Humans of Healthcare: Kevin Matson and Tara Jernigan

On this episode of Humans of Healthcare, Kevin Matson, Vice President of Regional Hospitals, and Tara Jernigan, Nurse Lead for Clinical Expansion, discuss how they got their start in healthcare, the bonds they made in the most unlikely of places and how the landscape of healthcare has changed since the pandemic.

Humans of Healthcare goes beyond the medical jargon to reveal what it means to care for others and unveil the extraordinary human connections that form within hospital walls. Each episode is a reminder that in healthcare, true healing stems from not just medical expertise but from the people behind healthcare. 

Thank you for listening to our podcast! If you have a topic you would like us to discuss, please visit nghs.com/podcast.

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Transcript

Marie Krueger 

Hey, everybody. Welcome to the Health Perspectives Podcast brought to you by Northeast Georgia Health System in beautiful Gainesville, GA. I'm your host, Marie Kruger, and today I have some very special guests with me. We're going to try something a little bit different. We're going to hear about humans in healthcare. And really get to understand and know about the folks that work on the front lines. So help me welcome my guests. We have Kevin Matson with us today. Hey, Kevin. And we have Tara Jernigan How are morning? 

Tara Jernigan 

For you, you're doing. 

Marie Krueger 

Well nursing executive with Northeast Georgia Health System and vice president with Northeast Georgia Health. System you both have some very funny and interesting stories about how you started in healthcare and I want to hear all about it. Tara, you told me that you. Have a horrible nursing. 

Tara Jernigan 

Story I do. It's not. It's not traditional, it's the path I took to nursing was just very haphazard, so to speak, so. When I was younger, I always enjoyed science and I always like people, so I went to college and kept taking more and more. Parents and my parents are like, are you, you know? You ever going to finish? And so then I I married my husband very young and we moved away and then came back to Gainesville when he graduated from college. And this is where. We landed so. Then I just said, you know, I really need to finish. So I went to back and this is a while back, so I went to several colleges and just. Grabbed the books. That you had that you could go through to look and see what you. Could be you. So I ran through and I just. I just sort of picked. I was like, well, I have all these classes. So in two years I could be a nurse. That's what I'll do. I can finish in two years, and so that's that's how I became a nurse. 

Marie Krueger 

OK, so there wasn't that. 

Tara Jernigan 

Divine calling that sometimes folks have you know there there really never was. But you know it's it's it's kind of worked out for me. So I was really glad it was clearly meant to be but it wasn't something I actually chose. 

Marie Krueger 

I understand. And Kevin, you know, Kevin wanted to be a chef, he wanted to. 

Tara Jernigan 

Go to culinary school and and he could have been a very successful chef. If you've ever eaten any of Kevin's food, you know. 

Marie Krueger 

I have it. 

Tara Jernigan 

Yeah, it's, it's. 

Marie Krueger 

I need to. 

Tara Jernigan 

It's yeah. 

Marie Krueger 

So tell me about this Kevin. How did how did you go from wanting culinary school career to being a VP? The health system. 

Kevin Matson 

Well, my dad's a chef and my mother is a nurse. And so I guess inevitably, I would end up in one of those fields. 

Tara Jernigan 

OK. 

Kevin Matson 

But when I was a teenager, I had a chance to tour the Scottsdale Culinary Institute in Arizona, and that was very exciting for me and inspirational. And I was reading a few books. One was the soul of a chef that a family member had. And me. And so I knew if I was going to go to culinary school, I was going to have to raise the money for it. And so at 16, I thought, well, one of the best paying jobs in. Hall County is at the hospital. And everyone knew the the the the hospital is being, you know, one of the best employers. And so I thought, well, if I can just get my foot in the door in any role, I'll I'll earn enough money, then pay for culinary school. And so that was what drove me to the hospital initially. 

Marie Krueger 

OK. And do you guys work together and in some capacity over the years? 

Kevin Matson 

Many times in many different. 

Speaker 

Ohh yes many. 

Tara Jernigan 

Times yes. In many different capacities, yes. 

Marie Krueger 

OK. All right. So let's see. Kevin, you, you started there and when did the bomb scare happen? Where how you met your wife? I'd like to hear. About that so. 

Kevin Matson 

The bomb scare happened in early 2000. Somewhere in that time frame and my. 

Speaker 

OK. 

Kevin Matson 

There was a woman who worked in human resources. Her name was April and I worked in occupational health and safety and and part of my role was to ensure the hospital was prepared for disasters, including. And so one day we had someone call in a suspicious package in the OC Pop building and so my first thing was to pull the bomb threat plan, make sure I reread it, and sure enough, in the bomb threat plan, my role was to meet Gainesville police at the site of where this suspicious package was. And together we would determine if the bomb squad should be called in. So I remember walking into the building with Gainesville police and he was reassuring me these things are always just, you know, they're just a, a phony thing. It's it's a, it's a near miss or a scare. And we got to the basement of the hallway and we saw this dark package and he slowed down his walk. And I heard the tone in his voice changed. We got closer to it. And what you saw was, you know, black bricks wrapped in black plastic and duct tape. And I remember he grabbed my shirt and said, I'm sure that's a bomb. Let's get out of here. 

Marie Krueger 

Oh my God. 

Kevin Matson 

So we called the. The Georgia GBI Bomb squad. They brought their robot and every. Thing. And so they got the robot in. They pulled the portable X-ray machine out and about that time, this this woman from human resources called me and said, what are you doing? Did you hear? That we've got a bomb threat. And I said yeah. And she said, please tell me this has nothing to do with bricks wrapped in plastic and OC. Pope and I said that's exactly what it is. What do you know? And she said those are mine. And I said get out here as soon as you can. So she came out, told the bomb squad. Apparently she found them in a closet. They were used to, like, weigh down papers at some kind of a. All fair. 

Marie Krueger 

OK. 

Kevin Matson 

And so they called the all clear. And then so that later on we we started talking and then eventually we got married. And that's my wife. 

Marie Krueger 

That is some sort. And you've been married for how long? 

Kevin Matson 

A little over 10 years and she does not like for me to tell that story. 

Marie Krueger 

Oh my gosh. Well, it now. 

Kevin Matson 

So that's right. 

Marie Krueger 

It's it's on film for everyone to know God. 

Kevin Matson 

That's right. 

Marie Krueger 

So when when? We were talking something a theme with Northeast Georgia Health System is that everyone seems to have a mentor, some folks that have really helped them kind of propel them through their career. Do you guys want to talk to me a little bit about the mentors that you've had in your in your? Career here and what that's meant to you. I mean, you seem to be doing something very different now than bedside, right? So how did you? How did that happen? That's a that's a journey. Yes, yes. 

Tara Jernigan 

It was a journey, so you know. I was in. I was at the bedside for quite some time, just moved through several different, you know, worked in Med surge acute care. And then I've moved. To critical care, I was nursing supervisor. I'm a nurse manager and then I then more, more senior leadership and nurse execute. So through the course of that, I would have been involved in several projects for either renovation or the Braselton hospital. Is the the probably the largest project I've been in so far, so I was part of the team that was able, you know, I was looking up to be able to go and help you know, design that hospital, start that hospital staff that. Hospital for a lot of the units and so through the course of that, like you said, several mentors. But I was fortunate enough to work with Anthony Williamson. I think we both have worked with Anthony Williamson and so. He's the president of the Braselton Hospital, and so when we were starting to look at this new Gainesville expansion as well as several others along can expansion where I'm expanding Braselton, we have an ASC. Anthony asked if I would be interested in this role, and so it's something different, but it was something that. I didn't have a whole lot of experience, but just enough, I think to be able to do this and it's very exciting. So I I get to work with hospital architects, I. Get to work with. A lot of the design folks, and I think the thing I like the most about it is it's not just nursing, it really opens up and it's that team aspect. So yes, we want to have a really great experience for the patient and for the nursing staff. But you know, a lot of Kevin's areas are also brought in to that. So how how can we make it good for EVs? How can we make it good? Food and nutrition. So how can we really make this project work really well for everybody and the patient and community benefit the most, right? Gosh, your role has expanded so much. Did you ever think that it would? You would be in charge of construction projects from a nursing perspective. I never thought I would be bedtime nursing. You know, once I graduated from nursing school. And that was really my goal. I just always, I love taking care of patients and I've always enjoyed that and I've always enjoyed and I've been able to teach nursing school various times throughout my career and I've always enjoyed that too. Just watching new nurses come on board and see how excited they are and watching them grow and and again, not just nursing, you know, I mean, I keep pointing to Kevin but. You know, Kevin was also in that bucket of people who's just really grown throughout the, you know, in the health system and had opportunities to do so. 

Marie Krueger 

Right. 

Tara Jernigan 

Right? Well, Kevin, you you're someone who strikes me as. 

Marie Krueger 

Someone who's got a lot of Huzzah. You know what? You know what? I mean, when I say that you, you tend to volunteer for things, raise your hand. 

Speaker 

I do. 

Marie Krueger 

I'll do it even if you don't really know the solution, you're going to figure it out. Tell us a little. Bit about how that's worked in your career. 

Kevin Matson 

I think it's. I think it served me well, you know, not feeling like you have to have all the answers to your questions before you're willing to. Try on a new role or to offer to help any type of project serve on the committee, whatever that might. We and over the years, at one point, something an instrumental point where I volunteered for a committee is when I said I want to be a safety Rep for the hospital. There was a committee for Environment of care. You remember that Jim Spielman was a safety manager. And and I was a safety Rep and our role was to ensure our department met regulatory compliance. Deadlines and stayed safe and but fire code, things like that, and then Joint Commission, which was our Regulatory agency at the time showed up one day for their unannounced survey. They were inspecting us and and and Jim was not able to speak to them. He was he was. Something was happening with him and he could not speak to the surveyors. And so he recommended that I, as one of his probably 50 different safety reps, speak to the Joint Commission surveyors. So I did and I think I did an OK job. I was very nervous and and when the when the session was over, Jerry McConnell, who just recently retired, walked up to me, shook my hand, introduced himself and said thank you for volunteering. We needed someone to speak to safety and and Jim couldn't be here. And so I said and this was. Probably super obnoxious, but I said. Julie, I'm Kevin mattson. And I would love to call you boss. And he started laughing and said, what are you talking about? And I said. You know we're we're growing as a system. I'm really passionate about safety. I think Jim needs some help. Hire me to help Jim and and I'll learn more about safety and and and and we can help grow this program. And so Jerry was considering that at the same time. Jim needed to relocate out of state for something. And he resigned. And so I was in the right place at the right time, but only because I said, can I serve on this committee was that original decision that positioned me for that. 

Speaker 

I'll say. 

Marie Krueger 

Right. 

Kevin Matson 

And then it was. We need somebody to speak to Joint Commission. And I said, I'm willing to do it. I I don't know what they're going to ask me. I don't know what I'm really getting into here, but I'll I'll put myself. Out there and and take a chance. And thankfully, I've had a lot of people take a chance on me over the years, so I think it. Goes both ways. 

Marie Krueger 

It does, and I think you were in a in an environment that fostered that and allowed that for folks to kind of raise their hand and say, let me try, let me just try and see what happens, how is everything going post COVID, I mean, we went through three years of really just probably the most difficult time in healthcare in my opinion. Now we're are we coming out of it. How has your role changed? How are you guys feeling about everything? What's what's going on? What's your current state? 

Kevin Matson 

You know one thing I think with COVID that I would encourage people it it it made us all reflect on you know our work life balance, how much time are we spending with our families versus work. And I think a lot of people reflected on what's really most important in their lives. And then I think, unfortunately, some people may have, you know, swung in One Direction. Where they they want to be at work for the exact amount of time they're supposed to be at work, and then they want to disconnect and and focus fully on their. Personal life and I have no judgment towards that whatsoever. But I think we might have swung a little bit too far. And and for me personally, what you're able to give the organization really is what we're able to give patients and what we're able to give back to the Community and how we how we are stewards for this organization and and care for the organization. And so I'd love to swing us a little bit back towards the middle. Yeah, because. The discretionary effort that we can all give in our roles, maybe a little bit beyond what's absolutely required, right, but it's that discretionary effort that is where our organization thrives and it's where our patients and community thrive as well. And so I'd, I'd, I'd love to see us find a little more balance there. 

Marie Krueger 

How are you holding up? 

Tara Jernigan 

You're right, it was. It was a difficult time. I think not only for, you know, the hospitals, but I think it was difficult time for our community. I think there were a lot of a lot of unknowns, especially at the beginning and it was a very it was a very scary time because we didn't know really what we were dealing with and I think. And I think we all, we all really came together, but I've seen that throughout the history of the hospital as long as I've been there, anytime there's been anything that has impacted the community or the hospital, there's really that, you know, banding together of staff and of of community leaders. And you know, we have such great support in our community so. I I agree with Kevin. I do think we everyone did take a step back and kind of look at what their lives were like and maybe made some changes in it. But I think the as far as the nursing staff, that was a very difficult time and I think nursing was particularly impacted by that and we did see a lot of nursing staff leave. Not the organization, but they they left the nursing field, so they just left. They they decided they just could not. And I agree with Kevin, no judgment there. You know, that's a very it was a very stressful time for nursing. So I feel like it they made the right decision for them. We hope that they are able to, you know, reconcile some feelings and come back at some point because nursing for most people it it is a calling. It is like you said earlier, it is something that you you're almost not complete without it. If you are a you know if. You're a nurse. You just. It's just part of who you are. 

Marie Krueger 

Right. And you're a great example of nursing going in a completely new direction as well. So your field can really touch on almost every aspect of patient care, whether it's bedside or or construct. 

Kevin Matson 

I will say that there were some tremendous things that happened during COVID that that bonded many of us together in a in a, you know, kinship that will last many years. 

Marie Krueger 

Oh yeah. 

Kevin Matson 

And I think about new relationships that were made again that were formed through really difficult emotional situations where we came together and said I need your help. 

Speaker 

OK. 

Kevin Matson 

And you can help me in this really difficult situation and then that the relationships with that bill are or you know we'll you know we'll carry forward you know for the rest of our lives probably if nothing else the memory. 

Tara Jernigan 

You know what? 

Kevin Matson 

Of them one of my. 

Tara Jernigan 

And it sounds terrible to say favorite, but the favorite times three, that was we were in the Braselton hospital and there was a there was an emergent need to we had some equipment. We have run out of some some equipment, some carts that we needed to put together. And so we had our Chief Financial Officer, we had our President of GPG, Brian. John and Daniel Tuffey Anthony Williamson were there. They were in scrubs, working helping patients, helping nursing staff, helping different areas. And we all came together in a hall, and we built these carts for to be able to use for patient care. So I think that speaks to what you're talking about. People really came together right and really worked well together. And, you know, I think we all had a different level of respect for each other, absolutely. 

Kevin Matson 

Can can I share my most memorable story at that time? It was on Saturday. We were in the command center and we were trying to figure out how to manufacture gowns for staff because no supplier in the nation had them. And Kevin Phelps was there, and he was really the mastermind behind it all. And he and I became what I feel like was great friends since then, and we've continued. To be strong. But we're in the command center and we were we were trying on trash bags, thinking that somehow we could make gowns out of trash bags. And Elizabeth Larkins walked in and she had this look on her face. I'm pretty sure she had tears in her eyes and she walked up the table in a rush, paused, took a breath, and it was almost like she couldn't find the words to say. And I said, what's wrong? And she said I need help. And I said I I'll help you. I didn't know what she she said. Come with me. We need to get you scrubs. So as we were going to the the scrub closet and still wasn't sure, you know what was needed and the issue was at the time there were patients who were going into cardiac arrest from COVID and other patients who were were at the end of their life and they were dying from COVID. And there weren't enough staff to both resuscitate the patients that needed immediate resuscitation or end all. So help families through electronic means, watch videos of their family as they were taking their last breath. And so Elizabeth needed just extra hands to be there. So you know she which was. A A wonderful blessing on my life for her to do that because I got to be with some families. Who were, you know, their grandfather was dying. And I got to be with him, otherwise he would have been alone. So it was, you know, you don't forget that. 

Marie Krueger 

No you don't. 

Kevin Matson 

And the relationships that that forms are are are, you know, lifelong for sure. 

Marie Krueger 

Right. And they they say that folks that are in a traumatic situation together, whether it be work or otherwise will be bonded for life. And that is so true. And we've all had challenges in healthcare way before the pandemic. And Tara, I know you have a very touching story that you wanted to share about missus golden. Do you want to tell? Us about that. 

Tara Jernigan 

So my children went. We were from the North Hall area, and so Mount Vernon Elementary School is where Miss Golden was the counselor, and she'd been the counselor there for years and years. She and her husband were both. School teachers and so. I was a nursing supervisor. I tended to work on the weekends a lot of time and say what that meant. Was I really? Had oversight of the hospital campus at that time. We only had the Gainesville campus and so any, any major thing that happened and staffing decisions, a lot of things were under my purview. So I just happened to be in the emergency department. Sunday afternoon and they brought in this patient and she was of course, not going to survive, didn't have any identification on. So I went in the the room to help and and and I knew it was Mrs. Galton, the counselor at my children. School and her husband unfortunately did not survive either. He was at the scene of the accident. They didn't bring him to the hospital. At that time. So knowing that I needed to help in that situation, reach out to her children as well as some members of the community. But then of course, we're held by. Certain HIPAA laws and rules that you cannot really share that kind of information. So we really had to get very creative in getting folks there to help her children through a situation that they were going to walk into blind because, you know, you have to be sensitive to. Information you can share with people if they're coming from a long distance and and that was just a really. It was really. Tough every time I I we still live in the North Hall area and there are two crosses right at the intersection. And so I think of that day every almost every day, because I pass those two crosses every single day. 

Marie Krueger 

A blessing. You were there. 

Tara Jernigan 

I I hope, I hope that I helped. I bet you I hope I helped. 

Marie Krueger 

It sounds like you did and and I wanted to bring that story up because I think it shows an incredible amount of resilience. Also, with the pandemic and I think that's something that is needed as we recruit for, for, for new nurses and physicians and caretakers. What other characteristics would you guys say is really important to have when when we're looking at our new? Our new generation of healthcare heroes. 

Tara Jernigan 

I think flexibility is really important. I think you know as you go through, especially as we've come through the pandemic, you know, just being willing to to learn and maybe work in an area that you're not as familiar with. I think that's important. And then I think you know, of course. If you're coming into healthcare. Regardless of where you are in healthcare, I think you have to have compassion. I just, I don't it's it would be very difficult I think to work. In a healthcare setting without that. 

Marie Krueger 

Absolutely couldn't agree more. How about you Kevin? 

Kevin Matson 

You know, years ago, Kennedy said. You know, ask not what your country can do for you, but what and you know. And so I think today, you know, society teaches especially young children to, you know, make sure that you're negotiating for what your employer can do for you and make sure that that negotiation is balanced and fair and and. And that's fine. And and it is important, but I would encourage people and to answer your question, what's needed. I think healthcare employees have to embrace that. We're here partly because of our character, who we are, what we have to give others, and it's not about everyday reconciling, you know, did I get out of this what I put into it? 

Marie Krueger 

Right. 

Kevin Matson 

Because you're always putting more into it than what you're getting out. But if that's part of who you are and part of your character and what what leaves you going home each day saying. You know, I'm really proud of what I was able to offer and what I was able to achieve today because whether or not the balance works out in the end and it's and it's 100% reciprocal doesn't matter. If you're proud of yourself and you're proud of what you're. What you're giving back? So you're that's perfectly. That's perfect. You know, am I am I a servant to you know what I'm doing? And so. 

Marie Krueger 

Right. Right. There's a lot of exciting things happening at NGMC. We have a new tower coming up. We there's just so much happening. Would you? What is your? I guess best achievement or something that you were really excited about up until this point. I I think you mentioned Brazil. In braselton. I did. Yeah, yeah. 

Tara Jernigan 

I did. That was something, you know, again, going back to, you know, milestones throughout the history that I've been with the Medical Center, I think that was some. And that again, it brought so many people together because that was a big project. You know, we it was, it was termed a no fail project. You know, we all knew going into it that Braselton had to open it had to open by a certain date, had to be ready to open. So and it really took the entire system helping us to be sure that we were able to achieve that. But it was such a great time, you know, everyone was just so excited. It was a brand new hospital and we just and we had implemented some processes there that we had really never done anywhere in the outside of that before and so. Was I just? I looked back at that time and we just really, you know, we rode a high for several months after that after Braselton opened. 

Marie Krueger 

That's great. It's a beautiful hospital. 

Tara Jernigan 

Yeah, it is absolutely gorgeous. And you know, we always say that that, you know, we opened Braselton and started building again because that is that is very nearly the truth. You know, when we first opened, we just had we had two floors of inpatient and then we had our emergency department, but. Then we quickly. We added two more floors to the Braselton hospital. We added women and children's section and now we're expanding even further, doubling the footprint of the emergency department and adding more inpatient floors as well as support services throughout the ground floor. So it's, you know, it's nice to see that grow and that was such a need for. 

Marie Krueger 

That particular area, and I can sense your. Excitement about it. 

Tara Jernigan 

And I'm. I was trying to. 

Speaker 

Rain a little bit. 

Tara Jernigan 

I think that's amazing. Yeah, it's so needed. It is. It's so, so needed and the people are just just wonderful to be able to do that. That's great. 

Marie Krueger 

Community. Yes, that's wonderful. How? 

Kevin Matson 

So do you want to know what I'm most excited that we've accomplished as an organization or more a personal achievement? 

Marie Krueger 

I think I think a personal achievement would be kind of cool to hear. 

Speaker 

You know, I think. 

Kevin Matson 

For me, the the personal achievements that mean the most to me or any time anyone that I've ever worked closely with under my areas of responsibility have been promoted and have could have met their professional goals or the things that are most meaningful to me. 

Marie Krueger 

Right. 

Kevin Matson 

I often tell my team, you know, I have no idea how long we'll be together. But when when it comes to an end, whether I move on or you move. On I want you to reflect back on our time to say when I worked with Kevin, I grew, I developed, I became a better version of me than than when we first came together. And so I can think back through, you know, we have some nurse managers who I've worked closely with that were promoted. 

Speaker 

Right. 

Kevin Matson 

You know, I have others who have been promoted through different administrative roles and. To see them, it's. I feel like it's my way of giving back to the the mentorship that I've had over my years because I've had so many. 

Marie Krueger 

Right. 

Kevin Matson 

I think in fact. If you ask a lot of experienced nurses, they wouldn't call themselves a mentoring me. They would say they were my adopted mother. Yeah, Jan Welch will just retired in January and she would probably call herself my adopted mother. 

Tara Jernigan 

That's that's true. That's true. Yes, yes. 

Kevin Matson 

But she was also a mentor over the years. And so anyone who has, especially those who have said to me, I want to do something more, I want to grow, I want to develop, I want to take on a more of a leadership role and then we've intentionally worked on that together. That's definitely an area of of. Achieve the personal achievement for me, although it was their doing, it's what they achieved. It's I take great delight in it. 

Marie Krueger 

That's wonderful. Well, as as we close up, I was, I would like to know what you want to tell the community. What kind of words would come to mind when you think about our amazing community that supported us through the pandemic that we continue to take care for? We you know, if they have challenges, there are challenges. Is there a message that you'd like to give to our community at this time? 

Kevin Matson 

I would of course say thank you for the support and for really the trust that they place in US and would also, you know, reassure them that through thousands of very small things that occur every day in the hospital, we have an organization full of people who care deeply about our community and care about how. We impact those that we serve and it's through those, you know, thousands if not hundreds of thousands of little efforts that are made every day in the in the spirit of caring for our community is what helps us be successful. 

Tara Jernigan 

That's great, I agree. And I think to tag on to that very well said. And I don't think anything is too small. You know, I think anything that is done, you know, coming in and staying with a with your loved one at the bedside, you know we we appreciate that. You know, we appreciate everything. You know, I think people think in terms of like large contributions or heroic acts. But oftentimes, like Kevin said, it is the small things, it is just. That's coming in being there, you know, for for a bedside nurse or someone who comes in the room. It's just saying thank you for what you're doing. You know that that goes such a long way for people who are taking care because I don't know that they always feel. So just to hear those words, I think it's just it's it goes a very long way. 

Marie Krueger 

I love that. Thank you. Thank you both for your time. I loved hearing your stories. And thanks everyone for watching. And please, if you haven't already, please rate, review and subscribe to our Health Perspectives podcast and we'll see you next time. Take care.