Best Patient Engagement Initiatives

It takes some courage for a medical journal to have patients review articles written by researchers, doctors and nurses. And yet that is exactly what the British Medical Journal is setting up at present as part of their new patient partnership strategy.

VitalHealth QuestLink improves patient engagement through the use of online patient questionnaires.

Date January 21, 2014 - January 22, 2014 Location Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute 1828 L Street, NW, Suite 900 Washington DC. UPDATE As a result of the federal government's inclement weather closure this meeting has been moved to the PCORI offices.While the agenda will be the same, remote access to the meeting has changed.

Great information by the Center of Health Engagement

Happy Chemo helps cancer patients overcome the fear and financial burden linked with cancer diagnosis and treatment with cancer discounts and freebies.

In addition to providing companion care, personal home care, post-surgical home care and Daily Living Care, this Jacksonville Florida home services organization provide innovative programs via its' Care Plus Program. In this program, patients and caregivers have access to:
** CogS Kit**: helps a patient’s memory, senses and cognitive function. The goals of the CogS Kit are to:

• Help our patients both physically and mentally,
• Develop a deeper relationship with our patients through active engagement,
• Provide services that foster a better environment of care.
• There are three different types of CogS activities: physical activity done safely, cognitive and sensory stimulation, and finally memory stimulation.

*Project Pensive: *Family Focused caregivers can record and share precious patient memories with the patient/guardian approved list of family and friends.
The goals of Project Pensive are to:

• Turn what was idle time during the day into something more productive and stimulating through storytelling.
• Invite patients to reminisce and recall stories from their lives that may be fleeting.
• Document memories for our families that are shared for years. While the CogS Kit and Project Pensive have different aspects, the outcome is the same in that our clients have a much more fulfilling time with their Family Focused™ caregiver because the caregiver is prepared to provide the best care possible throughout the whole shift. Our caregivers are not left wondering what to do once the activities of daily living (ADL) are completed. We’ve even heard that at other agencies, unfortunately their caregivers use the “TV as a patient babysitter” while missing out on opportunities to connect and make a difference. At Family Focused™, we strive to create the best experience and outcomes for our patients, and their families, given where they are in their life journey.

Respite Care: Respite Care gives family members who provide care the much deserved break from caregiving, while continuing to provide the person you love with the continued attention they need. You can actually improve and strengthen your ability to provide ongoing care by using the Respite Services offered by Family Focused Home Health Care™. This service can be short term, long term or intermittent. In the photo above, Roger is 70 years old with dementia. His family's immediate concern is to keep Roger engaged, mentally stimulated, and to minimize his napping as it is wreaking havoc on his wife's sleeping patterns since he is otherwise up all night.

Support for Families: Family members that care full time for loved ones with medical challenges, physical limitations, or mental illness can benefit from our Support for Families services.

Online Family Room – We communicate regularly about the care plan with the patient’s permission. The Family Room is accessible through a computer or mobile device 24/7.

Medical Care Team Coordination- We work with the patient’s current medical care team regarding discharge instructions, provide transportation and coordination of care and care reporting.

*Skilled Care *– We can actively coordinate the necessary level of skilled nursing care needed with our partners.

Home Cleaning Services Coordination – We can arrange for housekeeping services to provide a deep clean, or to get a house ready for sale.

*Bill Pay Services Coordination *– We can work with companies that are insured and trustworthy to ensure bills are paid on time.

The mission of CASANA, the Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America, is to strengthen support systems for children with childhood apraxia of speech, so they have the best opportunity to learn to speak. Learn more. You will learn a lot also about apraxia of all kinds impacting different parts of the body, and resources for helping.

They have a very active (over 5k) private Facebook Group of parents of children with apraxia of speech.

Evidence shown on this site and elsewhere includes that sensory (from weighted blankets to sensory therapy with an OT) can help apraxia- another set of health conditions helped by sensory.