Meet AHP Care Manager Latoya Lagares
May 25th, 2016 | Network NewsThis is the eight in a series of articles profiling AHP’s care management team.
A critical component of AHP’s mission is to partner with physicians and support their efforts to deliver care to patients. The network’s care management program was developed to do just that, and since its inception earlier this year, AHP has funded the placement of many care managers into community-based practices requesting such support.
Latoya Lagares, RN, BSN, MBA began as the AHP care manager for Jefferson Family Medicine in July 2015. Latoya earned her baccalaureate degree in nursing at Nazareth College in Rochester. She later earned her Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in health care management from Capella University. Latoya reflects on her nursing and care management experiences as follows:
My nursing career began in cardiovascular surgery. Since then, I have had the privilege of working in a variety of nursing roles including oncology, observation and emergency medicine, interventional radiology, primary care, and dialysis. Last summer I joined AHP as a care manager for an urban practice focused largely on meeting the needs of the medically underserved through the provision of high quality, well- coordinated care.
I chose nursing because I saw the importance of being there for people especially when they felt alone, being a voice for those who could not speak, offering insight for those who could not see and providing evidence-based care to improve health and well-being.
My career in nursing has been heartfelt and fulfilling. Over the past years I have grown professionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. Nursing has allowed me to reflect deeply and think about what is most important to those entrusted to my care. I have learned that people generally want to feel that they are being cared for competently with compassion and empathy. People put their trust in our hands every day; they are counting on us to have their best interests at heart and to do our best for them.
Nursing has also made me think about what’s important to me. I have learned that I enjoy being able to support others and help people have peace of mind especially in the midst of serious health challenges. We often see people who are highly stressed by their health concerns and/or socioeconomic circumstances but we have the ability to ease their suffering and make their health care experiences meaningful regardless of the circumstances. We can help patients get through some of their toughest times. Many of my greatest professional memories have been when I have been able to provide comfort, support and strength in my patients’ darkest hours.
I have met numerous patients and colleagues throughout my career who have helped me grow professionally, often through challenges we have worked through together. I am passionate about nursing. I am committed to providing excellent every day, with every patient and with every encounter. Every day that I get up and go to work, I hope to make a difference in someone’s life. My patients can expect me to do my best and to take great care of them.
