A nurse practitioner based in Seattle, Washington, Ev has spent nearly two years with Signify Health supporting members in their homes and communities. No two days in the field are exactly alike. Each visit brings a different person, a different story and a different opportunity to better understand a person’s health beyond a traditional clinical setting.
“As a Signify Health clinician, I get to meet people from all walks of life and have the opportunity to help and support them in any way I can,” Ev said. “That’s a pretty fulfilling experience.”
Ev began her medical career as a registered nurse, spending about a decade working in a large hospital across a variety of units. She later became a nurse practitioner and worked in primary care with a focus on geriatric populations. After starting a family, she began looking for a role that offered more flexibility while still allowing her to make a meaningful impact. That search led her to Signify Health.
Today, she says In-Home Health Evaluations (IHEs) give clinicians a fuller picture of a member’s life, including their routines, support systems, concerns and needs. Some members are ready for the visit and eager to talk. Others may need extra reassurance, a clearer explanation of the purpose of the visit or a few moments to feel comfortable.
“Having a background in supporting the aging population, I come across lots of members who are extremely vulnerable; not just physically, but cognitively as well,” Ev said. “I understand that in my role, each person may need additional explanation about the purpose of the visit, the benefits and what they can get out of it.”
That patience and clinical judgment can make a meaningful difference. During one visit, Ev met with a member who had a full-time caregiver. As she began the evaluation and checked his vitals, she recognized signs that he needed urgent medical attention.
“It was clear to me that his heart was not pumping effectively or efficiently,” she said. “We needed to get him to the emergency room right away.”
Ev called 911 and helped connect the member to emergency care. The member was hospitalized.
That is the kind of moment that stays with a clinician. It also shows why the IHE matters. A visit can become a critical opportunity to help someone get the support they need.
Ev recently joined other clinicians and colleagues for Signify Health’s Clinician Advisory Council, an experience she described as energizing and meaningful. For her, the council is a chance to connect more deeply with colleagues, learn more about Signify Health’s mission and help the teams who support field-based clinicians, like her, better understand what happens during in-home visits.
“I hope our colleagues better understand what we experience day to day in the field,” Ev said. “There are always opportunities to make the experience smoother for both clinicians and members.”
When asked to sum up what she hopes to take from the Clinician Advisory Council, Ev chose one word: community.
It is a fitting word for the work she does every day. In members’ homes and communities, connection can mean helping someone understand the purpose of a visit, creating a sense of comfort or recognizing when a member needs urgent care.
For Ev, community is built through trust, preparation and a willingness to understand the realities members and clinicians face every day.
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.
Reference to Signify Health herein refers to Signify Health, LLC and its contracted independent physician owned entities to which it provides administrative services, including Signify Health Medical Associates, PLLC; Brookview Medical Associates, PLLC; Signify Health Medical Associates of California, P.C.; Signify Health Medical Associates of New Jersey, LLC; and Signify Health Medical Associates of Kansas, LLC.