JC receiving Clinician of the Year award. From left to right, AAHCM Awards Committee Chair Dr. Konstantinos Deliginnidis, Housecall Providers’ Dr. Pam Miner, JC Provost, Kevin Hohnbaum, Sarah Beth Wells, and Barbara Sutton.
“I feel quite honored, touched and humbled to be recognized by the American Academy of Home Care Medicine,” said JC. “I am proud to have provided primary care in the home for the past twenty years and been part of an innovative and transformational care delivery model that is now getting national recognition and interest.”
After earning a master’s degree in nursing, JC found himself searching for direction. His initial plan to open a practice focusing on men’s health proved unrealistic when he realized many men often delayed seeking medical care. A chance encounter with former Housecall Providers Nurse Practitioner Gail Miller led him to consider home-based medical care. What began as a temporary job in 2004 evolved into a career driven by passion. JC discovered he thrived in the home setting, valuing the independence and the deep, personal connections formed with patients.
“I didn’t have to be stuck in a clinic seeing fifteen or twenty patients a day,” JC reflected. Instead, visiting patients in their homes and acting as their essential link to medical care provided JC with immense satisfaction. The work gave him a profound sense of achievement, particularly when stabilizing patients and earning their trust. Recognizing the person behind the suffering became a magical experience that further fueled his commitment.
The freedom and support he found at Housecall Providers satisfied two of JC's key aspirations: the autonomy of managing his own practice and having the security of an organizational home. This balance anchored him at the organization, which he never felt compelled to leave.
The early days at Housecall Providers were marked by the scrappiness of a small, dedicated team. “We were a mom-and-pop operation, flying by the seat of our pants,” JC recalled. Despite the challenges, they knew they were making a real difference for the frail and elderly, and it was important to him that the organization’s nonprofit status ensured money didn’t drive their mission.
The 2017 merger with CareOregon introduced structure and stability to their efforts. “We had a mission and a vision, but CareOregon brought the necessary structure,” JC explained. He described this shift as a pivotal moment that gave clarity and direction to their work. Additionally, he witnessed firsthand how well CareOregon cared for patients and employees, reinforcing his loyalty and commitment.
When Housecall Providers and CareOregon formalized their shared values, JC found himself particularly drawn to the Housecall Providers value of ‘authentic relationships.’ “It’s the core of who I am, at work and beyond,” he said. The merger also allowed JC to apply his administrative and leadership skills more broadly. Drawing on experience from a previous employer and his service on the board of HealthShare, he found himself thriving in this expanded role.
JC’s twenty-year career at Housecall Providers has progressed from temporary employee to Primary Care Lead for the west side region to Associate Medical Director in 2017, and in 2022, he succeeded Pam Miner as Primary Care Medical Director. His academic credentials grew in parallel. He is an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, a Family-Nurse Practitioner Certified, and holds a doctoral degree in nursing practice from the University of Portland School of Nursing. JC's dedication earned him a Nurse Practitioner Excellence Award from the Oregon chapter of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners in 2010 and recognition as a top NP by Portland Magazine four times.
Despite his administrative duties, JC remains a dedicated clinician. “My work as medical director means I can’t do as much, but my job is eighty percent admin and twenty percent clinical,” he said. Maintaining a patient panel helps him stay connected to the realities faced by his fellow providers.
For those interested in working in home-based care, JC shared this advice: “It’s really rewarding. You can’t do this work without caring for people. You have to leave cynicism at the door and be mission-centered. You have to stay nonjudgmental.” After 20 years at Housecall Providers, JC’s commitment remains strong: “This is my home.”
Learn more about Housecall Providers in-home primary care program
