When caring goes beyond the clinic
Every day, Optum Care Washington clinicians help people through important moments in their lives. They care for patients when they’re sick, answer questions, ease concerns and help them find their path forward.
That commitment to caring doesn’t stop when the workday ends.
This summer, Kimberly Maris, APC Lead for OB/GYN at Optum Care Washington, experienced that in an unexpected way when she witnessed a floatplane crash near Sucia Island.
Stepping in to help
Kimberly and her husband, Jason, were boating near the island when they saw the aircraft crash and catch fire.
“It was a shocking day,” Kimberly said. At first, they feared no one could have survived. Then they saw people emerging from the plane.
Alongside other nearby boaters, Kimberly and Jason rushed to help.
As survivors were brought to safety, those on the water worked together to care for the injured while waiting for emergency responders to arrive. With limited supplies available, Kimberly used a diaper to help control bleeding from an abdominal wound. Jason, a physician assistant, improvised splints using foam from life jackets.
Kimberly said her health care training helped her stay calm and focus on what needed to be done.
“Absolutely, it helped with triaging the situation, trying to remain as calm as possible and using the resources that were available,” she said.
Care starts with compassion
While her training was important, Kimberly believes the decision to help came from something more basic.
“We would have tried to help even without any experience,” she said. “It was a dire situation.”
That mindset is shared by many clinicians across Optum Care Washington. Caring for others is more than treating injuries or managing illnesses. It’s about being there when people need support most.
For Kimberly, that means leading with kindness and reassurance.
“I tried to be reassuring and kind to these people experiencing one of the worst catastrophes of their lives,” she said.
People helping people
Looking back, Kimberly is especially grateful for how quickly people came together to help.
“Boaters are amazing people,” she said. “They are always looking out for each other.”
Neighbors helped neighbors. Strangers helped strangers. Everyone focused on the same goal: helping people get through a difficult moment.
In many ways, that’s what health care is all about.
A reflection of who we are
The rescue near Sucia Island made headlines because of the extraordinary circumstances.
For us, it’s also a reminder of the people behind the care we provide every day. Across Optum Care Washington, our clinicians bring compassion, dedication and a genuine desire to help others, both inside and outside the clinic.
As Kimberly puts it, “We’re aiming to reduce suffering and trying to be a guide through this journey of life.”
Whether caring for patients in a clinic or helping others in an unexpected moment of need, that commitment remains the same.
“We really do care,” Kimberly said. “There are so many ways we can do it.”