our team of healthcare providers and is seeing patients at the Sheridan and Twin Bridges clinics. Weitzel is a board certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and broadens the scope of care provided by the Ruby Valley Medical Center to include mental health services. Insufficient psychiatric mental health support has been an ongoing concern in the Ruby Valley and Weitzel’s practice will help fill this need.

Weitzel’s practice includes evaluation of mental health issues, treatment for depression, anxiety, mood and thought disorders, and couples therapy. She manages prescription treatments and can prescribe medications as needed. Weitzel is also a board certified Clinical Nurse Specialist. She has broad-based experience in providing mental health treatments in a variety of inpatient and outpatient facilities.

Melissa Brummel, RN, the Public Health Nurse for the Madison County Department of Public Health, looks forward to Weitzel’s contribution to the Ruby Valley’s mental health services. “We haven’t had any mental health providers licensed to prescribe medication based in the Ruby Valley,” says Brummel. “Mental health services have been improving and the number of providers has increased in the last few years. We used to only have one or two mental health providers in the county.” Brummel is also a member of the Madison County Mental Health Local Advisory Council. “This area has had a gap in psychiatric mental health services which Judy is qualified to fill,” says Ke’lah Savage-Willauer, LCSW, chairperson for the Madison County Mental Health Local Advisory Council. “Judy is willing to see young people age sixteen years and up which is awesome for adolescents. There’s a huge shortage of resources throughout the U.S. for psychiatrists willing to cover younger people. Although we have counseling support for young patients, Judy fills another area of mental health needs.” Savage-Willauer provides therapy services through her private practice, Peak Mental Health, LLC., in Sheridan.

The beauty and outdoor activities of Montana enticed Weitzel to move to Madison County in 2007 and she lives in the Madison Valley. As an outdoor enthusiast, Weitzel loves to hike and bicycle. In the winter, she supplements her outdoor activities with snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing. Weitzel’s athletic accomplishments include bicycling across the United States and climbing to the base camp of Mount Everest!

Weitzel has integrated the benefits she has found in outdoor activity into her practice. “I encourage people to get involved in physical activity which I’ve found to be very helpful in improving many mental health issues,” says Weitzel. Weitzel is also keen on reviewing happiness studies to find new ways to improve the well-being of her patients.

Weitzel is currently seeing patients in Sheridan on Wednesdays and in Twin Bridges on Thursdays. She is eager to provide mental health support to the residents of the Ruby Valley community. Prospective patients can call (406) 842-5056 to arrange an appointment.