Please contact the Champions listed below if you would like to have an initiative or issue reviewed at the next meeting. Thank you!

 

We want to thank our clinicians for the excellent patient care provided each day. As managers and directors, going out with you on joint visits has become a favorite part of our jobs and we are so proud of the care you deliver. Here are some recent observations of Amazing Patient Experiences!!!

 

Joanna Bentley, PT, did an excellent job of interviewing/observing patient about pain status throughout the session where the patient finally acknowledged long standing hx of back pain. Patient had learned to live with it and did not think of it as pain.

 

Kim McLoed, PT, asked the patient if there was anything else she could do for the patient before she left the house at the end of the visit.

 

Jen McCarter, RN, introduced the pain scale in the workbook to the patient and stated-"here is the scale that will help you understand your pain and take care of it".

 

Former patient P.C. called Judy to express her thanks to her home care team - Maryanne Thibeault RN, Anna Murphy PT, Kris McGravey PTA, Kathy Sciarratta OT & Diana Visco COTA and Kris Camara SLP. Ms. C. is a 96 y/o lady referred to us for Dysphagia & Sciatica. She has chronic pain issues. She told Judy that when our team started working with her she had a great deal of pain with movement, felt unsteady, and could not enjoy eating due to "the food got stuck or would come back up"; she was very discouraged. Less than 2 months later she is moving much more confidently, with much less pain and "the food is staying down". She said that each of them contributed to her recovery, and she is very grateful. She asked if we could send her a donation envelope, so she can show her appreciation.

 

On a joint visit with a therapist Dasia LaRusso, PT, Maura witnessed her great assessment of home safety and plan for this 90yr old gentleman. She was expert at medication reconciliation and teaching on high alert medications on this SOC. She documented in the home and compartmentalized her comprehensive skin assessment in with her OASIS walk. She utilized the Patient Education Workbook on the first visit and mentioned the phrase "Please Call us first" unless you may need 911.

 

I did a joint visit with Kelly Healey RN out of Needham to a frail elderly man who did not speak English and who was not born in this country. Kelly's care and sensitivity to his and his family's cultural heritage and beliefs was so much part of her visit-like it came naturally to her. Very special.

 

I did a joint visit with Matt King PTA in Leominster. We visited a patient with advancing dementia. Matt was incredibly organized in the visit all the while following the patient's and the family's lead; given the circumstances this was pretty impressive to watch. He was intensely focused and compassionate. He talked about what the other team members were working on, and reviewed when each would visit next-a really thorough and complete visit that was an example of professionalism and best practice.

 

I did a joint visit with Holly Hughes RN from Charlestown to the home of a patient with heart failure. The patient and family peppered Holly with questions about her personal life. Holly redirected the conversation over and over again back to the patient, with grace and humor and patience---and without disclosing personal information! Her skill and confidence in managing the visit so that the patient felt heard and respected and cared for and about left me in awe.

 

In Quarter 2 OASIS Education, SHP outcome data reports detailing individual outcomes were provided to clinicians. This is part 2 of a 3 part series reviewing publicly reported functional outcomes to help you bring your data up to the top 20%. Look at your individual SHP data and compare to the most recent data for the top 20%. If you need a copy of your SHP data, please ask your PCM.

Improvement in Ambulation: 72.7%

Improvement in Bed Transfer: 69.1%

Improvement in Bathing: 78.0%

 

 PER OASIS GUIDANCE

By Christine Day, Clinical Application Specialist

 

Attention Encore Users:

On Wednesday, August 17, a Medispan update will be placed on the server at 2pm.

 

Please remember that this file will get picked up by your laptop with its first laptop sync after that time. It takes about 30 minutes to process onto your laptop. Please setup for your usual overnight communication Wednesday evening so that you will pick up the Medispan file overnight avoiding a potentially lengthy communication in the morning.

 

If you have any questions, please contact the Clinical Applications/ Encore/ McKesson line at (617) 886-6730.

 

To learn more about career opportunities visit careers.vnacare.org contact a human resources representative:

• Ann Bohac at ann_bohac@vnacare.org
• Debbie Brown at debbie_brown@vnacare.org
• Jennifer MacFaden at  jennifer_macfaden@vnacare.org
• Cheryl Milas at cheryl_milas@vnacare.org
• Bev Riley at  beverly_riley@vnacare.org

 

To suggest an area of focus to the Employee Advisory Team (EAT), please email your suggestion to EATSuggestionbox@vnacare.org. Suggestions can include ideas to improve current processes and procedures, remove redundancies, or even to provide feedback on something you think is/is not working.

 

Please feel free to discuss any issues that you would like brought to EAT with the following members of the committee:

Liz Bourne Ray Brackett Kim Dio Kelly Frew

Mary Helen Mahoney Susan Marlin Procter Mary McCarthy Ilona O'Connor

Mary Ann O'Connor Mae Powers David Rose Danny Yang

EAT is also on the lookout for new members. If you're interested in participating, or for more information on what EAT is all about, please reach out to any of the members listed above. Meetings are held monthly in the Charlestown office.