One member was hesitant to proceed with the appointment. “I don’t know if I need this visit,” Luisa recalls the member saying.
Seeking to reassure the member, Luisa explained the benefits of the visit, including everything she would look for. The member agreed.
During that IHE, Luisa saw the warning signs: The woman complained of swelling in her legs and had a high blood pressure reading. But she hadn’t seen a primary care provider in over a year, and her next appointment was still three months away.
Luisa referred the member to the emergency department to rule out an emergent heart issue and encouraged her not to wait for her primary care visit.
Emergency department doctors let the women know that she was retaining fluid.
The member reached out to Signify Health to share an update. In the update, the member said she “was so grateful” and said, “I thought the visit was something that I really didn’t need but I’m so thankful that [Luisa] came.”
The member’s follow-up call to Signify Health filled Luisa with joy to know that the visit was as meaningful to the member as it was to Luisa.
“My heart was very full, and I told my husband this is why I went into health care nine years ago,” Luisa said. “This is the validation that I need, and it's just these little events that are scattered through my experience that give me that drive to keep doing what I'm doing.”
Since she was 5 years old, Luisa knew she wanted to be a nurse.
“I remember watching the news and then I told my parents ‘I want to be like those people who run toward the disaster and help people’,” Luisa said. “They bought me a little doctor kit and it stuck with me ever since.”
Today she looks at her nearly 4-year-old daughter and remembers her childhood dreams are fulfilled.
While working to get her NP degree, Luisa’s professor instilled the importance of connecting with patients and prioritizing that connection despite having a large workload. It’s a reminder she carries to this day as she sees members in Washington.
“Put a hand on their shoulder even if they're not here for a complaint and they have no issues. Find that time to be there and sit with them and make that connection,” Luisa said. “That's what I love about this position. I get to see how they live in their home and what goes on in their daily life.”
Luisa’s approach to the IHE focuses on deeply listening. When she visits members she not only seeks to understand their past medical history but also their current health status to get a full picture of their health and needs.
Ultimately supporting the member is what she’s trained her whole life for, she said.
“I love my position,” Luisa said. “This is a great opportunity as a clinician to be a part of such a wonderful team.”
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.