I expect telemedicine to continue on its current trajectory, I believe it is here to stay. We've seen over this past year that we are able to treat many issues over the phone, issues that may have previously required an in-person visit.
1. Tell us about your upbringing, background, and journey?
Ever since I was young, I've always been interested in being of service to others. After I graduated with my undergraduate degree, I spent two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon, Central Africa where my life path led me to a career in healthcare.
In Cameroon, I have the opportunity to work with a good friend and local doctor who treated his patients despite very challenging conditions (lack of potable water and reliable electricity, language barriers, lack of financing, etc.). His work and dedication to the people of Cameroon inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare.
When I returned back to the US, I prepared to become a nurse practitioner (NP) and graduated from Columbia University with a bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degree in nursing. Many countries do not have the nurse practitioner profession which is essentially a registered nurse who has gone back to school to receive additional training at the master's and/or doctorate level in nursing.
Similar to physicians, we treat patients in a variety of settings, perform procedures (though not invasive surgery), write prescriptions, perform physical exams, and spend a large portion of our time educating our patients on their health and well-being.
Nurse practitioners often advocate for the health of their patients, help them navigate through the challenging healthcare system, and work in partnership with their patients to provide the best possible health outcomes.
I've worked in multiple types of healthcare settings around the country including community health, primary care, urgent care, and telemedicine. I've treated patients of all ages and from all backgrounds.
Aside from my clinical work, I have been actively involved in the profession including publishing a book titled "The Ultimate Nurse Practitioner Guidebook" which is a guide to help others who want to be a nurse practitioner. I also previously ran a mentoring business for NPs and have taught NP students at the graduate level.
2. Why did you choose to be a healthcare provider and what qualities do you think one needs to do so?
I chose to become a healthcare provider when I lived in Africa I saw a deep need for access to quality affordable healthcare. People were dying at enormous rates of preventable diseases, or lack of funds to pay for their healthcare.
Seeing such suffering, much of it unnecessary, I knew that I could make a small dent in the world by working in healthcare. Taking care of patients is a calling for many of us, and it extends not only to our professional life but our personal life as well.
Now that I've been in the field for some time I realize that a lack of good health and lack of access to quality care affects everything we do. When people don't feel well, they can't live up to their potential, contribute to the world as they would if they felt better, or live the life they desire. My mentality is "feel better do better", and my goal is to help my patients feel as well as they can which in turn creates an upward trend in their lives.
I think the qualities a successful healthcare provider possesses are compassion and empathy for what their patients are going through. There should also be the desire to continue to learn and educate oneself as medicine is always changing, there are many things we don't know and it's important to stay humble. It's also essential to listen to the patient to understand what they are going through and to clearly understand what their healthcare goals may be.
3. We salute your work during the pandemic, where did you get the inspiration to work so hard?
The pandemic was a challenge to the healthcare system on so many levels. During this time I worked 2-3 jobs taking care of patients via telemedicine and also teaching future NP students. I saw that through telemedicine, I was able to help my patients access medical care as they did not need to leave their homes for the visit (unless they had an issue that warranted an in-person evaluation).
I was also able to reach and provide care for those who may not have had access to in-person care in their geographic region. The inspiration to work hard comes from the desire to provide the best possible care that I can to my patients who were not only feeling well physically but who also had a lot of anxiety and fear due to the pandemic.
4. How do you expect digital health/telemedicine to grow over the next 5 years?
I expect telemedicine to continue on its current trajectory, I believe it is here to stay. We've seen over this past year that we are able to treat many issues over the phone, issues that may have previously required an in-person visit.
This saves the patient time and money and is also very convenient for them. I think that telemedicine will continue to be in high demand and that many clinics will continue to provide this service for their patients.
5. What are your concerns about Digital Health?
A concern I have about telemedicine is that many people think it should be a substitute for in-person care. I believe telemedicine is a wonderful addition to in-person care, but should not be a substitute entirely.
There are numerous medical issues that cannot be resolved via telemedicine, and on occasion, it's important to have that face-to-face time with your healthcare provider.
Additionally, patients who do not have access to technology, or those that have challenges using technology may not be able to have a telemedicine appointment so this is a gap that also needs to be addressed.
6. Can you let us know anyone application of Digital Health in your country which has impressed you?
I can't think of one specific platform which I can advocate for over another. However, I will say that I am very impressed at how healthcare clinics and systems across the nation really made changes to be able to provide telemedicine visits for their patients.
As a time of so much uncertainty, we were able to fill a need for a lot of people in this nation. I'm proud of my fellow healthcare workers for stepping up during a very challenging time and continuing to provide excellent care to patients at a very uncertain and fearful time in history.
7. What is your message for encouraging more people to take up this profession and the younger generation?
My message for those who would like to be a health care provider or nurse practitioner is to follow your dreams and not give up. The road to becoming a healthcare provider is not easy, but if that's what you desire, know that you can do it.
Also, realize that your quality care extends beyond the patient visit. If your patient has a good interaction with you and feels better, he/she can then take that energy and go out and do amazing things in the world. You never know the lives you can help by just being a kind and compassionate provider.
8. What does your typical day look like and what do you like to do besides work?
A typical day for me depends on the facility where I am working. For instance, my telemedicine day looks very different than my urgent care in-person day. During the pandemic, I often worked six days a week sometimes seven (depending on the need), though now I've cut back to five.
I address patient concerns which these days are mainly urgent care in nature. I diagnose and treat many infections, refill medications, provide counseling, and encouragement, and refer to specialty care if needed. When I'm in the clinic I often perform procedures and well-person physical exams.
Aside from my work, I am very passionate about animal advocacy and the health of our beautiful planet. I am a vegan for these reasons, but I also see just how beneficial a plant-based diet is in the treatment and prevention of disease. I love to travel and am also a registered yoga teacher.
Nadia Santana - DNP, FNP-BC (Nurse Practitioner)
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Interviewed By: Navya Garg
This interview is sponsored by Plus91 Technologies, a leading Digital Health firm.
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