McLeod Medical Center Dillon is pleased to announce that Marla B. Lewis, DNP, RN, NP-C has joined the McLeod Dillon hospitalist team.  
The hospitalist team at McLeod Dillon is made up of medical doctors and nurse practitioners whose primary professional focus is the medical care of hospitalized patients.

Because they do not maintain a private outside practice, the time of the hospitalist team is devoted solely to caring for hospitalized patients.  If you have a primary care physician, the hospitalist will communicate directly with your personal physician providing routine updates and further recommendations for your continued recovery.
If someone is under the care of a Hospitalist, they may not have a primary care physician or their primary care physician does not care for patients in a hospital setting.
Hospitalists are based in the hospital and specialize in all aspects of a patient’s care – from admission to discharge.
According to McLeod Dillon Hospitalist, Dr. Katie Jarvis, “The hospitalist team is the patient’s best advocate. They are connected to all of the hospital’s resources, including diagnostic testing and specialist physicians. They are there to listen to your problems, to piece together your story, and to make sure you get the very best care.”
A Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse who has completed specific advanced education and training in the diagnosis and management of medical conditions. Nurse Practitioners diagnose, treat, evaluate and manage short-term and long-term illnesses and diseases.  
Marla commented on her choice to become a Nurse Practitioner, “I chose to this profession because I wanted the opportunity to provide high-quality, cost-effective healthcare services to residents in and around my community.”
Marla is looking forward to serving Dillon County and the surrounding areas.  “Growing up, I spent a great deal of time in Dillon.  I recall Dillon as a quaint town with a lot of character,” said Marla.  “I look forward to helping its citizens achieve their optimal health.”
Marla completed much of her nursing training at McLeod Dillon more than a decade ago. She knew then that she would want to practice at the medical center in the future.  “I chose McLeod Dillon because of the care and compassion that one feels as they enter the front door.  As I return in the role of nurse practitioner, I hope to perpetuate the climate of care and compassion in my work.”
In Marla’s role, she places a high priority on patient education.  By realizing that each person learns differently, Marla caters to the unique learning style of her patients.  
With a special interest in heart health, Marla has five years of cardiology experience.  She has certifications as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and an Adult Nurse Practitioner. She received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Duke University, Durham, NC.
Marla is a native of Fairmont, NC.  She and her husband, Kevin, reside in Orrum, NC, with their son, John Daniel Bryant (1 year).