Her Story
About Linda
I started my own healthcare company called Continuum Care Partners, where I work as a care coordinator with patients who have different types of healthcare needs and disabilities - anything from dementia to COPD to diabetes. I serve as an advocate for my clients and their families, navigating what can feel like a black hole in the healthcare system. For example, I had a patient in assisted living who couldn't walk, and for six months I coordinated her medical attention and testing, working to get her to the next level and find out why she wasn't walking. I report back to families with updates and make sure they know where their money is being spent and how their loved ones are doing. My background includes starting out in nursing school, though I failed pharmacology and couldn't continue in my BSN program. I went back to school and put myself through to get my degree in rehabilitation counseling, then got a graduate degree and moved into the private sector doing case management before transitioning into sales. I have about 25 to 30 years of experience in healthcare sales and case management. Now I'm studying for my CCM (Certified Case Manager) credential because I've noticed that having that credential gives you more credibility when calling yourself a care coordinator. I get very involved with my clients - sometimes too involved, as I have to hold myself back - but I believe in making a real difference in people's lives.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Linda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I guess I always have high expectations of myself and my family. The way my mom was a single parent raising us - I have 4 brothers - I think she set a good example of just really caring and striving to make a difference in the world and in people's lives. She herself, God bless her, at 80 years old, is a home health aide, and she was always caring for her parents, her father, till his dying breath. I've seen it by example, and then making a difference. I've just been influenced by amazing people - I was up with people when I was in my early 20s, I was exposed to amazing people and mentors along the way, college professors, friends that are just doing amazing things, getting people, animals, children to the next level. So I guess it's all of that. My spirituality, my faith, I think, has a lot to do with it too.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say always pursue higher education and specialty practice, because advanced education opens doors in healthcare. But also, with our geriatric population and people living longer, there are resources out there that people don't know where to turn to find. You need to advocate and ask questions, and don't think that if you're not in healthcare, you can't ask those questions and deserve to know the reasons behind this treatment plan or that treatment plan, because sometimes doctors will just bill. And if you want to take it further, you can get more education and certifications even, so you can be more aware, more educated on what is the proper chain of command. Having credentials and knowing the right questions to ask is so important - you cannot be afraid to ask.
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