Close to Home: Meet Brie Dawson, Signify Health Nurse Practitioner
At Signify Health, a CVS Health® company, our mission is to build trusted relationships to make people healthier. Our national network of more than 12,000 clinicians works to help people gain a more comprehensive view of their health by conducting In-Home Health Evaluations (IHEs). During an IHE, clinicians identify chronic conditions, close gaps in care, and address social determinants of health, making it possible for health plan members to get connected to the right care for their unique needs.
We’re proud to showcase the clinicians helping us build a more connected, effective care experience for all – and their personal stories that make this important work feel #ClosetoHome. This is Brie’s story.
Sometimes, helping health plan members reengage with their health requires more than medical knowledge. For Brie Dawson, in addition to referring members to their respective health plans for case management and other support, providing a connection to resources available in the members’ communities feels just as important as capturing vital signs. During her nearly six years with Signify Health, she’s amassed a great deal of knowledge about the organizations providing help to people in her Oklahoma City community.
“I sometimes see the poorest of the poor. These members are dealing with a lot and don’t know where to turn,” she said. “I’m a resource guru. I know where to send health plan members for support.”
For example, during a recent visit, Brie asked a member about his diet. He admitted he only had one can of food remaining in his kitchen. He used a wheelchair and lived on his own. Thanks to Brie’s efforts to connect the member with a local faith-based organization, he received a generous amount of food and medical supplies he desperately needed.
During another visit, Brie noted a husband and wife did not have an accessible way to enter and exit their home. Once again, she knew where to refer the couple. Weeks later, a group of volunteers had added a deck and ramp to their home. By communicating with members about the health plan and community resources that are available to them, Brie finds that members are more apt to become more engaged with their health care and to seek primary care or more urgent/emergency care when needed.
Brie believes the In-Home Health Evaluation delivers a unique value to health plan members. Meeting people in their homes provides clinicians with a better sense of their needs.
“Signify Health is a real asset to our health care system. So many things can get skipped over when people have limited time with their doctor,” Brie said. “If they don’t feel comfortable or don’t have time to bring up all their concerns, important things can get overlooked.”
In addition to socio-economic challenges, Brie finds time to discuss the importance of diet and the links between healthy eating and a healthy life. She also encounters members with mental health concerns, including loneliness, depression and anxiety. She uses these opportunities to discuss the benefits of counseling and to refer members to their primary care provider for additional assessment treatment options.
“I feel so lucky to be in this position, to get to know health plan members and spend up to an hour of time in their homes discussing their medical and emotional needs,” she said. “I enjoy spending one-to-one time with people. It’s my calling.”
Brie came to work for Signify Health shortly after passing the nurse practitioner board exam. Unlike some clinicians who juggle IHEs with a full-time job elsewhere, Brie works exclusively for Signify Health. She appreciates the ability to balance her responsibilities as a clinician with role as a mom to two children, including a son with a disability.
“Signify Health has been so welcoming and supportive. Overall, the time I spend with members has been such a positive experience. My schedule is flexible - that’s why I’ve stayed,” she said.
When she’s not completing IHEs, Brie enjoys time with her children, including taking her daughter to volleyball practice and choir rehearsals.