Opening your door to someone new can feel like a big step, especially when it comes to your health. Yet, every day, people like you all over the United States are doing just that. They open their door to nurse practitioners, physicians and physician assistants like Jason Speaks, N.P. and you should consider it too. Jason conducts in-home health assessments and provides diagnostic and preventive screenings for eligible health plan members in the comfort and convenience of members’ homes.
When Jason Speaks steps into someone’s home he doesn’t just see a person who is having a health care visit rather he sees a person - with an individual story, life experiences, likes and dislikes, and often, an individual who has an unmet need – a quiet hope that someone will have time to truly listen.
“I love what I do,” said Jason who performs In-Home Health Evaluations (IHEs). “A member once told me that it felt like they had already known me and that means everything. Because what I do is about listening and making connections. Everyone deserves a chance to be heard.”
Jason’s career in health care didn’t start in a hospital or even working in a clinic – it started thousands of miles from home in the Peace Corps. After earning his nursing degree, he spent two years working in remote villages, delivering care to people who had little to no access to health care services. That experience shaped the way Jason approaches his role in health care today: with humility, cultural sensitivity, and an unwavering commitment to providing the best service he can.
Jason became a certified Family Nurse Practitioner and earned a Ph.D. in Social and Behavior Change Management from the University of California, San Francisco. His work in busy emergency departments, primary care clinics, and smaller more intimate community health organizations has been meaningful but for Jason, entering someone’s home is sacred. His work is more than completing tasks or typing notes into a laptop. An important part of Jason’s work is what is unspoken. “Nursing is about treating the whole person,” he explained. “That means the spiritual part, the social, and emotional parts and those things are important to me because they are important to them – those things all play a role in someone’s health.”
As a nurse practitioner making home visits, Jason meets people where they are, literally and emotionally. With his range of experience and a heart that deeply cares for others, Jason doesn’t just bring a stethoscope, he also brings care – and people can feel it. “I’ve seen a lot of grace in members’ homes and I hope that I’ve also been able to leave some behind,” he explained of his time spent with individuals.
There is a lot to be said for experience, and Jason uses his knowledge and expertise to help health insurance plan members feel comfortable so they can make a heartfelt connection. “A novice might simply focus on completing a checklist, but as we become more seasoned, we focus on the person.” Jason is attuned to noticing things that may seem subtle or unnoticeable like the way a person sits in their chair or hesitates before they speak. “The most important part of my job is to listen,” he explained.
Jason hears the worry in a voice or notices the body language that may be showing pain or stress. “Emotional intelligence is vital to the work I do,” he continued. “This is about more than respecting a person’s home; this is about respecting their emotional space. Being able to read the room helps me meet people where they are and then we can form a bond and move forward together to where they want to be.”
Sometimes people are unsure or nervous about their in home visit – they might worry they are being graded or judged. But an IHE, as Jason explained, is not just a benefit covered by their health insurance plan, rather it is an opportunity to focus on their health. “This doesn’t replace their doctor or health care team, this is a chance for them to be heard, to learn more about their health, and I’ll often help them with questions to ask their doctor. This is all about giving people tools and guidance on how to improve their health.”
It’s an honor to be welcomed into someone’s home – the place where they feel most at ease. That comfort creates a space for real connection and it’s in that space we can truly work together to help support and improve their health.
Jason Speaks, N.P.
When Jason isn’t working he spends a lot of his free time serving others. Over the years, Jason has continued to travel to other countries for volunteer work during his vacation time, including multiple trips to Africa. It was during one such trip to Ethiopia that he met the woman who became his wife. Today they have two sons. Jason wants his sons to understand the importance of caring for others. “I’m a little older now and I appreciate the time I have with my kids, to help them become better people. I want to help them fall in love with learning, with the differences in other cultures, and with serving others.”
Jason’s favorite quote is one he paraphrased from Winston Churchill. “Never, never, never give up.” After meeting Jason and learning how much he cares, you get the sense the quote rings true. He won’t give up.