Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Clifton.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
“Swimmers…. take your mark. BEEP!” These are words I heard often for a large part of my life. Yet many cannot comprehend the commitment and sacrifice required to even get me up on the block at each and every swim meet I competed in. While the training was intense, the experience taught me that a consistent focus on the process would achieve desired outcomes. This has become my mantra in all that I do.
I grew up in San Antonio, Texas and began swimming at the age of 10. By the time I was in high school I was an All American swimmer and water polo player and competed at the National level. As a result, I was awarded a scholarship to swim at Texas A&M, a top women’s program. After two years competing at the collegiate level, I had lost my passion for swimming. When I was younger I put in the effort necessary to excel, however, by my early 20’s the drive had diminished and decided it was time to retire. I returned home and enrolled at the University of Texas at San Antonio, taking eighteen to twenty-five semester hours and graduating with honors. I also started a family during this period, giving birth to my son.
Shortly thereafter, I was accepted into the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Without slowing down, I enrolled in twelve credits per semester, grew my family to include my wonderful twin daughters and worked full-time managing Telemedicine programs, funded by state and federal grants.
When the grants were completed, I didn’t stop there. I graduated with honors and started a new position as a patient advocate in the emergency department, responsible for driving improved Press Ganey – patient satisfaction outcomes. Just as I began acclimating from three jobs [school, children and work] down to two [kids and work], my nine-year-old son approached me less than two-months later recruiting me to become his swim coach! Education and family had become my passions and the investment I made in both was paying off.
However, the demands of a full-time job and running a household were wearing on me and I needed a break! I decided it was time to simplify my life and be a full-time mom. However, quickly out of the gate, I came to realize that simplify and full-time mom is a perfect oxymoron! My son decided that he didn’t want to be a local swimmer, rather he wanted to be number-one in the country! He could barely swim at the local level! Less than six-months later, he achieved his goal. He was number-one in the country in two individual events, barely missing the National Age Group record.
Shortly thereafter, his sisters joined in on the family fun and became competitive swimmers! Seeing the joy and valuable experience swimming brought to my children, reignited my swimming passion. I wanted to share my knowledge of “process first, outcomes always” with swimmers outside of my family, so I began coaching stragglers who came to me from one team or another, positioning me with a large group of Unattached swimmers. Over the next eight years, I found myself poolside, having eight swim lanes filled with thirty-plus swimmers at any given time. I coached kids to the national, International and Olympic Trial meets, having numerous number-one and top-ten national rankings, ultimately placing many kids for collegiate careers.
While my coaching career started with my son, it also ended with my son. As he found his way to a Big Ten school, I decided it was time to retire yet a second time from swimming, and return to my passion in healthcare. Interestingly, a mom of one of my former athletes and also a good friend, Ellen Ford-Barton, introduced me to her boss at CHRISTUS Health, a not-for-profit expansive integrated delivery network that includes more than 35 hospitals. At the end of the introductory meeting, I found myself in a new position as a Director, leading several population health management programs. I was excited to collaborate with Ellen and carry out the Health System’s patient-centric Mission.
Less than two-years later, and with fantastic clinical quality outcomes and a healthy Return on Investment, I was recruited to lead an entirely new team, Connected Care within the Health Informatics department, focused on telehealth. Together, Ellen I drove the development, implementation and expansion of CHRISTUS Health’s first Mobile Health – Remote Patient Monitoring programs, ten acute tele-neurology programs and sixteen school-based telemedicine clinics. Ellen and I co-authored numerous abstracts, articles and national presentations related to population health management. I was co-interviewed by The Advisory Board and presenter at the 2015 HIMSS National Conference. Together, Ellen and I were leading members of an Institutional Review Board study, resulting in being named one of only four national semifinalists for Health Informatics 2014 Innovator Award.
It was through my achievements and responsibilities during my tenure at CHRISTUS Health that led me to my current role as President/CEO of Care Navigation Services. Care Navigation Services is a dynamic company affording innovative patient management solutions to favorably position healthcare providers, payers and employers within a rapidly changing reimbursement environment. In this position, I am responsible for driving the strategic vision, enhancing existing solutions focused on improved patient access and quality care throughout the healthcare continuum. By my side, Ellen joins me at Care Navigation Services as SVP, Strategy & Operations and we continue to promote the benefits of process enhancements and patience to achieve goals. Next month, my son will graduate from The University of Wisconsin, while my twins will graduate from high school, where they both plan to swim in college.
Has it been a smooth road?
My journey looks nothing like a smooth road, more like a spaghetti bowl with interesting twists and turns along the way! I’ve had my fair share of dodge-balls thrown at me, but I always seem to find myself on life’s winning team, surrounded with inspirational family, friends, and peers.
My three older children [Cannon 23 and twins Maddie and Sydney 18] are a big reason why I didn’t let life struggles keep me down for too long. I am goal-oriented and intrinsically motivated, so I always have something to learn and accomplish, while trying to be the best role model possible.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
As I mentioned earlier, Care Navigation Services is a dynamic company affording innovative patient management solutions to favorably position health care providers and employers within a rapidly changing reimbursement environment. Our leadership team has extensive acute [hospital] population health experience, including telehealth and remote patient monitoring solutions, coupled with a clinical team that is well-versed in the post-acute space.
We understand the challenges health systems are facing as reimbursement models evolve from volume to value-based initiatives, as well as the importance of reducing unnecessary, costly interventions. I am most proud of our CARE Values – Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Empowerment.
Having CARE Values as opposed to core values ensures that our team remains focused on fulfilling our mission to serving our clients and their patients. Our recipe for success is what separates us apart from others. We are experienced, having proven patient-centric platforms yielding positive clinical outcomes and favorable financial gains.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Dallas/Fort Worth [DFW] is known for having at least seven major healthcare systems nationally recognized for patient care, as well as having top-rated specialty hospitals, many of which have established Accountable Care Organizations.
With more than 200 hospitals and surgery centers in the Metroplex, including large nonprofit and for-profit health systems, experienced and proven population health management companies, like Care Navigation Services, are well positioned to ensure patients experience a smooth transition when navigating a very challenging healthcare system.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://carenavigationservices.com/
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