RCH feels very fortunate to have Glenda Wheeler on our team here at Rooks County Health Center. Glenda’s passion for patient care and her knack for finding solutions to the unique challenges of rural healthcare have helped her to fit right in here at RCH.
Wheeler realizes that working in a small town comes with its own set of challenges, like not having easy access to specialists in orthopedics, oncology, or neurology. “A lot of our patients have to travel for that kind of care,” she says. “And that can be tough for them.” To combat this, Wheeler tries to coordinate care with the specialists that actually come to Plainville for specialty clinics, so patients do not have to travel. “I have also built and maintained relationships with a large network of specialists over the years that I can text or call with questions or concerns about my patients. With those types of relationships, the specialist will contribute to my patient’s care without requiring the patient to travel to them.”
Wheeler loves working in a tight-knit community, where the support is truly special. She talked about how she recently cared for an elderly patient who told her he had no family nearby but shared how neighbors would stop by with cookies and check in on him. “Knowing he had people looking out for him really made me feel good,” she says warmly. It’s this community spirit that makes Rooks County so special. “Even our local pharmacy goes the extra mile,” Glenda adds. “If we’re running late, they’ll stay open to fill the last prescription of the day. You don’t see that kind of dedication in bigger places.”
Telehealth has also made it easier for her to stay connected with patients who live farther away or have moved. “Patients can see me from their living room or even at work—I’m here for them wherever they are,” she shares. Although she wasn’t sure about telehealth at first, she’s now excited about the possibilities. “I’ve seen Dr. Oller use a digital stethoscope that gives more info than a regular one and an otoscope that lets him check ears remotely. These tools make remote visits so much better.”
When she’s not seeing patients, Glenda has a surprising hobby—woodworking! She fell in love with it back in school and has been doing it ever since. She also carries with her some simple but powerful advice from her husband: “If you don’t lie, you never have to remember what you said.” And from her mother: “Work hard and play hard—life’s too short for anything else.”
After working here for eight months as a locum, Glenda knew Rooks County Health Center was the perfect fit for her. “RCHC supports work-life balance, family, growth, and education, and they truly care about the community,” she says. “They have a vision for the future and are always looking for ways to grow and improve.”
With her caring heart, positive energy, and fresh ideas, Glenda Wheeler is a huge part of what makes Rooks County Health Center so special. We’re so glad to have her on board, and our community is lucky to have her too!
