Facility Sacramento Medical Center Department of Medicine - Fair Oaks Building Address Fair Oaks Building 2345 Fair Oaks Blvd. Sacramento CA 95825 Telephone Appt/Advice: (916) 973-5243 E-mail your doctor View your preventive services

Department Hours

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
8:30 am 12:30 pm	8:30 am 5:00 pm	8:30 am 5:00 pm	8:30 am 5:00 pm	8:30 am 5:00 pm	8:30 am 5:00 pm	8:30 am 12:30 pm
Closed during lunch, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm

My Specialty and Why I Chose It

I am a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (GNP). I provide care for Kaiser Permanente members residing in skilled nursing facilities. I diagnose and treat acute and chronic medical conditions. I work as a team with a physician, RN patient care coordinator; RN wound consultant, a rehab specialist, a Geriatric Psych RN, a social worker, and administrative support staff in Kaiser Permanente’s North Valley (Sacramento) Elder Care Department.

I assist patients and families through the unknown territory of nursing home medicine and care. We don’t often think of the possibility that we will spend any part of our lives in a nursing home, so when this reality happens, I deliver the full medical care patients and families would expect from any other Kaiser Permanente setting. My services include short term rehabilitation for acute illnesses, injuries, and repairs; changes in condition, symptom management, and end of life care when this becomes a reality.

My Practice Philosophy

I enjoy working with my geriatric patients in the nursing home environment. It is where I chose to provide medical care. My elderly patients are like old volumes of books, with faded covers of golden shades and hues, in which I gather short stories of their physical and social lives. Short stories give only an impression of a whole story, being like poems, where not a word is wasted. Like old faded photographs, so very interesting when I look in closely. In my patient’s faces, I see a mirror of all their lives lived. I can no longer retrace their steps, there are no maps to reflect the places they have been; I can only help guide them and their families in their journey through their nursing home stay.

Older people hold an apparent and hidden value to me. I feel more than just their heart beat when I touch their chest with my stethoscope. I must form an impression of my patients quickly and precisely, reworking this impression as time and illness allows. I sometimes never learn vital parts of their life story. Sometimes, my work with a patient ends with their peaceful and anticipated death. I know this may be a rough and tough passage for my families; I only hope I make this transition easier for all involved like a well written story. In a short story, the last paragraph may be unnecessary if the story is well written.

My Tenure with Kaiser Permanente

I have been with Kaiser Permanente Elder Care Department since 1997 as a GNP providing care in the skilled nursing homes. Between 1986 and 1997, I also worked as an RN in the Intensive Care Unit and the Emergency Department at Woodland Healthcare. I continued to work on-call through 2008 as an RN in Woodland. Besides maintaining an active part in my family’s and friends home community, I also felt working as an RN kept my basic skills up to date with current hospital practice.

Professional Interests & Affiliations

• Member, Geriatric Advanced Practice Nurses Association
• Member, Northern California Chapter Geriatric Advanced Practice Nurses Association
• Preceptor, University of California San Francisco Nurse Practitioner Program
• Preceptor, University of California Davis FNP/PA program
• Board Certified, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner since 1997

Personal History

Born and raised in San Francisco; 4th generation Californian. I am married and the parent of 4 adult children and so far, 6 grandchildren. My kids are vital, kind, interesting, and a pleasure to be with. I have an adult child who survived Acute Leukemia as a child. My youngest is a special needs young adult, and we are her caregivers along with her siblings, and her devoted UC Davis student caregivers. Being a caregiver adds a dimension to my life and professional role as a GNP. I am aware of the role of caregiver and the need to advocate for the needs of a dependent adult. Many of the families entering the nursing home are just entering the role of caretaker for their adult parents. I hope by sharing my insight, I can make this transition to caregiver easier for others.

Education

BS Degree	Design	UC Davis
BS Degree	Nursing	CSU Sacramento
MS Degree	Nursing	UC San Francisco

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