This Thanksgiving is special for me as I remember my tenth anniversary of being diagnosed with Central Nervous System Lymphoma. Looking back over the last ten years makes me grateful that I am still here. Facing your mortality and looking at an uncertain future is...
I have been involved in some complex and challenging cases lately. As I reflect on my role, I realize that my role is mainly as a disruptor. Yes, case managers are disrupters. We are in place to disrupt the status quo. If you have not experienced the healthcare system...
I don’t talk politics on my Blog, but I want to remind everyone registered to vote in their state to make sure they vote on or before November 5th. Don’t say or think your vote doesn’t matter. IT MATTERS! Voting on November 5th is probably the most important thing you...
The healthcare system is complex, fragmented, and costly. People (patients and caregivers) are caught in the middle and struggle daily to make sense of a convoluted system that works like no other service industry we utilize daily. So, how does the average consumer...
It’s Case Management Week, and I want to share a story about my first encounter with a patient, which led me to a career in case management. I first learned about case management in 1984 when I worked in Philadelphia in the Respiratory ICU. I was caring for a...
Whether you are on Medicare or a Medicare Advantage program, open enrollment allows you the opportunity to review your plan and make necessary changes so you are prepared for “What Ifs’. To confuse things more, Medicare open enrollment is also known as the...
As a nurse case manager, I know having a good primary care physician to partner with on my healthcare journey is essential. I have tried several doctors in my community over the years, but I felt we never were on the same page. They were always so busy; the...
In this post, I want to remind readers that September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Each of us has a role in helping to recognize people in distress and help them work through dark times. Recognizing the signs of depression and other mental health conditions...
I started posting an article to remember 9/11 on September 11, 2015, and have repeated it every year since as a reminder of what happened on September 11, 2001. As a reminder, September 11, 2001, was a beautiful sunny day till a well-coordinated terrorist group...
September has always been the month I have made career changes. It is because this is the time of year when school starts, and we all begin with a clean slate. Over the holiday weekend, I had time to reflect on my career. I have had a great career, with some great...
Have you heard about GIMMERS? Recently, there has been a lot of talk about GIMMERS and how recognizing and embracing them can improve our lives. In this post, I want to introduce you to GIMMERS so you can recognize them when they come into your life. The term GLIMMERS...
In this post, I review a new book that will be released in early October that guides healthcare leaders, specifically nurse leaders, in addressing the ills of our broken healthcare system. I contributed to the book and wrote Chapter 16, Taking Care of You. In this...
I hope you are having a good summer! I wanted to share some of my writing for this week’s post. After reviewing them for this post, I found they are still pertinent and can help you personally and professionally. Take a look. If you have not read them, download...
When I started writing my Blog, Nurse Advocate, in 2016, I said I wanted to accomplish three things: To educate people ( and caregivers) on how to be their own best advocates when they are thrust into the complex healthcare system To educate healthcare professionals...
As a new retiree, I reflect on how I prepared to be where I am today. Looking back, I realized that I started preparing when I was 30. It was 1984, and I was working for a Risk Management Company. 401Ks were being introduced by employers. The company I worked for had...
I hope you are having a good summer. Many are on vacation, resting, and spending time with their families, so I want to keep this post short and to the point. When you return to your usual routine, make sure you are registered to vote in the November election. If you...
Since 2016, I have shared my Summer Reading list with Nurses Advocate readers, social media followers, and family and friends. The 2024 Summer Reading List is robust and will provide interesting reads for Summer Reading and Beyond. I thank all who have contributed to...
