Beth Ploof’s comforting care

SHE’S an energetic, passionate, and entrepreneurial patient advocate who is on a path driven by zeal for better health care services locally.

A registered nurse since 1994, Beth Ploof, 53, spent the last 10 years working as a nursing supervisor in several large hospitals in Minneapolis, United States.

But in 2012 when the Minneapolis visionary decided to visit Jamaica for business and personal reasons, her plans and life changed.

“I travelled to Kingston with the owner of the Bayfront Reggae & World Music Festival for business reasons, but before travelling I had already quit my job, so after the festival we visited my travel partner’s family, then took a week in Negril to vacation and I decided to stay for the winter,” she told All Woman.

It was at this time that Ploof learnt of a medical mission to Jamaica — Mission Hummingbird — and decided to volunteer her nursing skills. Subsequently, she realised the gap in the country’s health care services and devised a plan to collaborate her services with those existing in Westmoreland.

And so she set out on a journey to get her Jamaican nursing licence in order to assist in a well needed area.

Now Ploof runs a 24-hour business — Comforts of Home Nursing Services — for which she is the sole owner and operator. She said it provides options for visitors and residents, and takes away the hassle from calling a physician all the time.

“The doctors here are busy all day. You can imagine how [hard] it is for them to cover people’s needs through the night. Many of the calls don’t need a physician, but if they need one I call one in,” Ploof said, adding that she has access to physicians and outlying ambulance services, instead of relying on the public ambulance which may not always work.

Some of the services offered by Ploof include concierge nursing services, such as 24-hour nursing hotel visits, health care consulting or auditing, adult or child sitting, post- clinic or hospital follow-up care, and private nursing or travel care.

The lover of music, culture and diversity also serves the community through charitable events and health fairs she’s a part of in Negril and other areas.

“I will go and set up a table and do blood pressure and glucose tests. I also set up a mannequin so people can practise how to do compression if they ever need to do it,” Ploof said.

The mother of two has also travelled to and lived in many countries, and says while the job can be a bit overwhelming at times, the only difficult aspect is being away from her grandchildren.

“It was a hard decision to make, but until we have more health care services in Negril, this is where I need to be. I’m grateful to be able to be an entrepreneur and have my own business and a really creative life here in Jamaica,” she said.

Ploof can be contacted through her website j.mp/comfortsJA