There was a great, PBS special report called “Real Housewives of Roseville: A Blueprint America Special Report”, as part of their popular Need to Know series. This was reported on by the Seniors For Living web site.
This report highlighted the issues faced by a quiet Northern town, which is just one of many across the country who are as yet unprepared for the “age tsunami”.
According to the report, 1 in 5 suburbanites will be a senior by 2030, just 19 years from now. Schoolchildren are soon to be outnumbered by this elder population, and without major changes to transportation, housing, and infrastructure, many of these 65+ers may find themselves trapped in the suburbs.
With more people moving to/settling in the suburbs, fewer families having children, and federal/state/local funding streams drying up, we truly have a crisis on our hands, considering the massive numbers of folks needing services in the immediate future, not to mention the increasing complexity of care required by these older adults (i.e. Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, disability, etc.).
This underscores the need for services like My Buddy Check to help senior and their families deal with this coming current “age tsunami”.
You can find the video link on Seniors For Living and PBS web sites:
Seniors For Living
PBS
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
BCN Working With "At Risk Infants"
Imagine that you are a parent of one of the approximately 32,000 babies are born with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) each year in the United States. And after heroic work by a leading Children’s Hospital, teams of dedicated doctors, and caring nurses your child is finally able to come home.
There are few more stressful times for parents than during the home recovery period of children diagnosed with complex CHD. The stress of caring for these infants is unrelenting, and the anxiety often peaks in the days and weeks after intensive care discharge as families do not have immediate access to nursing and medical staff. This is especially true for families from rural areas or living long distances from the treating cardiac center.
Dr. Barbara Medoff-Cooper PhD, RN, FAAN of the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Nursing is heading a study that will create a supportive, Transitional TeleHealth Home Care: REACH program that will pioneer a new approach to home monitoring. It integrates an evidence-based APN Transitional Care model with the innovative use of the Buddy Check Network’s voice, SMS, email, and internet monitoring technology.
REACH partners with parents to individualize care and assist them in recognizing early changes in infant health status before an infant is in crisis.
Check back often to stay updated on the study’s progress.
There are few more stressful times for parents than during the home recovery period of children diagnosed with complex CHD. The stress of caring for these infants is unrelenting, and the anxiety often peaks in the days and weeks after intensive care discharge as families do not have immediate access to nursing and medical staff. This is especially true for families from rural areas or living long distances from the treating cardiac center.
Dr. Barbara Medoff-Cooper PhD, RN, FAAN of the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Nursing is heading a study that will create a supportive, Transitional TeleHealth Home Care: REACH program that will pioneer a new approach to home monitoring. It integrates an evidence-based APN Transitional Care model with the innovative use of the Buddy Check Network’s voice, SMS, email, and internet monitoring technology.
REACH partners with parents to individualize care and assist them in recognizing early changes in infant health status before an infant is in crisis.
Check back often to stay updated on the study’s progress.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Losing Options
One of the subjects that often comes up when talking to family members that have loved ones with declining health is how hard it is to get them to accept some help. Even after a fall or serious health episode many seniors will decline to accept even the smallest device, professional help, or a consider a move to a supportive residence.
Often they do not want to be a burden or are concerned about cost, but many have expressed that even when cost is not an issue they still resist admitting to need or accepting any help with the ubiquitous “I’m fine”.
It may be that seniors feel that once they start down that path of accepting help it will never end, short of a nursing home or hospital. While this may be true for some cases most would greatly improve their quality of life by exploring options while they have the opportunity. Many family caregivers fear that an unexpected medical emergency will force them to pick from a reduced option list if they have choices at all.
I would love to hear from you as to how you have or would deal with these situations.
Often they do not want to be a burden or are concerned about cost, but many have expressed that even when cost is not an issue they still resist admitting to need or accepting any help with the ubiquitous “I’m fine”.
It may be that seniors feel that once they start down that path of accepting help it will never end, short of a nursing home or hospital. While this may be true for some cases most would greatly improve their quality of life by exploring options while they have the opportunity. Many family caregivers fear that an unexpected medical emergency will force them to pick from a reduced option list if they have choices at all.
I would love to hear from you as to how you have or would deal with these situations.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Cell Phone 'Telemonitoring' May Help Control Blood Pressure
There was a great article that reported on a study done by Dr. Alexander G. Logan, from the University of Toronto, and is slated to discuss the experimental monitoring system Wednesday at the American Heart Association annual meeting in Chicago.
One expert said the technology can provide a valuable service.
"Telemonitoring provides information regarding a patient's progress and condition between physician visits, and assists clinicians in identifying patients who have early symptoms of a more serious condition that, if left untreated, may require acute care, like hospitalization," explained Dr. Peter Rutherford, medical director at Wenatchee Valley Medical Center in Wenatchee, Wash.
"In the end," he said, "the patient's engagement in the program, coupled with the case manager's involvement in the patient's care and the physician's practice, is a vital piece of the disease management puzzle."
In the preliminary study, Logan and his colleagues have found that after using the cell phone-based device for a year, patients with uncontrolled systolic hypertension dramatically improved their ability to control their blood pressure. In that time frame, systolic blood pressure readings among patients using the system dropped by 9.1 mm Hg, compared with just a 1.6 mm Hg decrease observed among their counterparts with uncontrolled systolic hypertension who relied on standard blood pressure monitoring equipment.
More than a third of the patients (37 percent) using the cell phone system were able to get their blood pressure under control, compared with just 14.2 percent of those using standard equipment.
"This study shows how simple interactive technology may help revolutionize preventive care, which relies on the synergy of the physician and the patient," added another expert, Dr. Tara Narula, a clinical cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
She believes the research, "highlights the future of medicine by a dual approach whereby physicians can reach beyond the confines of the clinic setting and patients are empowered to take control of their own health."
Link to article:
One expert said the technology can provide a valuable service.
"Telemonitoring provides information regarding a patient's progress and condition between physician visits, and assists clinicians in identifying patients who have early symptoms of a more serious condition that, if left untreated, may require acute care, like hospitalization," explained Dr. Peter Rutherford, medical director at Wenatchee Valley Medical Center in Wenatchee, Wash.
"In the end," he said, "the patient's engagement in the program, coupled with the case manager's involvement in the patient's care and the physician's practice, is a vital piece of the disease management puzzle."
In the preliminary study, Logan and his colleagues have found that after using the cell phone-based device for a year, patients with uncontrolled systolic hypertension dramatically improved their ability to control their blood pressure. In that time frame, systolic blood pressure readings among patients using the system dropped by 9.1 mm Hg, compared with just a 1.6 mm Hg decrease observed among their counterparts with uncontrolled systolic hypertension who relied on standard blood pressure monitoring equipment.
More than a third of the patients (37 percent) using the cell phone system were able to get their blood pressure under control, compared with just 14.2 percent of those using standard equipment.
"This study shows how simple interactive technology may help revolutionize preventive care, which relies on the synergy of the physician and the patient," added another expert, Dr. Tara Narula, a clinical cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
She believes the research, "highlights the future of medicine by a dual approach whereby physicians can reach beyond the confines of the clinic setting and patients are empowered to take control of their own health."
Link to article:
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Radio Interview With President of My Buddy Check
I recently had the chance to be on a great radio program the Executive Leaders Radio (www.executiveleadersradio.com) with on-air host, Herb Cohen. The thing that most impressed me about the show is that, unlike most business shows, they focused on the personal aspect of companies and their owners. I had the opportunity to listen to other CEO's, Presidents or Chairmen of companies talk about how they got started in business and the influence their families and experiences in their life that help mold them into the individuals they became.
My segment will air on...
Saturday, November 6th on WHAT/1340AM at 11am (www.am1340what.com to hear it streamed live from their website)
Sunday, November 7th on WCHE/1520AM at 2pm (www.wche1520.com for a live stream) &
Tuesday, November 9th on WFYL/1180AM at 11am.....
I think you will enjoy the various interviews.
My segment will air on...
Saturday, November 6th on WHAT/1340AM at 11am (www.am1340what.com to hear it streamed live from their website)
Sunday, November 7th on WCHE/1520AM at 2pm (www.wche1520.com for a live stream) &
Tuesday, November 9th on WFYL/1180AM at 11am.....
I think you will enjoy the various interviews.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
New glucose meter that uses light may stop the pain!
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are developing a device that monitors glucose using light pulses rather than finger pricks. This would enable people to measure their blood sugar without the normal bloodletting.
Link to article
Link to article
One in five hospitals stays involve diabetes!
There was a great article in FireceHealthcare about how diabetes contributes to increaced healthcare cost and decreased quality of life. The problem seems to be growing out of control. With all the attention given on the recent flu scare we seem to be ignoring the larger problem right in fornt of us.
Here are some of the stats:
Between 2004 and 2007, the number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes rose 22 percent to 17.9 million. Here are some other findings from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project on hospital use by patients with diabetes in 2008:
• Hospital stays for patients with diabetes were longer, more expensive, and more likely to originate in the ED than stays for patients without diabetes.
• Medicare covered almost 60 percent of total hospital costs for patients with diabetes, followed by private health insurance which covered 23 percent of total diabetes-related hospital costs.
• The South had the highest rate of hospital stays for patients with diabetes (2,829 stays per 100,000 persons in the region), while the West had the lowest rate (1,866 stays per 100,000 persons in the region).
• Sixty-one percent of patients with diabetes who stayed in the hospital were admitted through the ED.
• The top three most common principal reasons for hospitalization among patients with diabetes were diabetes, congestive heart failure, and coronary atherosclerosis.
• The rate of hospitalization was highest for patients with diabetes the lower their income.
Link to report
Here are some of the stats:
Between 2004 and 2007, the number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes rose 22 percent to 17.9 million. Here are some other findings from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project on hospital use by patients with diabetes in 2008:
• Hospital stays for patients with diabetes were longer, more expensive, and more likely to originate in the ED than stays for patients without diabetes.
• Medicare covered almost 60 percent of total hospital costs for patients with diabetes, followed by private health insurance which covered 23 percent of total diabetes-related hospital costs.
• The South had the highest rate of hospital stays for patients with diabetes (2,829 stays per 100,000 persons in the region), while the West had the lowest rate (1,866 stays per 100,000 persons in the region).
• Sixty-one percent of patients with diabetes who stayed in the hospital were admitted through the ED.
• The top three most common principal reasons for hospitalization among patients with diabetes were diabetes, congestive heart failure, and coronary atherosclerosis.
• The rate of hospitalization was highest for patients with diabetes the lower their income.
Link to report
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