Alpha leads the HIV Nurse Navigation Program. She advocates for her patients and works particularly hard as she works with many patients who have difficulty managing their medication due to polypharmacy and complicated regimens.
For example, Alpha has recently cared for a patient who is on over six different medications and was overwhelmed and completely stopped taking his medications. Alpha met with him individually at the request of the clinician. Using shared decision making with the patient that respects his freedom and dignity, they developed a plan and she provided him a daily schedule and a weekly pill box. This care plan was discussed with the clinic team and his HIV primary care provider. The patient start taking his medication as recommended and has not missed his medication and his follow up appointments. Since this time, the patient has an undetectable HIV viral load and his HTN is also under control.
Through the work of Alpha, this success has been achieved time and time again, with a profound impact on the patient's health, risk for costly morbidity and hospitalization associated with a weakened immune system and risk for mortality. Alpha demonstrated excellence through her clinical expertise and compassionate care.