When healthcare systems across the country slowed almost overnight, some providers waited for normal to return. Others moved forward anyway. At Brooke Army Medical Center, one nurse practitioner recognized a growing risk to her patients and chose action over uncertainty.
This is the story of Christie Morrison, a Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner at Brooke Army Medical Center, who turned a pandemic crisis into lasting care by building something her patients urgently needed.
From Bedside Foundations to Bigger Responsibility
Every meaningful innovation begins with experience. For Christie Morrison, that experience started long before the pandemic. She entered the healthcare field clinically in 2006, beginning her career as a registered nurse before advancing into the role of nurse practitioner.
Those early years shaped how she approached patient care. As an RN, she learned to listen closely and respond quickly. As a nurse practitioner, she gained the authority to turn clinical insight into action. Together, those skills prepared her for a moment when decisive leadership would matter more than ever.
Empathy as the Engine Behind Innovation
Christie’s decision to specialize in gastroenterology was personal. She became a GI nurse practitioner because of a family history of gastrointestinal disease, particularly inflammatory bowel disease. That connection gave her an added level of understanding before she ever entered a clinic.
Over time, her experience reinforced what she already sensed. She observed gaps that extended beyond individual cases. As she explained, “I really feel like there’s a big gap in patients with that severe illness in maintaining long-term and good control of their disease and just continuity of care.”
That realization developed through years of treating patients and watching how easily continuity could break down.
Continuity of Care in a Mobile Military Population
Continuity of care is challenging in any healthcare system, but Christie explains that it is especially complex in military medicine.
“The thing about practicing in military medicine is that they don’t always have continuity of care because they’re traveling everywhere, PCS-ing to different bases,” she said.
Military patients often experience:
- Frequent relocations between installations
- Transitions from active duty to retirement
- Limited handoffs between providers
- Gaps in specialty care when arriving at new duty stations
Christie’s job was to step in after these transitions. She has cared for patients who PCS’d to San Antonio or retired there, often inheriting complex histories that require rapid understanding and trust.
How the Pandemic Exposed a Growing Risk
When COVID-19 arrived, existing vulnerabilities intensified. Christie recalled, “When COVID hit, we had a big shutdown here of in-person services for our patients.”
Staffing levels declined. Physical access to care narrowed. Infusion services, which are essential for many GI patients, became difficult to schedule. As she explained, “A lot of our patients that needed infusion services were not able to get those in a timely manner.”
National data later confirmed the scale of disruption. Hospital-based care utilization in the United States dropped sharply in early 2020 as systems postponed nonemergency services and redirected resources.¹ For patients dependent on routine infusions, delays posed serious health risks.
Waiting was not an option.
Building a Solution When Systems Paused
Instead of accepting limited access, Christie focused on what was possible. “With the help of my nursing staff here and under the guidance of my chief approving this, I kind of started an infusion clinic here in our GI department,” she said.
During the early months of COVID, Christie and her team created an internal infusion clinic within the GI department. This allowed patients to continue treatment in a familiar setting, supported by providers who already knew their histories.
The impact was immediate. Medication schedules were preserved. Timing was adjusted when needed. Most importantly, continuity of care was protected during a period of widespread disruption.
Her leadership did not go unnoticed. Brigadier General Wendy L. Harter later recognized her work, stating:
“Christie, you spearheaded countless infusions to prevent our beneficiaries from missing vital medication amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, you ensured virtual health care capabilities were accessible to address patients’ concerns.”
Care That Lasted Beyond the Crisis
As restrictions eased, the value of the infusion clinic remained clear. Patients continued receiving consistent treatment, education, and follow-up.
Christie reflected on patients who came to her after years of untreated symptoms. She described “patients that have come to me after years of living what they thought was normal and finding out that it’s not normal, and making simple changes that have totally transformed their life and how their disease is.”
Why This Work Is Both Professional and Personal
Three elements defined Christie’s work.
First is continuity. “I’m lucky to be able to see the same patients pretty regularly here,” she shared, explaining that long-term relationships improve outcomes.
Second is autonomy. “I have a little bit more freedom because I am able to practice autonomously as a nurse practitioner when I work here.” That autonomy allowed her to act decisively when circumstances demanded it.
Third is service. Christie was never able to serve in the armed forces herself. “I feel like this is my tiny way of giving back and serving because I’m able to help our active duty, our veterans, and their family members,” she said.
How the Right Partnership Supported Christie’s Impact
Christie credited her ability to innovate to an environment that values clinical judgment. During her time working with Matrix Providers, she found the autonomy, trust, and stability needed to lead.
“I would definitely recommend Matrix Providers to other healthcare providers that are looking to be able to work in the military and have all those benefits working for a good contract company like Matrix,” she said. “I have already referred people to them and will continue to do so.”
Make your impact count with Matrix Providers
Christie Morrison’s story shows what is possible when clinicians are trusted to lead and innovate. Matrix Providers supports healthcare professionals who want to practice with purpose, autonomy, and impact in military and federal settings.
Connect with Matrix Providers to explore opportunities in military medicine and make your impact count.
Reference
- Kazakova, Svetlana V., et al. “Declines in the Utilization of Hospital-Based Care during COVID-19 Pandemic.” Journal of Hospital Medicine, vol. 17, no. 12, Dec. 2022, pp. 984–989. Wiley, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36039477/.