Page 13 - SFHN JUNE 2020 FLIP BOOK

VITAS Healthcare Expands Memory Disorder Center

Telehealth Through COVID-19 Offers Support Beyond

Alzheimer’s Disease
Most disasters that coordinate and deliver care
require healthcare profes- in the era of COVID-19 even COVID-19 has affected nearly every aspect of our
sionals to rise to the occa- as we develop new protocols lives, including work, social interaction and hobbies.
sion are prefaced by early for the virus’ new challenges. Many people are finding themselves isolated in their
warnings from weather As examples: homes, unable to see their loved ones in person, not
forecasters or defined by • In all 14 states and the exercising as frequently and unable to meet occupa-
time-limited community District of Columbia, VITAS tional and financial obligations. Isolation takes away
tragedies. instituted mandatory educa- many of the aspects of our lives that we rely upon to
The COVID-19 pan- tion for VITAS care teams on help foster our mental health. It’s important to not for-
demic, by contrast, has infection control and care get about self-care and caring for loved ones who may
been a different phenom- procedures consistent with suffer from memory disorder.
enon. A virus that spread CMS and the U.S. Centers Broward Health North clinical neuropsychologist
around the world in less BY DR. ILEANA LEYVA for Disease Control and Thomas Crum, Ph.D., spends a lot of his day-to-day
than six months has Prevention guidelines. This work assessing memory and cognitive function for
taxed the US healthcare includes securing appropri- older adults at the Memory Disorder Center at Dr. Thomas Crum
system, upending nearly everything that ate PPE for our employees to provide Broward Health North. When his patients, family and
was once routine and predictable about hands-on care. Each of our 48 programs friends ask him for advice on adapting to this “new “normal,” especially for those who
caring for extremely sick patients. has a dedicated infection control special- are caregivers of a family member, he advises focusing on self-care first and the rest
Yet the current pandemic has also ist. will follow.
taught us that experience and flexibility • Nationwide, VITAS teams adhere to “I recommend to those around me to attempt to make this new normal as healthy
matter. Many of the policies, strategies, screening protocols, visitation policies, – both physically and mentally – as they can for everyone involved,” he said, suggest-
and multi-phase preparedness plans that and direct patient-care guidelines at our ing dusting off hobbies that might have been put on hold. “For a lot of us, many of
we deploy at VITAS Healthcare in antici- partner hospitals and care facilities. the activities and resources we used for self-care have been lost. For example, because
pation of a hurricane or in the wake of a Often prevented from entering facilities, of an inability to see my friends, I have begun to do drive-by visits to my friends and
mass shooting, for example, serve well as our care teams increasingly rely on tele- my children’s friends’ houses, making sure to wear our masks and conversing in their
operational roadmaps that inform and health to communicate with our health- yards while remaining at least six feet apart.”
shape our ability to continue providing care colleagues, patients, and their fami- Additional self-care options include:
hospice care despite COVID-19 chal- lies. • Scheduling time to exercise every day. There are recent articles discussing how
lenges, shortages, and risks. • A VITAS task force participates regu- exercise can be extremely helpful in reducing anxiety and depression in the best of
COVID-19 also reminds us that adapt- larly in nationwide conference calls so times, and even more so now.
ability and open mindsets can help the that on-the-ground managers, hospice • Scheduling family-time every day in person or via video. Each of your loved ones
healthcare profession react, re-tool, and clinicians, and executives can stay col- is experiencing a similar situation. Even a brief conversation can bring a smile to their
reframe how critical healthcare is deliv- lectively updated on federal, state, and (and your) face and let them know that they are loved.
ered. This virus has forced us to do so in local guidelines and announcements. • Engaging in a hobby is an opportunity to relax your mind. There is a reason why
a very short time. Information is relayed regularly to all bicycle shops and guitar shops are sold out. Many people are finding that the extra
At VITAS, adapting to the pandemic 12,000-plus VITAS employees via com- time afforded by quarantine has allowed them to pursue a hobby they never thought
has created care scenarios that are entire- panywide emails and intranet. they could enjoy.
ly new to the hospice profession. Through all of the challenges this pan- Also be aware that there are resources available if you find you are struggling. The
Flexible innovation has demanded it, demic has presented, our promise of Memory Disorder Center at Broward Health North offers psychotherapy for anxiety
and the Centers for Medicare and 24/7/365 availability remains constant. and depression, as well as care for those who are experiencing memory loss and sup-
Medicaid Services’ (CMS) decision to New tools and protocols now ensure that port for their caregivers. The Center has nurses and family counselors available to
allow telehealth for hospice care has sup- VITAS patients can continue to receive assist with medical management, behavioral management and support groups.
ported it: care at home, even if the new definition
• Conducting head-to-toe examina- of care involves limited in-person visits For more information or to schedule a free memory screening, call (954) 786-7392.
tions of a patient by video chat, with a by the hospice team and regular tele-
family member or caregiver guiding the health check-ins.
smartphone or tablet, is now a reality for Likewise, we can admit patients E-mail Your Editorial Submissions to
our admissions nurses as they evaluate directly from the hospital emergency
patients for hospice eligibility. department to general inpatient hospice editorial@southfloridahospitalnews.com
• A virtual tour of a home hospice care or to hospice care at home, support-
patient’s living area helps hospice nurses ed by ongoing telehealth consultations
assess whether a hospital bed, walker, with hospital staff, updates for family W U L A SA TE T E O U R ST U TU DE EN NT TSS S, , GR RA A DU UAA A S AESTETE ND I N IN ST R TR U CT O TO RS W O RK KII N IN G O N HETHTHE F R FR O NT L TLI N INE ES S O F C OV VII . 9 1 - D ID
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patient lift, or bedside commode should members, and psychosocial support for
be delivered to the home. patients from chaplains and social work-
o r
• Face-to-face goals-of-care conversa- ers.
tions are replaced by video chats in Healthcare in the COVID-19 era is o o N s l l t all su hhrpuper eroe s s
which physicians, patients, and family developing into a combination of
members explore care-related wishes enhanced protocols and flexible innova- w rae wear ca p pes . . s
and document difficult-but-necessary tion, a continually evolving strategy that
decisions about ventilation, do-not- enables us to best help our patients and
eaar sc
resuscitate orders, and comfort-focused their families when they need us most. m m o So e wewe . . s b u r crubs
care.
These new ways of coordinating and Dr. Ileana Leyva is regional medical direc-
delivering care are supported by tried- tor for VITAS Healthcare. To refer a patient
and-true disaster preparedness protocols or for information, call 800-93-VITAS or
in place at all of our service locations for download the VITAS mobile app at
events like hurricanes, wildfires, and VITASapp.com for interactive E EMM O O O P WEWERYRY O O OUURR FA T T OOO R R RTTII S S. S I
R
RSSEL
F L E SEL
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mass shootings. They have helped us hospice eligibility guidelines.
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