IN THIS ISSUE
Joanne Simone Named 2011 Patient Advocate of the Year
"The Right Hand Doesn't Know What the Left Hand is Doing!"
Thanksgiving Day is Family Health History Day
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What's New at
Guardian Nurses
Joanne Simone, RN, MBA, Named the 2011 Patient Advocate of Year by Dorland Health
 Connie Sunderhaus, RN, RN-BC, CCM, (on left) was the guest presenter at the 2011 Dorland Health People Awards Luncheon who happily gave Joanne Simone her Patient Advocate of the Year Award. After 40 years in nursing, Simone was honored for her work at Guardian Nurses. With her family and close friends joining her at the National Press Club on October 20th, Simone said, "What a wonderful way to spend a day!" |
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"The Right Hand Doesn't Know What the Left Hand is Doing!"
Just last week, we received a call from a patient who was in the hospital and called for our help, frustrated with the lack of communication among her care team. As she angrily said, "One person comes in and tells me this; another comes in and tells me something different! The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing!"
Believe it or not, we get a lot of calls like this. We can certainly help ease frustration and improve communication in cases like this one. Sometimes just knowing who to call and what to say can make a world of difference.
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From Our House to Yours....
With appreciation for all that we have, the Guardian Nurses team wishes all of our clients, friends, and patients a very Happy Thanksgiving! May your holiday be filled with good health, good cheer and lively conversation!
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I recently posted a new entry on my blog, BettyLongRN.com about the importance of talking openly in your family of origin about known health issues. The title is "Family Secrets...I Didn't Know My Mom Had...."
And just this past weekend, as though the universe is STILL trying to tell me something, I was with a group of friends and one woman shared with the group her recent 'aha' moment regarding her family health history.
In 2004, the Surgeon General declared Thanksgiving to be National Family Health History Day. Over the holiday or at other times when families gather, the Surgeon General has encouraged Americans to talk about, and to write down, the health problems that seem to run in their family. Learning about your family's health history may help ensure a longer, healthier future together.
A survey found that 96% of Americans believe that knowing their family history is important. Yet, the same survey found that only 33% of Americans have ever tried to gather and write down their family's health history.
So, what are you waiting for? Take some time between the parade, the football games, the turkey dinner and the pumpkin pie to learn more about YOUR family secrets---your continued good health could depend on it.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Don't forget...get your flu shot!
Betty
Betty Long, RN, MHA, President
Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates
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"Talk Amongst Yourselves" Many years ago, a Saturday Night Live character played by Mike Meyers encouraged people to "Talk amongst yourselves." While Linda Richman (Meyers), the Coffee Talk host, was not specifically suggesting talking about your family health history, we'd like to suggest that for November, it should be. You know you got your curly red hair from your grandfather, and your blue eyes from your dad. These aren't the only things you may have inherited from your family, however. Many medical conditions, including heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, alcoholism and Alzheimer's disease have also been shown to be passed down through families. A family medical history or medical family tree is a record of important medical information about your relatives, including illnesses and diseases, along with the relationships among the members of your family.
Start a family health or medical history by talking with your immediate family members -- parents, grandparents and siblings -- all the folks who, if they're alive, might be dining with you on Thanksgiving Day---as they provide the most important links to genetic risk.
Look back about three generations (to your grandparents or great-grandparents) and try to collect details on every direct family member who has died and the cause of death. Also, document the medical conditions of all family members, including the age at which they were first diagnosed, their treatment, and if they ever had surgery. Some important medical conditions to document include:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Mental illness
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Alcoholism
- Birth defects
- Learning disabilities
- Vision or hearing loss
To make documenting this history easier, the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG) has a website, My Family Health Portrait, that is designed for consumers to create a family health history.
The tool is easy to access on the web and simple to fill out. It assembles your information and makes a "pedigree" family tree that you can download. It is private--it does not keep your information. It gives you a health history that you can share with family members or send to your health care practitioner.
According to the OSG, it should only take about 15 to 20 minutes to build a basic family health history. (Of course, those with larger families will likely take a bit longer). If your parents are deceased or your relatives are ---shall we say----uncooperative, it may take some real detective work to learn more about your family's medical past. If you can't get access to medical records, try death certificates, obituaries and old family letters. Even old family photos can provide visual clues to diseases such as obesity, skin conditions and osteoporosis.
If you're adopted or otherwise can't learn more about your family's health history, be sure to follow standard screening recommendations and see your healthcare provider for a physical on a regular basis.
Keep in mind that the format and questions don't have to be perfect. It's really just about getting as much information as you can, in whatever format is easiest for you. What you learn could literally save your life!
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