Amanda Jonasen, RN
Department: Island Primary Care – M Avenue
The Best Care Starts with Good Relationships
Nurturing Health: Fostering the Patient/Provider Relationship Across Generations
“But I’m not sick.” Chances are, you’ve either said this yourself or have had a loved one say it to you when the topic of seeing a doctor for an annual checkup has arisen. At Island Health (IH), we take care of our community, and that really starts with a good relationship with your primary care provider.
The best way to build that relationship is to see your provider regularly, not just when you’re sick. Amanda Jonasen, RN, knows this firsthand. She started seeing Dr. Hogge 10 years ago when she was pregnant with her first child. At that time, she was completing her nursing degree and said the treatment she received at IH was amazing.
Since delivering her son, Dr. Hogge has remained Amanda’s primary care provider and takes care of her whole family, even when they’re not sick. Coincidentally, Amanda’s parents and grandparents have also been under Dr. Hogge’s care. She said it’s so important to find someone you’re comfortable with and that the continuity over time is imperative. Because he cared for her during both her pregnancies, now 10 and 4, Amanda said Dr. Hogge knows everything about her health and theirs.
“So many things can change with our health between visits. The annual visit fills in key pieces so that when something does happen, the doctor has all the information, even if at the time of the visit, it seemed insignificant,” Amanda said.
Dr. Hogge encourages patients to find someone they’re comfortable with and then to make that annual visit a priority, even when they’re feeling healthy.
“It helps us not only keep track of everything going on physically with our patients, but we also really enjoy learning about how their lives have changed, what they’ve been up to since we last saw them. We truly like knowing our patients,” Dr. Hogge said.
So if it’s been a while, give us a call. We’re here to care for you when you’re sick and well. To schedule an appointment, call 360.293.3101.