Meet Tan Bell, RN, a Nurse Champion at Patina, who travels throughout the Charlotte-NC area to provide hands-on care for patients in the comfort of their own homes. Tan coordinates daily with her patients’ care team, which includes a Patina primary care practitioner (PCP) and Health Champion, to ensure they get the care they need to thrive and reach their health goals as they age.
A nurse for more than ten years with a bachelor's degree in nursing from North Carolina AT&T State University, Tan is well-equipped to provide exceptional care to Patina patients – a segment of the population she feels is often overlooked and forgotten in the healthcare system. Before joining Patina, she worked closely with older patients at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Department of Surgery in Baltimore, MD, and as a home health nurse and as a nurse in a long-term care facility.
We asked Tan a few questions about her role as a Nurse Champion, what she enjoys most about supporting patients, and more.
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself. What do you like to do in your spare time? Why did you become a nurse?
My mother, who has been a nurse for more than 30 years, encouraged me to pursue a career in nursing because of my love and compassion for people. I’ve spent a lot of time caring for older adults throughout my career, which led me to take on this role with Patina. I want to be sure that they aren’t forgotten, and are getting the respect and quality of care that they deserve.
In my spare time, I love to spend time with my son, Bricen, as well as get together with family. I enjoy watching movies and binge-watching my favorite shows, eating at Steak 48 Restaurant, and cheering on the Charlotte FC soccer team. And for me, there is no better place to unwind than on a vacation in the Caribbean! I’m also pursuing a Doctorate in Nursing Practice with a concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health.
Q: What were you doing before you joined Patina?
I worked as a virtual nurse and as a skilled home care nurse. I really feel a pull toward caring for older adults, and ensuring they have the support and attention they need from the healthcare system.
Q: What drew you to Patina?
I always loved the concept of home care – that is, caring for clients in the comfort and convenience of their own home. I also enjoy working with older adults. The majority of my nursing experience has involved both, in one way or another. I was thrilled to find that Patina gives me the best of both worlds. I also loved that they are providing a healthcare service that is essential and needed for adults as they age and enter a different phase of life. It’s just very rewarding to know that I’m having a positive impact on people’s lives!
Q: What is the value of seeing patients at home / in their home environment?
I love that Patina is specifically designed to offer patients the convenience of home visits. We can have real, in-person, one-on-one time, without patients having to deal with the hassle of driving to an office, paying for parking, and sitting in a crowded waiting room until it is their turn. Solo visits in the comfort of the home allows me to build relationships and trust with my patients. Our visits are not rushed and I’m not over-scheduled, so I can feel free to take as much time as needed to truly listen to patients, understand their needs, and provide necessary feedback and education so that they can make informed decisions about their care.
And, by using some simple technology, we can connect with the patients’ Patina primary care practitioner while I’m there, conducting a physical exam, listening to the heart and lungs, discussing symptoms and treatment options, and more. We can do pretty much anything at home that can be done in the doctor’s office, but much more conveniently and often without a long appointment wait time.
Another benefit of seeing people in their home environment is that I can see if there are any safety issues in the home – things that might be a fall risk – and get a feel for their general living conditions. Do patients have adequate food? Is the house or apartment clean and being maintained? How are they managing daily prescriptions? All of these are important factors toward good health, and if there are gaps, our team can help address them. This wouldn’t be possible in a clinic or doctor’s office – there’s no substitute for being there in person.
Q: How do you work with your patients at Patina?
Seeing patients in their own homes allows them to be more comfortable and relaxed. As a clinician, it’s a huge benefit to be able to see the person and their living situation. This helps to build a care plan that is fine-tuned to their unique needs and individual goals, and the ability to be attentive if their circumstances change. In my experience, many people are hesitant to speak up if they need help, or they’re willing to simply accept things as they are. At Patina, we think about the whole person – their physical, emotional and social care needs. You can get a lot of insights to this by being with someone in their home environment.
Q: How do you work with patients’ family members who want to stay in the loop and be involved with their loved ones' care?
Patina makes it so easy for the whole family to be involved in the care of their loved one! Everything is so personalized and easy to navigate for our patients and their families. They can arrange appointments to include their families to be present. If that’s not possible, I am always happy to call and provide updates over the phone. We also have an app, which patients and loved ones can access online or through a mobile app, that lets them talk to a member of their care team at any time. They can ask questions about symptoms or treatment, request medication refills or appointments, access medical records, and more. They can do this on the phone, too.
The goal is to make it easy for everyone to stay connected, and not have to ‘save up’ questions for a formal visit. Things pop up all the time. Why wait weeks or months to ask a question? And, for family members who are not nearby, being able to join appointments virtually and connect with the care team provides great peace of mind and makes it easy to be actively involved in care and decision-making.
Q: What is most rewarding about working at Patina?
I am lucky to work in a field and for a company that allows me to build trusting relationships where the patients are comfortable enough to confide in me. I am a strong believer in building trust as a pathway to compliance and better health. I only want the best outcomes for my patients – and the best way to do that is by building strong relationships and keeping communications open. Thank you to Patina for making that a reality!