Meet Dr. Greathouse

With a philosophy of disease prevention and holistic care, Dr. Greathouse specializes in dealing with pediatric and adolescents as well as women's health issues and procedure related medicine. Dr. Greathouse has won the award for "Outstanding Service to the Dept. of Family Practice," from Loyola Provident. 

Medical Background

Education/Training 

• RESIDENCY - Loyola - Provident Family Practice (Chicago, Illinois) Family Practice
• MD - University of Illinois College of Medicine (Chicago) Medicine

Board Certification

• AM Board of Family Practice - Family Practice - General Cert

Q & A

Why did you decide to become a doctor?

I have wanted to be a physician since the age of 4. My parents met working as nursing assistants at the local VA in North Chicago, Illinois. I grew up listening to them discuss the goings on at the hospital each night as we ate dinner. I wanted at an early age to play a part in helping people heal their bodies and minds. My mother purchased an illustrated medical text and I studied that text each night. By the age of 8, I memorized all of the organs of the digestive and reproductive systems. That's when my family began to take my love of medicine seriously and started me on the course, which leads me where I am today. Medicine has been a part of me since childhood. I am fascinated by it, it challenges me, and it allows me to take part in bettering the quality of life of those around me. I have known that this is what I wanted to do for as long as I can remember.

What is your proudest or most memorable moment as a physician?

I don't have one single proud moment in medicine. I have had many moments that have made me glad that I was present to witness or participate in the lives of my patients. I am especially proud of the relationships that I have encountered and cultivated through medicine. My proudest moments come with the birth of healthy babies into the world and I am also proud when a patient requests my presence at the end of life. With family and friends present, it is impressive and makes me feel proud to know that a patient may want me to be by his/her side during their last moments. Like I said no one moment makes me proud, but beginnings and ends impress me the most. Each point in between is special as well.

What is your philosophy of care?

I believe in disease prevention. I think that proper diet and exercise coupled with psychological fulfillment leads to a longer healthier life. I like to have an open and honest dialogue with my patient about ways to prevent disease LONG BEFORE one needs medications to treat them. I am a minimalist when it comes to prescribing medications and I attempt to take a holistic approach to treating people, not diseases.

What are some of your areas of interest or specialty in family practice?

Family medicine is broad based, and I do it all. I love working with pediatric populations and adolescents. I also love women's health and procedure related medicine. I am fully trained on how to deal with urgent care issues and I can repair lacerations in the office (if need be).  I may also be doing occupational health, as I have received some training in it. I have no problems doing home visits to elderly patients, which is something I enjoy as well.

What is your goal for the New Lenox Family Health Center?

I would like to see the clinic continue to grow. The New Lenox Provena site should not only provide medical care to the people of New Lenox, but also become a part of the community that we serve. It is my hope that as patients come to our office they know that they are welcome and that we are here to serve all of their medical needs. My partner and I are compassionate physicians who listen to our patients. We try to set realistic goals which will lead our patients to a fitter attitude and to an improved quality of life.

How will you and Dr. Covault work together?

I believe we will have an equal partnership as we move forward in this venture. Dr. Covault and I had an instant chemistry and I believe we are both strong, assertive women. This makes us great business partners because we already have similar ideas on what we would like to do with the clinic as well as how we would like to move forward.

How will you and Dr. Covault complement each other?

Dr. Covault likes to see older patients and I love to see the younger ones. There are many aspects of our everyday activities that are opposite of one another, but as a result complement each other. Our differences will create an atmosphere that will be able to please many. I believe we are both strong women, we both appear to be assertive and we say what we think, which is great, but we enjoy different aspects of our specialty and have different styles.  We will provide an environment that has diverse styles, as we do.

What are some things that you think make you unique as a doctor?

I am a mother of four, which is rare in this day and age for professional women.  I am the product of the union of medical ancillary staff AND SOUTHERNERS TO BOOT! Thus I was raised with those good old fashion Southern values. As I stated earlier I see my patients as PEOPLE thus I know that I cannot develop a treatment modality that is cookie cutter. Each patient is different and it is the role of the physician to fit the patient with the correct mode of treatment based on what the patient's needs are, not simply what the books say about the disease pattern.