Meet Jenna Ford-Northcutt of Compass Family Care in Mesa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Ford-Northcutt.

Jenna, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a result driven provider, utilizing integrative therapies from multiple care modalities getting to the root cause of illness and healing the body from the inside out.

 I graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, concentrated in Health Policy Reform and received a minor in Philosophical Sciences. I returned to Arizona State University the following semester and completed my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I graduated with honors distinction from ASU, Summa Cum Laude, and was inducted into the National Honors Society of Nursing in 2012.

After gaining experience in bedside nursing, I chose to further my education and received my doctorate in Nursing, completing the Doctor of Nursing Practice program with a concentration in Family Practice (DNP-FNP) at the University of Arizona.

Working in various areas of healthcare has given me a solid foundation in traditional western medicine. However, over the years I quickly learned that there is a “pill for every ill” and our society continues getting sicker every year. While on maternity leave, after the birth of my daughter, I began to explore natural alternatives for healing. I started integrating practices from multiple healing modalities in my healing journey, and soon realized these practices were effective and without side effects. After graduating and becoming certified as a Nurse Practitioner, I found my answers in treatment through holistic, integrative medicine. In 2018 Compass Family Care was established.

I continue to expand my knowledge and expertise in this field through continued education in functional medicine, nutrition and natural healing. I believe that there is always room to grow and I am eager to learn new ways that I can help my patients. I spend a great deal of my time researching various areas of healthcare.

I am a firm believer in patient education and I believe in working along side my patients so they can be the best advocates for their health, making decisions fully informed.

My doctoral research focused on the current opioid crisis and prescriber accountability. I quickly became passionate about the public health issue of addiction and the safe manufacturing of vaccine products.

I am a strong advocate for patient rights, parent rights, bodily autonomy, and fully informed consent in the state of Arizona. I have a peaked interested in Health Policy Reform and am actively involved in political action in my community. I currently serve as a Precinct Committeewoman and Secretary on the board of my Legislative District.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, hiking and spending time with my family.

Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, but as the saying goes nothing worth having comes easy. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and the Lord lead to me where I am now in His perfect timing. I had a clear path cut out for myself and had planned my life down to the last semester. But nothing ever goes as planned and I ended up graduating with my undergraduate degree in Nursing a semester later than I had anticipated.

I applied for admission into my graduate program and found out I was pregnant with my daughter the month following. It was quite a feat to be accepted for admission and I knew that I had to continue moving forward. My daughter was born in the second semester of my doctoral program. I was going to school full time, working full time and had a newborn baby. I don’t know how I survived that first year, but I do know that I had an amazing support system that cheered me along the entire way. Other than myself, my parents and my husband are my biggest fans. My mom believes in the beauty of my dreams just as much, if not more than I do and she has been in the front row for as long as I can remember. Although I had to adjust a few things in my life, I was able to graduate on time and my baby girl was with me every step of the way. I come from a long line of strong women and I hope that I can set the example for my daughter that she can do anything she sets her mind to. That she is strong and beautiful and capable and that no obstacle can hold her back from achieving her goals. I hope she dreams big and knows that I will be there for her, just like my mom has always been there for me. And that with God, all things are possible.

Tell us more about your practice.
At Compass Family Care, the goal is to empower patients to take control of their health. The mission of Compass Family Care is to be an advocate for healthy families and that looks different for everyone.

As a provider, I believe in empowering others through knowledge to be able to be their OWN health advocates and make the best choices for themselves knowing the risks, benefits, and alternatives. I am passionate about patient education and helping every person reach their fullest potential and live their best life.

I believe in treating the whole person, physically, mentally, spiritually, and environmentally. I believe in building and supporting the body’s natural ability to heal itself through diet and lifestyle, and I believe in treating the first line with natural and alternative therapies.

Compass Family Care specializes in a wide range of medical services to get patients feeling healthier than ever before. Using a complimentary integrative approach, I combine conventional medicine and alternative therapies to best treat the patient. And while I work hard to offer treatments that help you feel better and get better, I also focus on preventative strategies to ensure you stay better for longer. I believe that prevention is key, and getting to the root cause of disease and illness ensures optimal health for every patient.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
My industry is one that requires the provider to step outside of the box often, and reflect on why they decided to do what they do. There is so much that is involved in healthcare, that can take the focus off of the patient. All too often I see provider fatigue and burnout. We are surrounded by corrupt industries that play large roles in our field and can easily influence our decisions. It is a slippery slope because it takes someone brave to stand up and question the status quo when it becomes more about financial gain than patient care. I put the patient first no matter what, every time. I also never take anything at face value just because someone tells me to. I always make sure to do my own research, and I remember that the “standard of care” is only as good as the person practicing next to you. It is imperative that as providers we remember we are responsible for the care of our patients, and it is our job to ensure that the recommendations we make for them are the right ones. Just because a particular industry or corporation who has much to gain off of a recommendation tells us so, doesn’t mean that it is ethical, just or right for our patients.

I disagree with “one size fits all” healthcare and I believe that the future of medicine is in individualized patient care. I believe in the patient’s right to choose. I never want my patients to think that I am a superior authority and just because I say so means that its the right and only way. I want to empower my patients, and educate them so they have the tools they need to get healthy and stay healthy. It does no one any good when only one person has all of the answers and that is why I advocate for health education. I believe that every patient deserves to be healthy and that looks different for every patient and every family. There are so many resources that can be utilized in patient care, and I am hopeful for the future of integrative medicine.

Contact Info:

• Website: mycompassfamilycare.com
• Email: compassfamilycare@gmail.com
• Instagram: theholistic.np

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