I have been working with Jessica for the past 4 years, and during that time, she has been by far the best nurse I have ever worked with. She is the Cardiology nurse navigator in Omak, and while this title emphasizes that she is more than a nurse, it does not do justice to what she brings day in and day out for our patients in Okanogan County. Jessica is the primary contact for cardiology patients in the entire county and constantly engages with patients on the phone or through the EMR to ensure they are getting the care they need when they need it. She triages, helps identify care gaps, coordinates care within our numerous disparate health systems, communicates constantly with patients and families, and bridges patient needs with their cardiology providers in a seamless and thorough fashion.

Thousands of patients are under her care, and many are the sickest in the region. She knows them all and often knows their social circumstances and families. Jessica cares and demonstrates incredible grace and compassion each and every day. It is remarkable. With almost no resources and working on an island by herself in Omak, she shows up every day. She delivers the best care imaginable to an underserved and under-resourced population. Jessica has been working without an MA for almost 5 months, and in this time, her ability to keep our practices running smoothly is incredible. She comes in early, leaves late, and even answers questions and coordinates schedules and care delivery on her days off. Most importantly, Jessica is a trusted colleague and one of the most compassionate, resourceful, and friendly persons I’ve ever known. She is always there for the other staff and her nursing partners and is a trusted advisor and mentor. I can’t think of a more committed and valuable employee of Confluence Health.

Today, a young patient was having progressive heart failure. She called Jessica who rapidly identified the situation, and over the course of 2 hours, worked to coordinate advanced cardiac care for the patient that would potentially keep the patient out of the hospital while also ensuring the care was exactly what the patient needed in the moment. Over the phone, I could tell the patient was in tears with gratitude. This is what Jessica does every day, and after all this work, she simply went on to help the next patient. Her ability to manage the entire cardiac population of a US county, 7 provider practices, and countless additional requests serves as a reminder that excellence is rare and cannot be taken for granted. Without Jessica, cardiac care in North Central Washington would be crippled. For countless patients in Okanogan County, Jessica is the difference between life and death. For me and my cardiology colleagues, Jessica is our lifeline and keeps our practices organized and focused on delivering the best care possible.

As I contemplate what the award means and how meaningful it is, I cannot think of a more exemplary recipient than Jessica. I have been practicing cardiology in North Central Washington since 2009 and, prior to that, served 10 years as a physician in the US Navy. Without reservation, Jessica is the best nurse I’ve had the honor of working with.