Personal Care Management Nurses
— The People Behind the Program

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could openly discuss your health issues and any related health questions...with someone who also just happens to be a nurse? With MedCost’s Personal Care Management (PCM) program, you have that opportunity. PCM is a nurse health coaching program that allows you to work one-on-one with a personal nurse health coach to establish specific, measurable goals for improving health through supportive, monthly phone calls.

We realize that it can be a little intimidating to discuss the details of your health with a stranger, so we want to help you get to know the people behind the program by introducing you to two of our PCM nurses, Mary Ahern and Becky Miller. Mary and Becky help to motivate participants to stick with the program and reach their goals; provide education about specific condition(s) and treatment options; recommend medical services to fill any potential gaps in care; and evaluate participants’ progress.

After just one conversation with a PCM nurse, you will discover how easy it is to share your health care concerns and make a plan toward your better health.

Mary has over 32 years of nursing experience. Prior to joining MedCost’s PCM program, she was part of the neurosurgery unit at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, worked in intensive care with a primary focus in neurosurgery at NC Baptist Hospital, and was employed at Forsyth Neurosurgery. Mary is a Certified Neurosurgery Nurse Specialist and also a Certified Case Manager.

One of her most impressive qualifications, however, is her attitude toward helping others achieve better health.

"I love my involvement with the Personal Care Management program because I get to help patients work toward a healthier lifestyle. I believe that health and wellness is a little different for everyone. To a participant with a chronic condition that is poorly controlled, it may mean small changes that eventually lead to better control of the disease. To a participant who has just suffered his or her first cardiac event, it may mean learning ways to prevent future problems. And to those who have health risks but no active health issues, it may mean changing behaviors now to prevent future illness. I try to remember that all participants are different, not just their medical needs but their personalities as well, and I work to personalize my recommendations to fit their particular lifestyles and needs."

Becky has over 21 years of nursing experience. Before joining the PCM program, she worked in critical care at Presbyterian Hospital, served as an instructor and educator for Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab, and was a caregiver, educator, team leader, and Director of Nursing for Hospice. Becky is a Certified End of Life Nurse Educator and also is certified in Hospice and Palliative Care.

Becky’s varied nursing experiences give her a unique insight on the role that people must play in directing the course of their own health, and she happily shares that knowledge with PCM participants.

My nursing career experiences have spanned the full range of adult medicine, from the onset of disease, through aggressive treatment measures and education to battle disease, and finally to hospice care where treatment is no longer disease-focused but patient-focused. During those years with Hospice, I witnessed how important it is for people to be included in the decision-making process of their care, and it was in that spirit that I joined MedCost to work with the Personal Care Management program. I think we are in a critical phase in health care, and it is imperative that our members are empowered to take charge of their own health and see how managing their health risks and working to prevent disease is doable through education, commitment, and self-accountability.

If you are invited to participate in the program, we hope you will enroll and choose to become more proactive in your health care. If you want to learn more about MedCost’s Personal Care Management program, visit our web site at www.medcost.com or call 1-800-722-2157 (ext. 6509).

 
 
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