From left: Nurses Anna Talbot and Sarah Dobson, Dr Steve McLaughlin, Kobie Simmonds, nurse Lauren Griffiths and Nurse Navigator Jessica Fromholtz stand in front of Emerald Hospital.
Emerald’s Kobie Simmonds feels his health is now in his own hands for the first time thanks to the support of Central Highlands Nurse Navigator Jessica Fromholtz.
Before Jess came into Kobie’s life he had been diagnosed with frontal left temporal lobe epilepsy and was suffering from frequent seizures.
Because he had no family support close by, Kobie’s health was causing him stress and frustration and he was struggling to cope with seizures, appointments, memory loss and day-to-day living.
“Prior to joining this service, I always felt that someone else was making decisions about my health care,” he said.
Nurse and Midwife Navigators are senior, advanced-practice registered nurses who provide a vital service for patients with complex health conditions who require a high degree of comprehensive, clinical care.
They are highly experienced and have an in-depth understanding of the health system, meaning they can support eligible patients navigate the services available.
They ensure patients are directed to the right service, at the right time and in the right place.
They also provide a central point of communication to ensure coordination of services along a patient’s healthcare journey, and improve health literacy, helping patients better understand their conditions and participate in decisions about their health care and improve their health outcomes.
Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CQHHS) has 20 Nurse and Midwife Navigators, including generalists, as well as specialists in older persons, midwifery, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander care.
Kobie says his quality of life has significantly improved since working with his Nurse Navigator Jess.
“She has helped me tremendously as she takes time to explain medical terminology and diagnoses in easy-to-understand terms,” he said. “She regularly checks in with me both before and after appointments, explaining procedures and outcomes. She attends appointments if needed and has helped develop strategies to cope with memory loss and day-to-day activities.
“She has worked with me on my communication skills, so I can ask questions and relay information about how I am feeling in a way that I understand the results.
“Jess is an amazing asset for Queensland Health. She has seen me at my worst and has managed to see me through my epilepsy diagnosis and surgery.
“Although many people and healthcare professionals have helped me get to this stage, I believe Jess has contributed the most, in an everyday way, to ensure my recovery and future is in my hands.”
Jessica finds it incredibly rewarding to be able to make such a difference in the lives of her patients.
“It definitely makes it worthwhile to get up every day and come to work knowing I can have such an impact,” she said.
Learn more about CQHHS’s Nurse Navigator service at: Nurse and midwife navigators | Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service