herited the family’s high risk for heart issues so that
he can sidestep future problems. Best of all, Stewart
says he now has the energy to do the things he loves.
“I can go see Garrett’s football games,” he says. “I was
too sick to do that before.”
Filling the Gaps
Another Valley Health patient-focused initiative is Care Gaps. A pilot program
aimed at arranging vital screening tests, Care Gaps helps patients at
four family-medicine practices affiliated with Page Memorial Hospital stay
up to date on screenings such as mammograms, DEXA bone density scans
and colon cancer tests, according to Care Gaps leader and outpatient navigator
Tina C. Switzer, MSN, CNL.
“In the first months of the program, we scheduled 60 people who needed
screenings,” Switzer says. “Forty-six came in for a free appointment to review
their medical history and care gaps; others were counseled during a phone
appointment. We arranged 20 mammograms and 37 bone density tests for
these patients. We also offer other needed preventive care, such as vaccines
for the flu, pneumonia and tetanus, and when appropriate, we help women
schedule a Pap smear.”
Care Gaps visits are available at no charge. “You are getting a free, halfhour
visit with a nurse that’s focused on your health,” Switzer says. “We end
up helping with all sorts of health needs, from weight loss to quitting smoking
to fitting in exercise—whatever is important to our patients. One time we
put in an order for a wheeled cart for a patient with COPD who loves to walk,
so she can get outdoors with her oxygen canister. When people leave these
visits, they’re thrilled.”
“Helping those with chronic diseases is a high priority for Valley Health,”
explains David Switzer, MD, medical director, Primary Care, Valley Partners.
“Based on the data our team gathers from patients at all Valley Health hospitals,
practices and care centers, we estimate that only 42 percent of patients
with diabetes and 68 percent with hypertension have had the recommended
interventions, such as tests and laboratory screenings for complications.
Nurse navigation and care gap management, along with MD Revolution, a
telephonic/electronic chronic care management service used by some local
physician practices, can dramatically improve patients’ quality of life. If you
or a family member has one or more chronic medical conditions, I strongly
encourage you to ask your care provider if you might benefit from one of
Valley Health’s chronic care management programs.”
→ Visit valleyhealthlink.com/chronicdisease for more information.
fall 2 0 1 8 1 5
← Chris Stewart can
now spend more
quality time with his
son, Garrett.
solutions for financial and practical problems getting in the
way of better health—whether it’s talking with your doctor
about a more affordable medication, finding a ride to doctor
visits, or fitting a healthy meal into your busy day.” There
are currently 700 patients working with the Valley Health
team of seven nurse navigators and one social worker.
For Stewart, the benefits go beyond better blood sugar
numbers and a stronger heart. Nurse navigators may
enlist help from family members, which for Stewart
included support from his father-in-law. Stewart is also
working with Garrison to see if his son, Garrett, has in
