Meeting people where they are can mean traveling in different environments — on crowded highway overpasses, unpaved backroads or, in the case of Dr. Georgia Braimakis, traveling on foot amid the hustle and bustle of New York City.
"I walk seven miles per day,” said Dr. Braimakis, a full-time physician who sees health plan members primarily in Manhattan. “I don't use cars. I use public transportation, and I walk to all the appointments. I get fresh air, light and exercise...I feel better now than three years ago when I started."
After years of working in hospitals and private clinics, she was drawn to Signify Health by a "different paradigm" — the opportunity to meet members in the privacy and comfort of their own homes.
The power of the IHE
After originally being drawn to in-home visits as a “new and interesting” opportunity, Dr. Braimakis quickly found the In-Home Health Evaluation (IHE) to be a "very, very comprehensive assessment,” one that goes far beyond a typical doctor's visit.
Other highlights include:
- More time for deeper connection: In a traditional office setting, time is often scarce. With up to an hour per visit, Signify Health licensed clinicians like Dr. Braimakis have the time to truly support members and address concerns that may otherwise be missed.
- A holistic view of health: Going into the member’s home allows clinicians to see their living conditions, social environment and daily lifestyle.This is crucial for understanding how these social determinants of health impact their well-being — from how they store medication to what they are cooking.
- Education and prevention: A core component of the IHE is education, which Dr. Braimakis focuses on as a tool for prevention. She shares information and suggestions — like healthy cooking alternatives or different forms of exercise — that members can discuss with their primary care provider. As evidenced by her personal experience walking from visit to visit, she believes being active throughout the day (walking, cleaning, enjoying time with friends) is often more effective than a rigid, one-hour gym session.
More than just routine: life-saving interventions
While the work is often preventive, Dr. Braimakis shared powerful stories of urgent intervention, highlighting the life-saving potential of being in the right place at the right time.
- Cardiac arrest: During a recent visit, Dr. Braimakis performed chest compressions on a member experiencing a cardiac arrest during an in-home visit, with EMS arriving quickly to provide full support.
- Critical illness: She recalled another instance where she found a member in a life-threatening condition due to extremely low oxygen and blood pressure from asthma. The member was too ill to call 911, so Dr. Braimakis immediately provided assistance until EMS arrived.
- Preventing stroke and heart failure: Dr. Braimakis has also detected multiple cases of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeats) during routine assessments, enabling prompt referral to a cardiologist to significantly reduce the member’s risk of stroke or heart failure.
"I’m proud of my work because I can help people in a different way that I wasn't able to do before,” she shares. “At Signify Health, I work with people who care about others. They care about improving members’ health and their overall well-being. It’s a great pleasure to be part of it.”
Are you a clinician interested in helping health plan members gain a more comprehensive view of their health? To learn more about opportunities with Signify Health, visit our clinical careers page.