Paul Matthews was introduced to JPS Health Network in a way he’d like to forget.
Shortly after his unexpected arrival, however, the compassion and care he received touched Paul so deeply that it created a relationship he’s cherished for nearly three decades.
“I moved to Fort Worth from Houston in 1990 to work for a bank,” Matthews said. “I was only here for a week and a half when, while out jogging with my dogs, I was hit by a lady driving a car. The people with the ambulance asked me where I wanted to be taken and I told them I didn’t know because I was new to the area. They told me ‘don’t worry, we’re going to take you to JPS.’”
When he arrived, Paul had a dislocated shoulder and torn ligaments in his knee. Both joints had to be rebuilt and the recovery process was going to be a long one. He was forced to give up the bank job while he healed.
“It was two years before I was able to go back to work,” Matthews said. “Everyone was so nice to me at JPS and took such good care of me that I told my wife I wanted to give something back and I became a volunteer.
He spent 40 hours a week at what is now known as the Viola Pitts Health Center, known as the Panther Clinic. When his knee and shoulder were completely recovered, Paul announced he was going to be leaving to resume his career. His volunteer supervisor told Paul he was too valuable to lose and asked him if he’d be interested in staying on in a paid position.
From 1992 until 2010, Matthews worked in a variety of positions at JPS including jobs in Admissions and in the Dental Clinic. When he retired, he went on a month-long trip to Europe with his wife, returning with expectations of taking life easy for a while. But he found he missed working with the team members and patients at JPS he’d grown so fond of, so he returned to his roots at the health network and again became a volunteer.
“I’ve been doing it ever since, spending two days a week volunteering in the Eligibility Department,” Matthews said. “I love doing it.”
There Paul, who speaks several languages including Spanish, French, Creole and English, sits with people who come into Eligibility to help them fill out the paperwork that needs to be completed to figure out what forms of assistance are available to them. He said it’s incredibly gratifying when he’s able to help people find solutions to problems.
Yanira Lara, manager in the Enrollment and Eligibility Department, said it’s an incredible gift to have Matthews donate his time and abilities to JPS.
“Whenever Paul tells us he is going to take some time off, we know we’re really going to miss his contributions and having him around,” Lara said. “He has such a giving heart and so much compassion for people. We’re very grateful that he wants to be a part of the JPS mission and vision to provide healthcare for everyone who needs it.”
With nearly 28 years of service to JPS and its patients already to his credit, Paul said he doesn’t plan to retire for real any time soon.
“I love working with the young people here and seeing all they do to help people,” said Matthews. “They’re wonderful and they’re so nice to me. I always say that, as long as I am able to move, I am going to be here.”