Healthcare Providers Excited to Build Practice in Cape May County

When speaking with Dr. Ali Cheema and Nurse Practitioner, Shawn Denning, it is easy to see why these two young men were chosen as feature practitioners for the CompleteCare Health Network’s expanding presence in Cape May County. They radiate the energy of two men embarking on a new adventure while maintaining the gentle compassion that is prized among health care providers. It’s also clear that both men like a good challenge.
“Practicing in Cape May County gives me the opportunity to treat patients who have a broad spectrum of health needs,” said Dr. Cheema. “As a Family Physician, I see everyone from newborns to senior citizens and everything else in between.”
Cape May County has a particular need for primary care providers. According to CountyHealthRankings.org, a website run by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Cape May County’s current ratio of Primary Care Physicians to patients is 1,801:1. The National Benchmark is 1,067:1. Wildwood, where CompleteCare’s Medical and Dental office is located, has been designated as a Medically Underserved Area. These are areas or populations designated by the Federal Government as having too few primary care providers, high infant mortality, high poverty and/or a high elderly population.
Working for CompleteCare – a health system that serves all patients including the uninsured and those with Medicaid – also gives Dr. Cheema and Mr. Denning the opportunity to go the extra mile for patients in difficult circumstances.
“Insurance is a big problem for our patients. Even if you have Medicaid you’ll still have a hard time finding someone who will take it,” said Mr. Denning. “Our patients are very cognizant of how much things are going to cost them. It’s always a worry so we work with patients and advocate on their behalf to ensure that they get the treatment they need.”
The two men recently encountered one such problem with a patient who was new to the area. She had insurance but was facing a cancer diagnosis and didn’t know where to go or what to do.
“She was panicked, as anyone would be, and was hitting roadblock after roadblock,” said Mr. Denning. “We got her in immediately with a specialist and helped her put together a plan of action.”
“Shawn’s compassion in that situation was amazing,” said Dr. Cheema. “It was individual care at its finest. It exemplified the reason I got into medicine in the first place – to help people.”
Dr. Cheema recently completed his residency at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Riverside Family Medicine Residency Program before moving to the area to be closer to his family. Mr. Denning graduated from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey with a Master’s Degree in nursing and completed a clinical rotation at CompleteCare before officially joining the team as a nurse practitioner.
Both Dr. Cheema and Mr. Denning will be seeing patients at CompleteCare’s offices in Cape May Court House and Wildwood. Mr. Denning will also start seeing patients at the RiteCare in the Rio Grande ShopRite, evenings and weekends when it opens this fall. To schedule an appointment call 609-465-0258 or request an appointment online at www.CompleteCareNJ.org
About CompleteCare Health Network:
CompleteCare Health Network is a nationally accredited health system that provides Primary Medical, Dental and Behavioral health services to nearly 50,000 people annually. Now operating 18 locations throughout Cumberland, Gloucester and Cape May Counties, CompleteCare is dedicated to serving its patients with friendly, convenient and affordable care.