As part of our work using AI-identified Clinical Coaching to improve health across North London, we are profiling some of the people bringing this to life. Jackie is a Clinical Coach for Health Navigator (HN), on the front line speaking with people to help them improve their health.
Introducing Jackie
I began my nursing career later in life, focusing on raising my two children until my youngest was five. I qualified as a nurse in 2000, and fast forward 25 years, and I now have six grandchildren to add to the mix, which makes for a hectic happy life.
I have had a diverse clinical journey in my career. I started as a surgical and urology nurse before transitioning to the community as a GP practice nurse. I later participated in a telehealth trial, one of the largest randomised controlled trials of telehealth and telecare worldwide. Since then, I have specialised in managing long-term conditions and earned my master’s degree in primary care.
What inspired you to become a Clinical Coach?
My job within telehealth back in 2009 is where I first encountered a form of health coaching. This path then led me to cardiac rehabilitation, where my passion for disease prevention flourished, ultimately inspiring and guiding me into health coaching with HN – where I feel extremely fortunate to be.
When I first interviewed with HN back in 2020, I was impressed by the enthusiasm for preventative care, which at times in health care is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
I am inspired by playing my part in proving that investing in prevention technology will ultimately not only improve the lives of those using the AI-guided Clinical Coaching service, but will also be cost-effective in the long term.
What is the best part of your role?
This job is a one-in-a-million privilege. My medical skills can be used for the sole purpose that I went into my profession for in the first place, to help and care; that’s exactly what this job enables.
Being offered the time to care is a rarity in today’s busy world, especially where appointment times are limited with pushed resources. I look forward to my calls and appreciate being a part of the lives of the people we empower.
On top of that, I am working with like-minded, kind people, all of whom have the same goal in mind.
What is the biggest piece of learning from your role so far?
One size does not fit all in life, especially in health. We all learn about holistic care in our training but at times this gets lost as frequently people are only looked at through the lens of their disease. In this job, you realise that people are much more than their clinical condition and all problems physically, socially, or mental, intertwine with each. If you can improve in one area of life this will 100 percent affect other areas. In my mind, it causes a reverse domino effect. I have learned that listening completely in the first assessment call and gaining trust, is the first domino to be picked back up.
Why do you think Clinical Coaching is important and how will it benefit people?
Prevention is better than cure they say and with this job that certainly is the case. We can intervene, advise, support and empower individuals on their smaller problems before they escalate or exacerbate, which ultimately will be costly to health and social care departments that are already overstretched beyond capacity. Preventing emergency admissions is key to our goal and giving people the knowledge to understand and manage their conditions and social circumstances better, which can lower reliance on emergency services.
What would you say to anyone who’s selected for the coaching?
Do it. I had sceptical perceptions many years ago when I first left a practice nurse role due to time-constrained appointments and an inability to fully coach, I went into remote care and coaching assuming nothing could replace face-to-face. I was very wrong. Having now experienced health coaching I have first-hand experience on the positive impact it has on individuals, their families and the community.
Working remotely as an HN Clinical Coach has enabled me to give people the time they deserve to talk about their health, honestly and openly. They feel listened to and together we will form a partnership to help improve quality of life.
This is a unique service that is free and is an opportunity that should be grasped with both hands. Whether that be for individuals who have busy working lives or even those who are housebound, we can be flexible to fit individual needs, and they will be fully supported and empowered by our coaches on a journey to better health outcomes.
Find out more about HN and our work with them on AI-guided Clinical Coaching.