RVNAhealth Introduces Homecare Homebase as Agency-Wide Electronic Medical Record

On Wednesday, April 25, RVNAhealth implemented Homecare Homebase as our agency-wide electronic medical record. Homecare Homebase (HCHB) is the premier electronic medical record (EMR) in the field, lauded by health care agencies and clinicians for its power, flexibility, customizability and service to the patient.

“We are all extremely energized by the introduction of Homecare Homebase,” says John Apinis, RN, BSN, Director of Nursing Services, whose team of skilled nurses will be using the system beginning today —along with all other in-home RVNAhealth therapists and clinicians — following considerable training. “This represents a major investment by RVNAhealth with two simple goals: enhancing and delivering the most precise and effective patient care possible in accordance with prescribed guidelines, and creating an environment where our clinicians can focus their expertise and attention on their patients, not their paperwork.”

Apinis is part of the agency-wide team that has worked for several months preparing for the implementation. “Homecare Homebase is simply the best EMR in the field,” says Apinis, “and we have worked meticulously to anticipate needs, conditions and situations so that our transition is as seamless as possible.”

Some benefits of Homecare Homebase include:
* Easy access to comprehensive patient data — including physician’s notes and medication records.
* Direct mapping to a patient’s custom care plan and pathway to guide consistent, standardized, outcomes-driven care that responds to and reflects the evolving healthcare landscape and guidelines.
* Ease of operational burdens, so RVNAhealth clinicians and staff can focus their attention on their patients and the care they deliver.

“We’ve been working toward this implementation since early January,” says Apinis, “and we are ready and excited to go live.  RVNA’s commitment is, and always will be, to enhanced patient care, better outcomes, healthier and more comfortable patients, and smart, effective, efficient operations. Homecare Homebase allows us to address all of these goals.”

Making End-of-Life Care Decisions

If you would like to share your wishes for end-of life-care, it’s important to have conversations with loved ones to convey your thoughts and feelings.  The Conversation Project is a guide developed in conjunction with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to help individuals think about, clarify, and communicate their wishes.  Many decisions are involved in end-of-life care, and conversations held well in advance of that time make it easier for family and caregivers to honor your wishes. While research shows the majority of people say it’s important to talk about and plan for end-of-life issues, a much smaller percentage of people actually do so. Using guidelines from The Conversation Project (www.theconversationproject.org), you can address things like how much you want to know about your condition and treatment, how you would like your doctors to treat you, what kinds of treatment you would or would not want, where you would like to receive treatment, and for how long.  Addressing these concerns allows an individual to identify how they would like to live the final days of their life and helps to unburden family members who may be involved in their care.  Another tool which can be used to consider end of life issues is called Five Wishes (www.agingwithdignity.org).  When completed, it can be used as a living will to help individuals and their families plan ahead and cope with serious illness.  In 42 states, including Connecticut, it meets the requirements of an advanced directive.  It identifies who you want to make your healthcare decisions if you no longer can, what kind of medical treatments you do or do not want, how comfortable you want to be in your final days, how you want to be treated by your loved ones and caregivers, and what you want your loved ones to know as your life ends. National Healthcare Decisions Week is April 16-22, so if you have not yet made plans that would include your wishes and help your loved ones, it might be a good time to consider starting those discussions.

HomeCare by RVNA: Help Where and When You Need It

Asking for — and then accepting – help isn’t always easy. Some of us are concerned that a request for help is a sign of weakness or will lead to a loss of independence. Plus, identifying what help is needed and where to get it can be daunting too. The first step in considering help is recognizing the common signs that you might need non-medical assistance at home. HomeCare by RVNA can help.

According to Judy Becker, HomeCare by RVNA Director of Operations, there are certain telltale signs that individuals should be aware of when it comes to healthy aging in place. “Often, a spouse or adult child is the first to notice that something’s not quite right with a family member,” explains Becker. “It’s not necessarily a serious incident that causes concern. It could be as simple as a change in behavior or activity level,” she adds. Whatever the reason, Becker encourages all family members to trust their instincts and talk openly with each other.

So, what are the signs to watch out for? They typically fall into the categories of behavior, safety, and what are known as “activities of daily living.” The list below is a good place to start. Use it to periodically evaluate how you or a family member is feeling.

Behavior

  • Reduced participation in typical activities or social groups
  • Feelings of social isolation
  • Forgetfulness/confusion
  • Increased anxiety, frustration, or worry
  • Consistent use of poor judgment

Safety

  • Change in driving habits and/or minor accidents with vehicle
  • Forgetting or mistaking medication
  • Frequent falls
  • Resistance to medical advice

Activities of Daily Living

  • Difficulty keeping up house and property
  • Difficulty shopping for or preparing food/spoiled food in the home
  • Noticeable decline in grooming habits or disheveled appearance
  • Increased clutter in the home
  • Inability to keep on top of bills or care for pets

“Acknowledging the signs above doesn’t mean a move to assisted living or a nursing home is the next step,” says Becker. “Many people can continue to live full lives at home simply by getting help where it’s needed.”

HomeCare by RVNA provides non-medical personal care and assistance to clients in the comfort of their own homes. HomeCare by RVNA aides can assist with showering, meal preparation, light housekeeping or laundry, transportation, medication reminders, pet care, errands, and more. Clients can request whatever duration of time and level of service they need – from a few hours a week to full-time or live-in assistance. HomeCare by RVNA also offers respite services for spouses or other family members who help care for a relative, allowing them to take time for themselves to go to work, attend an event, or even go on vacation.

HomeCare by RVNA aides are certified, undergo extensive background checks and drug screenings, and receive continuing education and training to provide the highest level of service to clients and their families. While generally not covered by Medicare and other medical insurance, services are covered by many long-term care plans. Consult your own insurance policy for specifics. For more information on HomeCare by RVNA, call 203-438-5555

Wake Up to the RVNAhealth Spring Breakfast

A Meaningful Way to Start Your Day

The 18th Annual RVNAhealth Spring Breakfast fundraiser will be held on Friday, April 27th, at 7:30am, at the Amber Room in Danbury.  Every year, this event brings together 400 area business leaders, medical professionals, community groups, and RVNAhealth friends to celebrate spring in a truly meaningful way – by supporting RVNAhealth programs and services.  Funds raised at the Breakfast help RVNAhealth continue to offer the highest quality home healthcare services, physical rehabilitation, and educational programs, and have a direct impact on our ability to serve the uninsured or under-insured in need of our help.

This exciting, fast-moving event is hardly your typical sit-down affair.  Table hosts pour coffee for their guests who, in turn, tip them for their service.  Table hosts also sell raffle tickets to their dining companions and encourage them to bid on the extravagant live-auction items.  Golf outings, a catered affair in your home, Broadway, Yankee and Mets tickets start off the fun.  Things will really heat up when a weeklong retreat in New Mexico, a 6-day/6-night African safari, and an extensive fitness package (think new bike, nutritional counseling, and entrance into the coveted Ridgefield Tri) go on the auction block.

The Annual Spring Breakfast is RVNA’s largest fundraiser of the year and has an immeasurable impact on the reach of our programs.  As always, in addition to the fun “table service,” auction, and raffles, the event will include a fascinating speaker who has been positively affected by our organization.  The fast-moving morning is a great way to kick off a spring day, starting promptly at 7:30am, and wrapping up at 9am.

For more information or to purchase a table, please contact RVNAhealth Development Manager, Jaime Bonner, at 203-438-5555

The 2018 RVNA Health & Wellness Fair is Here!

Saturday, April 21, 10am – 3pm

Health Screenings, Activities, and Fun for the whole family!

East Ridge Middle School
10 East Ridge Road
Ridgefield CT

* Extended hours & additional parking this year *

Spring is in the air, and that means it’s time for the annual RVNA Health & Wellness Fair. It’s the perfect opportunity to take stock of your health, learn something new, and get a fresh start for the season. Scheduled for Saturday, April 21, from 10am to 3pm at East Ridge Middle School in downtown Ridgefield, the event boasts over 90 exhibitors and has something for everyone in the family.

From health practitioners offering free screenings and valuable information to wellness professionals and community groups providing fun activities and demonstrations, you’re sure to have your health examined, your questions answered, and your interest piqued. The event brings together RVNA’s clinicians with other local experts in traditional medicine, alternative therapies, and integrative health.  It is made possible through the generous donations of sponsors, including BMW of Ridgefield, Maplewood Senior Living, and Boehringer Ingelheim, among others.

Free Screenings and Expertise from Head to Toe

Free onsite screenings include vision and hearing exams, a mini mental health evaluation, and blood pressure, carotid artery, and lung function testing. Concerned about sun exposure? Come for a free skin cancer screening. Looking to improve your running performance – how about a gait analysis or foot exam?  You’ll receive detailed test results that you can take with you – no fee, no appointment, and no insurance card needed!

Have a burning health question? Just “Ask the Expert.” There will be audiologists, dermatologists, doctors, doulas, orthopedists, podiatrists, and RVNA’s own registered dietitian, Meg Whitbeck, onsite to answer questions and offer expertise. If stress is your thing, and you’re looking to add a bit of Zen to your hectic life, try out a chair massage, learn about dry needle acupuncture, explore meditation and stress relief treatments, or spend some time with a pet therapy dog.

RVNA: Host and Exhibitor

In addition, RVNA’s nurses will be offering cholesterol, glucose, and anemia testing. Physical therapists from Rehab by RVNA will provide balance testing and exercise tips to keep you rock steady.  HomeCare by RVNA, which offers non-medical homecare services, and the newly developing Hospice by RVNA will both be on hand to provide information on services available to families and their loved ones who need help at home or are facing life-limiting illness.

RVNAhealth will also be accepting donations of healthy, non-perishable food items for its Food Pantry, which helps provide food for its homebound patients in need.

Serious Fun, All at the Same Time

Without a doubt, the RVNA Health & Wellness Fair is always an enjoyable and enlightening day for the community. But, for some people, it can be life changing. “Every year, at least one person’s life is saved by the RVNA Health & Wellness Fair,” says Barbara Newland, RVNAhealth Director of Business and Community Partnerships. “At last year’s Fair alone, there were over 150 referrals for medical care because of notable screening results. In previous years, a pre-cancerous lesion was discovered during a skin cancer screening, and a blocked carotid artery was found in a middle-aged man.  It’s wonderful to be able to have such an immediate effect on someone’s health,” Newland adds.

Community service organizations participating in this year’s event include Rides for Ridgefield, Meals on Wheels of Ridgefield, BLAST Lyme Disease Prevention, the Connecticut chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association of America, the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury, ROAR, and more. The Ridgefield Fire Department will be offering hands-only CPR instruction; Ben’s Bells will have a fun activity for adults and children alike; and various senior living communities will be there to provide information and answer questions.

“RVNAhealth has been caring for the community for over 100 years, and the Health & Wellness Fair has been an important part of our history,” says Newland. “We’re proud to be able to bring so many dedicated professionals together in one place and encourage everyone to take advantage of what the day has to offer.”

And it’s all Free!

The RVNA Health & Wellness Fair is free, open to the public, and no appointments are necessary. Ample parking is available at East Ridge Middle School, and additional parking is available St. Andrew’s Church (6 Ivy Hill Road), Winter Garden Ice Arena (111 Prospect Ridge), RVNAhealth (27 Governor Street), and Veterans Park Elementary School (8 Governor Street). Complimentary shuttle service will be provided by Ridgefield Crossings and Riva’s Rides.

February 2018: Eating for Heart Health

“There is so much conflicting information out there about how to eat for heart health. What do I really need to know if I want to avoid heart disease?”

I love the timing of this question! Why? February is American Heart Month. If this time of year has you dreaming about a heart-shaped box of chocolates, maybe it’s time to put some thought into what’s really good for your heart – your actual heart, not the chocolate one. In spite of all the advances in medicine over the years, heart disease remains the leading cause of illness and death in the country.  But there are things we all can do to help minimize our risk. A heart-healthy diet is one of the easiest places to start.  What’s not so easy is knowing exactly what that means – especially in the face of the many diet fads that come and go. In honor of Heart Month, let’s take a look at the important elements of eating to prevent heart disease.

Keep it Low
Saturated fat and cholesterol, that is. To keep your diet as heart healthy as possible, it’s important to limit your intake of saturated fat found in animal products, and avoid trans fats, from partially hydrogenated oils, entirely.  Limiting cholesterol is also key. Cholesterol — found in foods such as red meat and high-fat dairy  — can raise blood cholesterol levels. This is of particular concern for those already at a high risk of heart disease. Sodium is also an important player in heart health because of its impact on blood pressure, so keep your intake moderate.

Keep it Real
Search the internet and you’ll see many people who promote a strict vegan diet as the only way to help treat or prevent heart disease. This is not necessarily the case. While a healthy vegan diet can have benefits, it’s not the only option. Being too restrictive isn’t realistic or sustainable for most of us, so veganism might not be your best bet. A plant-based diet (eating mostly plants, with occasional egg, dairy, meat, fish, and poultry) is a great way to get started in reducing your dietary intake of saturated fat and cholesterol. Learn more about plant-based diets here: http://www.vrg.org/ – The Vegetarian Resource Group

Keep it Whole
Instead of obsessing about counting calories and fat grams, focus on eating whole foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. This means plenty of fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, and healthy whole grains. Brown rice and oats are always good grain choices, but branching out to other options, such as quinoa, millet, bulgur, and buckwheat can keep things interesting. Most importantly, focusing on the wide variety of delicious foods you can eat will make it easier to give up the few things you can’t.

Keep it Light
Processed foods and added sugars should be the lightest part of your diet. Consume lean meat, poultry, dairy, sweets, and desserts in small amounts.  Fish can be eaten slightly more often.

In general, it’s best to focus on getting a balance of the wholesome choices discussed here.  The best news of all?  Chocolate… and by that, I mean dark chocolate… can be good for your heart in moderation, so Happy Valentine’s Day!

To learn more about eating for your heart, join us for “Feed Your Heart,” a 4-week nutrition class devoted to heart health.

January 2018: A Fresh Take on New Year’s Resolutions

Hard to believe it’s that time of year again:  time to take stock of the past year and make our resolutions for the year ahead.  Are you thinking, “Didn’t I just make resolutions?” If last year’s goals fell by the wayside once post-holiday life kicked into gear, you’re not alone.  Maybe 2018 is time for a fresh approach with these simple tips to make your resolutions stick.

Renew your goals.
It’s a good idea to review and renew your health and wellness goals every year.  Take a fresh look at where you are and where you’d like to be a year from now.  Don’t let past experiences dissuade you from tackling a challenging task.  Setting SMART goals (Specific • Measurable • Achievable • Relevant •Time-bound) can help. (See below.)

Determine where you are.
If you haven’t already done so, schedule physicals, eye exams, dental cleanings, and preventive health screenings.  Knowing where you stand is an important first step in determining what you want to achieve this year.

Involve the experts.
Have a candid conversation with your doctor or other healthcare professional about what they think your priority should be.  Your best move may seem obvious at first, but there may be something you’re missing.  Asking a professional can help you keep the right things in perspective.

What’s it going to be? Time to choose.
After talking to your doctor, choose just one thing to work on at a time.  You’ll have a greater likelihood of success if you focus your efforts.  Choosing too many things to improve at one time can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. So what’s it going to be? Sleep? Diet? Exercise? Mindfulness?  Choose one and get started.  Then tackle the others one at a time as you make progress.

Set yourself up for success.
Once you know where you’re focusing your energy, the best thing you can do for yourself is plan ahead, find support in professionals, family, and friends, and look for tools to help measure your progress. The internet is a good place to start for free electronic resources to address a variety of issues.  Printable food logs are also available. Use one as a place to start, and customize it to meet your needs by adding columns for sleep and exercise, for example.  If you prefer a book, there are many journals  available to purchase. The most important thing is to choose the tool and format that suits your lifestyle.

The new year is a great time to begin on your path to wellness, and the right tools can make that path smoother.  If you need help getting started, feel free to contact me for a private consultation at 203-438-5555

December 2017: What happens in December … stays in December

At this time of year, I typically like to give advice on how to enjoy the holidays without going entirely off the rails. This year, however, I’m leaving you to your own devices to navigate the splendors of the season — I trust you! — and proceeding right on to January. It’s important to think about the new year before it actually begins.

If you have any nutritional aspirations or goals for 2018 – and most of us do – here are my tips for turning those aspirations into actualities.

Tip #1:
Set a SMART Goal.

For those who haven’t encountered this curious acronym before, SMART stands for:
• Specific (simple, sensible, significant)
• Measurable (meaningful, motivating)
• Achievable (agreed, attainable)
• Relevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based)
• Time bound (time-based, time limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive)

This means that while having such noble plans as, “I will eat more healthfully in 2018,” or “I will eat less cheese and more fruit,” and “I will never touch red meat again!” are admirable, they are hard to measure. And possibly unrealistic. Whereas, “I will eat 3 servings of vegetables per day every day in January 2018,” is easy to understand and measure.

If you need help or advice setting SMART goals, please feel free to contact me for recommendations based on your specific needs at 203-438-5555

Tip #2:
Accountability is key. It’s good to have some “skin in the game.”

It’s generally considered ‘easier’ to succeed with a plan if you’ve committed time, energy, even money to the goal. And if you’re not the only one in the world who knows about the plan.

Take, for example, the age old question: “If a tree in the forest gives up dessert for January but “cheats” every night and nobody is there to see it, did the tree actually “cheat.”

Why yes, it did. That tree needed to join a weight management group, or keep a nutritional journal or, heck, tell some tree friends about its goals.

*Speaking of groups, take a look at our Women’s Nutrition & Lifestyle for Weight Management group starting on January 2nd. It promises to be motivational. And fun.

Tip #3:
Get the support you need.

No man is an island. Look around you. Everywhere there are friends, family, colleagues, strangers even . . who likely have similar goals to your own. Or meaningful goals of their own.

Enlist each other.

Find a workout buddy to meet you at the gym or on the roads; join forces with a family member to reinforce good habits at home; share your goals with colleagues and spend lunchtime together comparing notes or taking a brisk walk.

Getting support from those around you increases your chances of success. And makes it more fun while you’re at it.

Happy New Year!

2017 RVNAhealth Health & Wellness Fair

Annual Event Provided Family Fun for Everyone

Check it out: Seven-year-old, Amelia Taibi, had such a good time at the 2017 RVNA Health & Wellness Fair last April that RVNAhealth made it onto her All About Me favorites chart printed in the school yearbook (see bottom left in photo)  – along with pizza and Chinese checkers!

“She said it was ‘the best thing she did all year,’ ” laughs her mom Danielle, an RVNA occupational therapist who brought her husband and children along to the annual Health Fair for a bit of Saturday family fun.

Says Amelia, “I loved petting the [therapy] dogs, and coloring in the books that the nurse gave me. I also loved guessing how many beans were in the jar [at the massage table]. It was cool to get my eyes tested with a camera and to see Elmo help my 2-year-old brother, Luca, look at the camera for his eye test!”

“The Health Fair really made an impact on Amelia,” says Danielle, “it was both incredibly fun and secretly educational.  And I think she also loved the bag of goodies she left with. It was like Halloween for her!”

“Next year, she’s bringing friends!”

See what’s in store at the 2018 RVNA Health & Wellness Fair. Hope to see you there!

Jonathan Winn Takes the 2018 Spelling Bee Sash

It was a Winn-win at RVNA’s 7th Annual Spelling Bee when the final word went to Jonathan Winn, founder and co-artistic director of Ridgefield’s Thrown Stone Theatre Company. After a fun-filled evening of orthographic sparring, intense concentration, best guesses, Lifeline rescues, and audience buy-backs, Winn emerged victorious. So, what was the last word? Dormition, or “death resembling falling asleep.”

From the likes of contemporaneous and gibbon to salinity and burglarious, contestants and their Lifelines went round for round, while audience members leaned over and whispered to each other, “I’ve never even heard that word before.”

Words — misspelled or not — cannot express RVNA’s gratitude to the 13 contestants (see list below) who took to the stage, put their skills to the test, and maintained their senses of humor to make the event a tremendous success. This year’s Bee raised nearly $13,000 — through ticket sales, donations and event sponsorships — to support RVNA’s Nursing Education programs.

“Once again, we owe a debt of gratitude to our contestants and their Lifelines, our moderator, judges, and audience members who gave their support to this important tradition,” said Theresa Santoro, RVNAhealth President and CEO. “Together with our sponsors, they made an invaluable contribution to our Nursing Education program, allowing our clinical staff to continue to offer the best possible care to our community.”

Stay tuned for next year when the 8th Annual RVNAhealth Spelling Bee returns with a new crop of spellers and a whole new set of formidable words.

2018 RVNAhealth Spelling Bee Contestants:

  • John Apinis, RN, BSN, RVNA  & Lifeline, Leslie Chiaramonte, RVNA
  • Chris Augustine, Ridgefield Fire Department & Lifeline, Paris McAdam
  • Deirdre Basile, Ph.D., Ridgefield Council of PTAs & Lifeline, Barb Jennes   2018 Runner Up!
  • Lyndsay Clark, KickFit CT & Lifeline, Christopher Clark
  • John Dunleavy, MD, OrthoConnecticut & Lifeline, Bridget Dunleavy
  • Kate Fitzpatrick, Kate Fitzpatrick Consulting & Lifeline, Paul Fitzpatrick
  • Carol Gardell, Ridgefield Thrift Shop & Lifeline, Barbara Hillery
  • Amy Piantaggini, Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance & Lifeline, Jane Turner
  • Steve Scalzo, Ridgefield Little League & Lifeline, Maureen Scalzo
  • Matt Stamatis, Ridgefield High School student & Lifeline, Anne Driscoll
  • Kate Tinsley, Ridgefield Police Department & Lifeline, Bill Tinsley
  • Tim Washer, Comedian and former Saturday Night Live writer & Lifeline, Danielle Foley
  • Jonathan Winn, Thrown Stone Theatre Company & Lifeline, Amanda Curtin

Thank You To Our Generous Sponsors!

AR Kids
Audrey Road
BMW of Ridgefield
Dr. Blaine Langberg
Casey Energy
Cathie Bonner, Professional Skating Instructor
Cramer & Anderson Law Firm
Dr. Dana C. Jones
Fairfield County Bank
Fairfield County Financial Services
Hamlet Hub
Maida Design
Reynolds & Rowella, LLP
Ridgefield Academy
Ridgefield Fire Department
Ridgefield PBA
The Ridgefield Press
Ross Bread Shoppe & Coffee House
Study Works – Janie Larson
Tiger Sports
Turner Mechanical, Inc.
We Do Lines
Young’s of Ridgefield