Pam is a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner who sees patients at the Essentia health Breast Center who are coming in for Clinical breast exams, to discuss breast problems they may be having or to provide patients their survivorship care plan and treatments summary after a breast cancer diagnosis. Also, Pam has been instrumental in starting an Essentia Heath Breast High-Risk Clinic. Patients who see Pam are there for a variety of reasons. Pam treats each patient as an individual and takes all the time needed to listen to each patient's story and reasons for being there. Pam has a calming presence and is able to relate to each and every patient that she meets to explain what their individual plan of care will be. She works with the nurses, radiology staff and providers in the Breast Health Center to provide individualized care to each patient with a professional and personal relationship. She corroborates with staff to be sure each patient gets the care and time they need. If a patient travels a distance she will work with her department to be sure they are served at the time they are there.
Pam has done extensive research to put together a program that will best serve patients that are seen at Essentia Health, she has been going to neighborhood Clinics in the Duluth areas to educate the providers on the patients that should be seen at the High Rick Clinic, establishing a great rapport with providers and has been having increasing numbers of patients referred to the program. She works with the primary care providers, radiologist, and genetic counselors to be sure patients get the follow-up, imaging and testing they need.
Pam is one of the providers that meets with patients to provide them with tier Survivorship Car Plan and Treatment Summary after a breast cancer diagnosis. She will talk with patients about short and long term side effects of their diagnosis and treatment, which can be very personal. Pam will, often, be seeing these patients for their breast care follow-up for many years after a breast cancer diagnosis.
Pam is a huge asset. She wears many hats, she is compassionate, professional. A patient advocate, and a counselor as well as a friend to each and every patient and their families. She demonstrates the EssentiaHealth core values in so many ways.