“It was one of my most rewarding nursing jobs,” Rachel said. “Unlike other jobs, you're with the patient for a very long time. So, you learn an even greater depth of empathy because they're going through so much over such a long period of time. You also develop the skills to build relationships with family members.”
From there, she went back to school to become a nurse practitioner, looking to challenge herself and offer more to patients. Today, she works at Signify Health.
Rachel has dedicated her career to helping people, and she’s still going. After years of experience, she continues to contribute to the community and took the next step in her career at Signify Health to become a clinical field mentor.
The Clinician Field Mentor program fosters a relationship between seasoned Signify Health clinicians and new recruits who have the opportunity to shadow and receive support.
“I took the clinician field mentor position to just expand what I do and learn more,” Rachel said. “I get to talk to more people in the company and have more connections.”
Rachel said she always “felt very supported” throughout her time at Signify Health. Serving as a clinician field mentor is just one avenue she can help give back to others, she said.
The In-Home Health Evaluation (IHE) generally allows for more time with members than in a hospital setting, Rachel said. Signify Health clinicians close gaps in care and have the opportunity to gently provide advice on how members can live healthier lives.
She spends up to an hour inside member’s homes assessing their comprehensive health.
“Unlike in the hospital, the IHE puts you in the member’s environment. They're at their most comfortable in their home, and you get to see how they really live,” Rachel said. “You can touch on things that you might not notice in the hospital or an office setting and get them the help they need.”
Being in the member’s home provides an opportunity to give tips, Rachel said. She advises members to remove rugs if she sees potential fall risks. She shares healthy meal ideas or food swaps if she sees a member relies on fast food and provides education on medication timing if she sees their pill bottles are disorganized or full.
“I gently provide advice on how they could live a better life more safely and also provide local resources and make sure they're following up as needed with both their primary care provider and their specialists,” Rachel said. “Members are very grateful for the visit, and then I do feel like I'm making an impact on their lives.”
One of Rachel’s favorite things about Signify Health is the flexibility.
She moved from Ohio to Denver specifically for the outdoor lifestyle, she said. When she’s not working, she’s hiking mountains, paddleboarding, doing yoga or training for a marathon.
She relishes that her role allows for time to travel to see family in Ohio too.
“I love that I benefit from flexibility, freedom and work-life balance all while working full-time. These perks aren’t offered by every employer,” Rachel said. “It is a very nice change from the pace of a busy hospital. I can focus on one person at a time without the stress of ringing phones and [nurse] call lights.”
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.