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Your doctor can be a great resource to help guide you toward a healthier life. But every so often, you might need professional health advice immediately--advice that you can't necessarily get from a quick Google search. Maybe you're dealing with a chronic condition and don't have the time, energy or money to make an appointment with your physician for every little question. Dealing with a chronic illness can be confusing and challenging, and it might seem like you need a go-to person who can address all your concerns as they come up. The good news is, those people do exist! They are called Personal Nurses, and they may be available at no cost through your insurance provider. We interviewed Jessica, a Personal Nurse at Humana, to find out what these professionals can do for you. She also gave us some great tips on how to get the most out of your doctor's visits, how to effectively cope with a chronic illness, and more--so take notes! What exactly is a Personal Nurse? Personal Nurses provide support, guidance and education to help members navigate a healthy lifestyle. Via telephone, we help members set healthy-living goals, guide them through the healthcare system more efficiently, support them in building relationships with their providers and answer general health-related questions. What are the most common chronic illnesses you see in your practice? Diabetes, heart disease and obesity are some of the most common and preventable chronic conditions that we see at staggering rates. What causes chronic illnesses? Multiple factors contribute to these--and many other--chronic conditions. Some of the most recognized, important and modifiable factors include unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use. There are other factors to consider, like age and genetics, which we cannot change. However, if we work hard to manage those modifiable factors of diet, activity and lifestyle, we can help to offset some of the impact. What are some of the most important steps people can take to ward off chronic illnesses?
A chronic illness diagnosis can be very scary, confusing and certainly overwhelming. Knowledge is power when it comes to managing these illnesses. Recognizing the importance of taking an active role in care can help make the process less overwhelming.
Emotional well-being has a significant impact on physical well-being, and vice versa. It’s important to reflect regularly on how you are feeling emotionally. Recognize changes, and be willing to address them with your doctor and support system as needed. Think of coping mechanisms as tools in your tool box--things you do or use to help you manage your feelings. Exercise, guided imagery, meditation and deep breathing are great tools to incorporate into your daily routine. What are some ways to get the most out of your doctor's visits when you're living with a chronic illness?
When a loved one is managing a chronic illness, it’s important to let him or her know that you care and are willing to offer support as needed. As often as you can, make yourself available to accompany him or her to appointments, talk through treatment options, or even give gentle medication reminders. All of these things can help ease the responsibility he or she is learning to balance. Remember that it’s not your job to fix anything for your loved one, but give him or her the opportunity to vent. The ear and shoulder of a trusted friend can often be the best medicine. What is the best part about your job? The most amazing part of my job is helping members take that first small step toward an important goal. As an example, a member I'm helping might need to test his blood sugar every morning and fill his prescriptions every month. But there's a problem--after paying for bus fare to get to his frequent appointments, he has no money left to pay for his supplies and medications. As a Personal Nurse, I’m able to guide the member to a medical transportation service available in his community that offers visits on a sliding scale, so he pays what he can actually afford based on his income. With that stress aside, we are now able to focus on the task at hand: managing his condition. What motivates you? I am motivated by seeing people take their health into their own hands. I get such satisfaction and fulfillment when a member is excited to tell me that he or she reached a major goal. That excitement is so contagious, and it helps give him or her the needed momentum to plan for the next big goal. The greater reward is when members come to recognize just how impactful those small steps are in the bigger picture of a healthier life. You work with people for an extended period of time. Can you talk about some extra-special caring/personal relationships that have developed? I worked with a retired health professional over many months. She was excited to finally shift her focus and start managing her own needs instead of primarily those of her patients (as so many health workers do). She was frustrated by her inability to lose the extra weight she’d gained in recent years, which was now causing her diabetes to worsen. We spent months identifying what factors she could change--food choices, timing of medications, exercise options--to make the most progress toward weight loss and blood sugar control. She knew what needed to change, and she knew what was reasonable for her to consider. With the help of resources within Humana’s Vitality program and my guidance, this member was able to get down to 1.2 pounds away from her goal weight within a few months. Even better, she was also able to get her A1c within range on just half her usual dose of medication. She appreciated the opportunity to be the patient in our relationship, and said the accountability of my contact and her Humana pedometer from Vitality helped her to stay on track to reach her goals. Are you available all the time if someone needs help? If so, how do you manage your time? As a Personal Nurse, I am available during normal business hours, with the ability to flex to meet members' needs until 9 pm. This means that I can adjust my work hours to accommodate those members who work during our normal business hours. Since a primary goal of our service is to help empower members to self-manage, I focus on guiding members to resources that they can leverage independently, like Humana’s 24-hour Nurse Advice Line for Medicare members. The ability to flex to meet member needs means I also have flexibility in my time. This allows me to maintain a balance, thus making me a better nurse, mother and wife! Thanks, Jessica! Check with your health insurance provider to explore your options for a Personal Nurse. You can learn more about Humana Personal Nurses here. |
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