Carmen Jacobsen – Powerlist – Health Care

Carmen Jacobsen’s career in health care began in Portland, Oregon, where she served as a nurse leader. Her career eventually shifted to Idaho, where she served as chief operating officer and chief nursing officer for St. Luke’s Wood River in Ketchum before she was selected for her current role as the vice president of care management for St. Luke’s Health System. In her role, Jacobsen oversees the continued evolution and development of St. Luke’s care management function. This function allows the coordinated movement of patients between sites of care, care episodes and care providers — an effort that aims to connect care to drive improved population and community health outcomes.

“My focus is on ensuring that patients receive the right care at the right time and in the right place,” Jacobsen said. “This is a fairly new and evolving role for St. Luke’s aimed at ultimately helping all populations we serve, to better navigate the complexities of health care and remove friction points.”

“The shift to a focus on population health is one I’m incredibly pleased with — and proud to be a part of,” Jacobsen said on an industry change that she’s glad to have seen. “St. Luke’s has progressively put a stake in the ground with population health and shifting from fee-for-service to value-based care. With a nursing career that has spanned years in Portland and here in Idaho, I have witnessed a number of patient stories — the focus on population health has helped reduce barriers, improve access to care and ultimately improve health outcomes.”