Betty, a retiree from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, wakes up daily at 5:30 AM and heads to the gym. She walks for an hour and lifts weights.
Despite her healthy routine, Signify Health nurse practitioner Keenya Staten suggested she wear a heart rate monitor during her recent In-Home Health Evaluation. To Betty’s surprise, two weeks of wear revealed abnormal heart rhythms, the interpreting cardiologist told her.
“My initial thought was, well now you've got a heart problem and you're probably having a heart attack and dying,” Betty said. “But I tried my best not to react to that. I said I need to go to the doctor immediately.”
She then took the results to her own cardiologist who confirmed the three episodes. Luckily, the specialist determined Betty didn't need any immediate intervention.
Betty credits the continuous electrocardiogram (cECG) monitor for discovering the heart pattern that other visits and tests couldn’t detect.
Knowing about the condition brings relief, she said.
“It gave me peace of mind,” Betty said. “I am definitely, from this point on, going to keep a close watch on my heart.”
Comfort is Key
Keenya has been with Signify Health for two years and is also a North Carolina resident. She said building rapport with health plan members and making them as comfortable as possible is key before performing any screening or test.
She always begins with the benefits, including the cECG monitor’s ability for early detection and the extent of members who may not have symptoms but can be at risk given their medical history.
“Members may be hesitant about wearing the monitor for two weeks,” Keenya said. “But I explain the benefits of wearing it and the peace of mind that comes from detecting something that you might not have been aware of.”
Addressing Concerns
Keenya always asks members to share their biggest reservation about wearing the heart monitor. This gives her the opportunity to understand a member’s hesitancy and ability to address each question or concern individually.
For example, she tells members the monitor is beneficial for those who have symptoms like dizziness, chest pains or shortness of breath and are unsure of the cause. Keenya highlights the ease of application and encourages members to try it out for just 14 days.
The screening can be useful even if the member is already taking medication for heart issues. If no abnormal heart rhythms are detected while wearing the monitor, it may indicate the treatment is working well. Heart problems can also come and go.
Some members may feel fine and healthy like Betty but could experience heart fluttering or palpitations that they are unable to feel, Keenya said.
For Keenya, building a relationship with members is what brings her joy.
“My favorite thing about the job is the encounters with the members,” Keenya said. “I never meet a stranger. I'm trying to make people feel comfortable in their home.”
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.