September 2026
Jessica Bates, APP, named UM Health-Sparrow September Team Member Spotlight
The best healthcare experiences can often simply be when you feel like someone is listening.
That is exactly what happened for one patient at the University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Same Day Care Practice. And it is why Jessica Bates, APP, is the UM Health-Sparrow Team Member Spotlight for September.
The honor recognizes team members who go above and beyond for their patients. For Bates, that means treating every person who walks through the door like they matter.
The patient had been scheduled for a Same Day Care visit through their primary care office and was blown away by the experience.
In a follow-up survey, they praised the scheduling process, saying their primary care office showed concern rather than apathy. They highlighted the quality of care as exceptional. And they pointed out that despite the clinic being busy, Bates was not rushed.
Before the patient arrived, Bates had already reviewed their full health history. That meant she did not have to ask the same questions over and over. Instead, she could focus on what mattered: talking with the patient, understanding their concerns and building a plan together.
Bates said that kind of preparation is part of how she approaches her job.
"I want patients to feel like I already know them when they sit down with me," she said. "It saves time, sure, but more importantly, it shows them that I care about their story, not just their symptoms."
The patient also described Bates as compassionate and highly skilled.
The Same Day Care Practice fills an important gap in healthcare. It is not an emergency room nor a typical urgent care, either. It is a place for patients who need timely attention for symptoms that are not life-threatening but still need to be checked out and may not be able to get an appointment immediately with their primary care office.
Bates is quick to share the credit. She said the Same Day Care program works because of the people behind the scenes, such as the schedulers, administrators and the whole care team.
"It takes all of us," she said. "I am just one part of it."
As the September Team Member Spotlight, Bates joins a growing list of UM Health-Sparrow team members recognized for their dedication. But for her, the real reward is not a title. It is knowing that patients leave feeling better, physically and emotionally.