Evergreen Service Providers is delighted to welcome Forrest Phillips as our new Medical Coordinator. She has a unique understanding of the special healthcare needs of IDD Individuals and long-term experience in caring for them. A Certified Nursing Assistant for 16 years and, for 18 years, a Host Home Provider (HHP) for three Individuals, she is well equipped to help Evergreen Service Providers’ HHPs and Family Caregivers meet those needs.
As Medical Coordinator, Forrest ensures that Individuals’ medical issues are addressed and records are accurate and up to date. She works closely with HHPs and Family Caregivers, supporting them in the care of the Individuals who share their homes. This may involve helping determine whether a situation is urgent or can wait for an appointment with the PCP, monitoring medication, coordinating dental, vision, and annual physical appointments, and providing resources and information about diet, exercise, and other health topics. She’s just a phone call away when there is a medical issue but values relationships and is cultivating personal connection with those she serves.
In addition to her work as a CNA and HHP, Forrest volunteered with Special Olympics for more than 40 years and served as the Northeast Area Manger for 15 years, coordinating Special Olympics programs in 13 counties with over 40 local programs in schools and recreation centers, as well as independent community programs. She worked with Veterans Administration Hospitals in both Grand Junction and Aurora as the OR core coordinator CNA for instruments and supplies needed for surgeries.
Forrest’s compassion for Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled individuals is part of who she is, coming to light when she was just a child. Her next-door neighbor, Allan – who lived with IDD – was a playmate and friend with Forrest and her brother, but he was not welcomed by everyone. At an early age, Forrest’s first career aspiration was to be a brain surgeon so she could operate on Allan’s brain to relieve his disabilities so he would be accepted. Allan was institutionalized as a young adult, which broke her heart but inspired her to work with people who faced disabilities to find better solutions for them.
Making a positive difference for others comes naturally to Forrest. She shared, “I enjoy helping people better their lives, looking at what they can do, not what they can’t, and who they are.” Evergreen appreciates being on the receiving end of the many benefits of her skill and experience, along with her passion and compassion for the special people we serve.
