In our ever-evolving healthcare landscape, Julia Murray is at the forefront of innovation, compassion and patient-centered care. As the Director of Virtual Care, Julia leads with a servant heart and a forward-thinking mindset, guiding teams that help patients and families feel empowered and supported throughout their care journey. With over 18 years of nursing experience and nearly six years at Compassus in Brentwood, TN, Julia has embraced each challenge and triumph as part of her purpose. We’re proud to spotlight her “why” in this edition of What’s Your Why.
Q: What personal values drive you in your role, and how does your work align with those values?
A: I am passionate about providing high quality care to those we serve and helping patients/families navigate their healthcare journey to understand what their wants/needs are so that we can help advocate for them through shared decision-making to provide the right care at the right time. Overseeing the Journey program allows me to lead a team that is doing just that: identifying patients and allowing them to have autonomy in their journey. Through RPM (Remote Patient Monitoring), we are helping patients understand their disease and overcome social determinant barriers, which provides health equity for access to those that may not have otherwise had it.
Q: How do you feel your work makes a difference for the people we serve or the team around you?
A: Every day, our team makes a difference for those we serve by helping them understand early symptom onset, avoiding a hospitalization, helping them know we are here for them throughout their entire journey because we have amazing teams ready to serve them wherever they are, bringing comfort to families during incredibly difficult transitions…I could go on and on about their impact.
Q: What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction or fulfillment? Why?
A: Hearing patient stories that my team was able to help navigate—it always keeps me grounded in my why and what our purpose is.
Q: How has working here helped you grow or develop, personally or professionally?
A: I started at Compassus five and a half years ago as an ED for Hospice—a pretty green leader with absolutely no knowledge of hospice care in the home. From there, I was promoted to the ACO role, going from two locations to five and a large service territory. I cannot begin to tell you the trials and tribulations I have faced that helped foster the leader I am today.
Having the opportunity to move into the Director of Virtual Care role almost three years ago has taken what I learned at the local level—both as a leader and as a person—and translated it into innovation through virtual care delivery. I have spread my wings tremendously, advanced my knowledge base and even gone back to school to grow more as a clinical informaticist. My Compassus story started as a scared, unsure leader stepping into a broken culture to someone who is culture-shifting and proud to lead teams that are providing incredible care to those we serve.
Q: What motivates you to keep coming back, even on challenging days?
A: Knowing that we are providing patients with the ability to self-determine their needs and wants, and allowing them to understand what services we provide and what might be next in their journey.
Q: What’s one thing about our organization or mission that resonates deeply with you?
A: Care for Who I Am, that is what we do every day!
Q: What aspect of your role do you feel is often overlooked but is important to your “why”?
A: The care for the people I am entrusted to lead. I get to be their advocate and biggest cheerleader, all while helping them succeed.
Q: If you could share one thing about the impact of your work with the community, what would it be?
A: Ensuring patients/families understand their disease, their wants and their greatest concern.
