Susan Watson
PRATTSVILLE,AR
Summary
Compassionate Care Navigator with expertise in care navigation, home health, public health, and chronic care management. Facilitates patient education, documentation, medication support, and care coordination. Leverages strong communication and collaboration skills to enhance patient outcomes and streamline healthcare processes.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Care Navigator
Vivocare
Austin, Texas
04.2024 - Current
- Coordinated Vivocare care plans with patients, families, and clinical teams.
- Guided patients through appointments, referrals, and follow-up care steps.
- Communicated coverage, service options, and resource details to patients.
- Resolved patient concerns with clear, compassionate support.
- Collaborated with nurses, social workers, and case managers on care coordination.
- Updated Vivocare workflows to streamline patient navigation and handoffs.
- Educated and counseled patients and caregivers on medication usage, disease management and diagnoses.
- Counseled patients on how best to manage chronic illnesses and adhere to prescribed treatments.
Care Management Team Lead
Chronic Care Staffing
Charleston, SC
07.2021 - 12.2023
- Provided training and oversight to 12-member staff in chronic care management unit.
- Provided feedback to care coordinators on charting and call quality from chart audit findings, ensuring compliance with CCS standards for care management.
- Served as "player coach," leading by example while encouraging team toward goals.
- Tracked call volume and productivity metrics for assigned care coordinators, facilitating performance evaluations and team support.
- Conducted training sessions for new employees.
- Assisted supervisor in performing annual performance appraisals, contributing to staff development and team effectiveness.
- Supported positive work environment with respectful relationships and strong staff morale.
- Supported use of computerized resource and patient management system (RPMS) and electronic health record (EHR) system.
Home Health Nurse
LHC Group
Bryant, AR
07.2020 - 06.2021
- Assess and chart observations of the patient’s condition at each visit.
- Complete evaluation tasks, including reviewing medication and vital signs.
- Administer Physician-prescribed medication.
- Dress or redress wounds and assess the healing progress.
- Provide education to patients and families on proper home health care procedures and strategies.
- Coordinate with Physicians, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and other individuals in the patient’s care plan.
- Charted changes in patient conditions and collaborated with supervising healthcare provider to address concerns and adjust care plans.
- Assisted with client personal care needs to foster independence and well-being.
- Responded to patient calls, assessed concerns and delivered appropriate assistance according to facility protocols.
- Collected biological samples for routine laboratory testing to assist diagnostic processes.
- Notified physicians of changes in patients' conditions.
Phone Triage Nurse
Uamshealth
Little Rock, AR
06.2019 - 07.2020
- Rendered telephone advice according to established guidelines and protocols.
- Answered incoming patient calls, gathering history and symptoms to determine scope of medical complaints.
- Communicated triage information to primary care team to ensure appropriate patient disposition.
- Educated patients on health care urgency and available community resources to facilitate timely care.
- Responded to emergency situations with speed, expertise and level-headed approaches to provide optimal care, support and life-saving interventions.
- Maintained strict patient data procedures to comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Collected data to represent symptom onset, presenting problem and medical diagnoses.
- Advocated for patient needs within interdisciplinary team to effectively implement treatment plans.
Public Health Nurse
Arkansas Department of Health
Sheridan, AR
05.2012 - 05.2019
- Conducted blood draws and provided STD treatment to patients in a clinical setting.
- Conducted interviews with Family Planning clients and provided medications. Supported APRN in LARC methods.
- Administered TB DOT medications
- Case managed Breastcare program
- Identified unusual issues, cluster infections, and known pathogens in patient records, facilitating prompt outbreak response and containment.
- Planned and coordinated patient and family teaching and health education.
- Provided patients with vaccinations with consideration for dosage requirements, contraindications and possible side effects.
- Developed outreach materials and conducted presentations to promote healthy habits and practices, enhancing community health awareness.
- Provided education on community health resources in correctional facilities, community centers, and churches, improving access to vital services.
- Tested clients for common conditions and referred to other community resources based on specific needs.
Home Health Nurse
Arkansas Department of Health
Sheridan, AR
07.2007 - 05.2012
- Completed initial assessments of patients and families to identify and address individual home care needs, facilitating tailored care plans.
- Addressed patient care needs by collecting vitals, dressing wounds, and managing catheters to ensure comprehensive care.
- Administered prescribed medications and started intravenous fluids to address patient symptoms and underlying etiologies.
- Charted changes in patient conditions and discussed concerns with supervising healthcare provider.
- Notified physicians of changes in patients' conditions.
- Collected biological samples for routine laboratory testing to assist diagnostic processes.
- Participated in on-call rotations, delivering timely after-hours care to support patient needs outside regular hours.
Home Health Nurse
Baptist Health Medical Center
Little Rock, AR
01.2000 - 07.2007
- Completed initial assessments of patients and family to determine and address individual home care needs.
- Administered prescribed medications and initiated intravenous fluids to effectively manage patient symptoms.
- Addressed patient care needs, collected vitals, dressed wounds and managed catheters.
- Documented changes in patient conditions and communicated concerns to supervising healthcare provider to inform care decisions.
- Notified physicians of changes in patients' conditions.
- Collected biological samples for routine laboratory testing to assist diagnostic processes.
- Participated in on-call rotations and delivered after-hours care.
- Collaborated with medical equipment vendors to ensure timely delivery of supplies. on provision of medical equipment, supplies and services.
Education
LPN - Nursing
Baptist School of Practical Nursing
Little Rock, AR12-1995
Skills
- Chronic disease management
- Care coordination
- Medication management and review
- Patient assessment and planning
- Patient education and coaching
- Community health advocacy
- EHR documentation
- Healthcare access facilitation
- Patient outcome improvement
- Resource referral
- Workflow optimization
- Interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork
- Clinical communication
- Staff training and development
- Process improvement strategies
- Problem-solving skills
- Critical thinking abilities
- Patient advocacy initiatives
- Healthcare systems knowledge
- Patient data protection measures
- Patient intake assessment
- Critical thinking
- Patient advocacy
- Healthcare systems
- Patient data protection
- Patient intake assessment
- Patient education
Accomplishments
EHR Superuser when Arkansas Department of Health switched from paper records to electronic health records. Trained employees all over the state for several months while EHR was being implemented.
Promoted from CCM care manager to Care Coordinator Team Leader , in less than 12-months
Timeline
Care Navigator
Vivocare
04.2024 - Current
Care Management Team Lead
Chronic Care Staffing
07.2021 - 12.2023
Home Health Nurse
LHC Group
07.2020 - 06.2021
Phone Triage Nurse
Uamshealth
06.2019 - 07.2020
Public Health Nurse
Arkansas Department of Health
05.2012 - 05.2019
Home Health Nurse
Arkansas Department of Health
07.2007 - 05.2012
Home Health Nurse
Baptist Health Medical Center
01.2000 - 07.2007
LPN - Nursing
Baptist School of Practical Nursing