Julia Arsenault on Continuing Care, Dermatology eConsults, and Bringing Specialist Expertise to Patients at Home

At Alethea, our NP Spotlight series highlights nurse practitioners who are finding new ways to improve access to care, collaborate with specialists, and better support the patients and communities they serve.

This month, we're featuring Julia Arsenault, NP, an Adult Nurse Practitioner who has worked in Continuing Care in Facility and Supportive Living in Edmonton since 2012. With a particular interest in palliative and end-of-life care, Julia's practice demonstrates the value of bringing care - and specialist expertise - to patients where they are.

From Surgical Nursing to Advanced Practice

Julia began her clinical career as a Registered Nurse, working across surgical units in both community and urban hospitals in Alberta and Prince Edward Island. Alongside her clinical work, an interest in quality improvement and patient safety led her to roles as a Quality Improvement Advisor and Clinical Quality Consultant, where she investigated adverse events and worked to improve healthcare delivery.

After spending some time away from bedside care, Julia realized how much she missed working directly with patients and families. Looking for a way to return to clinical care in a different capacity, she decided to pursue advanced practice nursing.

Julia completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Dalhousie University in 2004, followed by a Master's Degree in Applied Health Services Research from the University of Prince Edward Island in 2007. In 2012, she completed her Post-Master's in Advanced Practice Nursing at the University of Alberta and began practising as a Nurse Practitioner in Continuing Care.

Today, she cares for seniors living in facility and supportive living environments throughout Edmonton, with a particular interest in palliative and end-of-life care.

"It is such a privilege to provide care for and to learn from seniors in their own home environments," Julia shared. "Each day is different and I am always challenged when dealing with complex geriatrics."

Her passion for teaching and learning also extends beyond her clinical practice. Julia has served as a guest lecturer at the University of Prince Edward Island and the University of Alberta, a clinical preceptor for advanced practice nurses, an instructor in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta, and a LEAP (Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative Care) facilitator with Pallium Canada.

Bringing Dermatology Expertise to a Bedbound Patient

For many patients in Continuing Care, accessing specialist care presents challenges that extend well beyond wait times. Mobility and functional impairments can make attending an in-person appointment difficult and may require coordinating transportation, a companion, equipment, and additional supports.

Julia experienced this firsthand while caring for a bedbound patient with a painful skin condition that had not responded to multiple treatments.

Rather than requiring the patient to leave their home for a dermatology assessment, Julia used Alethea to connect with a local dermatologist. She submitted a detailed clinical history along with photographs of the affected area and received a prompt response with a comprehensive treatment plan.

The dermatologist also offered to continue collaborating with Julia if additional support was required.

Julia was able to implement the recommendations directly within the patient's home environment. The result was symptom relief and complete resolution of the condition—without the patient ever having to leave home for specialist care.

For Julia, the case demonstrated how access to specialist advice can have a particularly meaningful impact for patients for whom traditional referrals can be difficult to navigate.

Why Dermatology eConsults Work Well in Continuing Care

Dermatology is the specialty Julia accesses most frequently through Alethea.

Skin concerns are common among Continuing Care patients, and while many can be managed through primary care, some require specialist assessment or guidance. Traditionally, obtaining that expertise could mean arranging an in-person referral for a patient with significant mobility or functional limitations.

Alethea allows Julia to provide specialists with multiple clinical photographs alongside a detailed patient history, giving the dermatologist information needed to assess the concern remotely and provide recommendations.

"The ability to provide multiple photos and detailed histories directly into the platform makes it very user-friendly," Julia explained, "and allows us access to expertise that previously would have required complex coordination of care."

For Continuing Care patients, avoiding that coordination can mean more than convenience. It can allow patients to receive appropriate specialist-informed treatment while remaining safely and comfortably in their home environment.

Quick, Direct Access to Specialist Support

When asked what other Nurse Practitioners should know about Alethea, Julia highlighted the simplicity of the platform and the ability to communicate directly with specialists.

"Alethea is a very user-friendly, straightforward and efficient platform," she shared. "It provides reliable and quick access to specialty services, and I appreciate the chat feature where clinicians can message one another directly."

That direct communication is particularly valuable when managing complex patients. Rather than specialist involvement being limited to a single referral and consultation, the platform can facilitate ongoing dialogue between the primary care provider and specialist when additional questions arise.

Julia's experience demonstrates how eConsults can support a model of specialist care that is not only faster, but also more accessible for patients who face significant barriers to attending traditional appointments.

For Nurse Practitioners working in Continuing Care, supportive living, rural communities, or other settings where accessing in-person specialty care can be challenging, that connection can help bring specialist expertise directly to the point of care.

We're grateful to Julia for sharing her experience and insights as part of our NP Spotlight series.

Interested in learning more about Alethea or joining the platform as an NP? Sign up for free or contact us at sales@aletheamedical.com.