2015 Health Care Champions Social Worker/Case Manager: Sarah Vale

Sarah Vale’s work affects patient care across the Ozarks.

She believes health care currently is going through changes, the likes of which have not been seen in a long time. It is important to her that health care leaders keep the patient at the center of each and every decision that is made. That’s where she comes in.

“I feel like my role in the overall picture of health care in the Ozarks has been to help our health system pursue innovative ways of utilizing information to ensure patients receive patient-centered care in every interaction,” says Vale, program manager for patient-centered medical home and care management services for CoxHealth.

Vale has worked with every primary and pediatric clinic within CoxHealth helping to work toward recognition as a patient-centered medical home from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. That includes such factors as an ongoing relationship with a personal physician; a physician-directed practice; coordinated or integrated care; and quality and safety.

“This has been exciting and extremely rewarding,” Vale says. “I lead a team that works with clinic managers, staff and providers, reviewing clinic functions and processes.

“It has been exciting to see the way the transformation has positively affected the care that each CoxHealth patient receives.”

Her work has paid off. In the past few years, NCQA has recognized 37 CoxHealth clinics as patient-centered medical homes. CoxHealth also has the first recognized patient-centered specialty practice in the state of Missouri, Vale says.

“This makes each day exciting for me, and I am proud of the work that has gone into each of these accomplishments,” she says. “This pride is not just in the learning and work that I have put in but also in the work that each clinic manager, staff member and provider has done to achieve this recognition. It has been my honor to work with the amazing teams within CoxHealth, and I know that this is just the beginning of the great things to come as we ensure that patients receive the best care possible.”

Tracy Mitchell, director of the quality support department for Cox HealthPlans, has worked with Vale for two years.

“She tirelessly gives of herself to promote patient-centered care, incorporating system design and collaboration throughout CoxHealth and the community,” Mitchell says. “Sarah is mission focused and always presents herself professionally, embodying our system’s core values of safety, compassion, respect and integrity.

“Furthermore, Sarah innately lives CoxHealth’s vision ‘to be the best for those who need us’ in all that she does.”

At her core, Vale always keeps patients’ interests at the forefront.

“In each and every project that I work on, I want to make sure that the patients of the Ozarks are treated like I would want my family members treated,” she says. “I see my role as a mission to make sure all of the patients have the best experience and care possible.”