Chris Gardner, NP
Gardner Express Care
Nurse Practitioner Chris Gardner opened Gardner Express
Care in December 2017 so he could provide patients with
the care they need at a price they can afford.
“I decided it was time to put my experience to use in my own
clinic to provide an alternative type of practice that is very
affordable,” he said. “My goal is for those of us that work and
have high deductibles, or those who don’t have insurance, to
have a place to go that won’t cost them hundreds or thousands
of dollars. For example, if you get your hand sutured in the ER,
the average cost is over $2,000. At my clinic, it is $149.”
Gardner Express Care does not file insurance, so it can charge
significantly less than a typical healthcare facility. The clinic
specializes in urgent care, primary services and weight
management.
“I utilize prescription medications coupled with a unique, very
easy eating and drinking schedule that doesn’t feel like dieting,”
Gardner said. “I’ve seen over 70,000 patients so far in my career,
so there are few in the nation with my weight management
experience.”
Gardner began his career working for a local independent
physician for two years. He then spent about 12 years in rural
Kansas and Iowa in family practice, emergency medicine
and hospitalist roles. He traveled to many different hospitals
covering the facility for local doctors taking vacations. The
assignments typically were 24/7 coverage of clinics, hospital
inpatients and emergency rooms for anywhere from 3-7 days.
Gardner said one of the most rewarding aspects of his clinic is
he can always put patient care first.
“There are many different pressures from insurance companies,
government and administration that make healthcare providers
sometimes treat you like a number,” he said. “I genuinely care
about each one of my patients and will do everything I can to
help them.”
In Gardner’s free time, he loves being a dad and can often be
found spending time with his wife and two daughters on their
family farm.