Area physician wins Country Doctor Award
Updated: January 29, 2013
GIBSON CITY -- A doctor was born and raised in Gibson City and has worked there for the past two decades. Now, he's been named the 2012 Country Doctor of the Year. WCIA-3's Anna Carrera introduces us to Dr. Neil Nelson.
"I have patients from 50 different zip codes," said Dr. Nelson.
Dr. Nelson is a pretty popular guy with a healthy sense of humor.
"I kind of avoid going to the grocery store because I usually get patients coming and wanting to know their lab test and x-ray reports," said Dr. Nelson.
He has about 5,000 patients, which is saying something for a man who lives in a city a little more than half that size. He sees those patients at his practice and at the hospital, but that's not all.
"I make house calls to see patients at their homes if they're really sick," said Dr. Nelson.
One day, years ago, he heard one of his patients was having heart trouble and he sprung into action.
"Got off the tractor and got in my car and drove to the patient's house and revived him in the bathtub," said Dr. Nelson.
Another one of his patients is also one of his employees. Kourtney Crist has been his receptionist since May.
"He describes things very well if I don't understand them," said Crist. "He's just very good about that."
She's seen how much he cares about each of his patients, including her.
"He doesn't quit," said Crist. "He keeps going until it's done."
His patients say he can see more than what's on the medical charts.
"I feel like God gave me a gift," said Dr. Nelson. "It's something I wanted to do since I was five years old and it just comes to me naturally."
So when his patients heard he was up for Country Doctor of the Year, they said they knew he would win. Dr. Nelson has lived in other places, different states and countries. But he said he's proud to call Gibson City home.
"It's just a really good community to work in as a doctor," said Dr. Nelson. "It's a good place for patients to come for care."
The award was given to him by Staff Care, a healthcare group. As part of the award, the group will bring in a doctor to fill in for Nelson so he can take a much-deserved two week vacation. He said he'll probably be back sooner than that and ready to see his patients again.
"I have patients from 50 different zip codes," said Dr. Nelson.
Dr. Nelson is a pretty popular guy with a healthy sense of humor.
"I kind of avoid going to the grocery store because I usually get patients coming and wanting to know their lab test and x-ray reports," said Dr. Nelson.
He has about 5,000 patients, which is saying something for a man who lives in a city a little more than half that size. He sees those patients at his practice and at the hospital, but that's not all.
"I make house calls to see patients at their homes if they're really sick," said Dr. Nelson.
One day, years ago, he heard one of his patients was having heart trouble and he sprung into action.
"Got off the tractor and got in my car and drove to the patient's house and revived him in the bathtub," said Dr. Nelson.
Another one of his patients is also one of his employees. Kourtney Crist has been his receptionist since May.
"He describes things very well if I don't understand them," said Crist. "He's just very good about that."
She's seen how much he cares about each of his patients, including her.
"He doesn't quit," said Crist. "He keeps going until it's done."
His patients say he can see more than what's on the medical charts.
"I feel like God gave me a gift," said Dr. Nelson. "It's something I wanted to do since I was five years old and it just comes to me naturally."
So when his patients heard he was up for Country Doctor of the Year, they said they knew he would win. Dr. Nelson has lived in other places, different states and countries. But he said he's proud to call Gibson City home.
"It's just a really good community to work in as a doctor," said Dr. Nelson. "It's a good place for patients to come for care."
The award was given to him by Staff Care, a healthcare group. As part of the award, the group will bring in a doctor to fill in for Nelson so he can take a much-deserved two week vacation. He said he'll probably be back sooner than that and ready to see his patients again.
