Bad Weather? Unexpected Meeting? No Car?…No Problem for Your Rehab!

If we learned two things from the pandemic, it’s the importance of accommodation and flexibility. We all have busy and complex schedules which can make in-person healthcare appointments difficult – especially if they are only offered during work hours. During the pandemic, many practitioners adapted creative ways to still see patients out of necessity. It is these alternative appointment options, such as telehealth visits and extended hours, that keep many of us healthier today – even in a post-pandemic world!

According to the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Journal, telehealth, especially for physical therapy, has worked wonders for patients. Gone are the days when you would have to cancel an appointment due to weather challenges, not having a ride to your appointment, or other obstacles preventing you from receiving care. Telehealth appointments have allowed patients to have quicker access to care and have allowed practitioners to treat patients within a larger radius of the office.

Research shows that, on average, patients travel about 34 minutes for a healthcare appointment and, as a result, spend 90 fewer minutes working on appointment days. This can be a burden to some, especially if a practitioner recommends multiple appointments. The addition of telehealth and extended hours not only eliminates these obstacles but can improve a patient’s health outcomes without negatively affecting the quality of care received.

RVNAhealth’s Rehabilitation and Wellness Center offers extended hours Monday through Thursday (open from 8:20 am to 7:00 pm) as well as telehealth and hybrid (both in-person and telehealth) options to help you get well regardless of scheduling obstacles. To schedule an appointment or inquire about therapy services, please call: 203.438.7862 or email: rehabcenter@rvnahealth.org.

Direct Access: What it is and why you want to know about it

Much as a dented car does not get fixed by parking it on the side of the road, nor does a body hindered by injury or pain get healed without attention. Injuries and pain require evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.  Lucky for us, the State of Connecticut offers a healthcare benefit that simplifies the process of getting treated. It’s called Direct Access and it’s a benefit worth knowing about.

Direct Access is a statewide program that eliminates the need for a primary care physician referral prior to seeing a Rehabilitation Therapist. The streamlined process — which allows up to six visits with an RVNAhealth physical therapist at the RVNAhealth Rehabilitation & Wellness Center without a physician referral — is both cost-effective and allows individuals to enjoy swifter diagnosis and relief. In other words, it helps you get better faster.

This little-known benefit began in Connecticut in 2006 to provide patients more immediate diagnosis and relief.  “Direct Access is an expedited way to get to the root cause and treat, rather than just self-diagnose — or ignore — both of which can prolong the issue but are tempting when the process of getting to a therapist is belabored,” says Gigi Weiss, MSPT, RVNAhealth Director of Rehabilitation Therapies. “Ultimately, Direct Access allows you to get in quickly to increase stability, relieve discomfort, and prevent worsening,”

Weiss encourages those with intermittent pain, mild injury, mobility limitations, or other chronic conditions to leverage the Direct Access program not just for minimization of discomfort but for proper diagnosis and treatment. “Often patients self-treat without success because symptoms are not always representative of the core issue,” says Weiss. “For example, neck issues can present as wrist pain so tending to the wrist won’t address the root cause and won’t provide much relief, especially long term. In many cases, the six visits granted through Direct Access get an individual well on their way to healing.”

Direct access can also benefit individuals with lingering difficulties from a health episode, like swallowing, fine motor skills, or communication. In these cases, Direct Access provides a fast track to restorative visits with an appropriate clinician.

At RVNAhealth, the rehabilitation team also collaborates with insurance providers and primary care physicians to coordinate coverage and treatment so patients can focus on wellness. For more information or to schedule a Direct Access assessment, visit RVNAhealth.org/Rehab or call  (203) 438-7862.

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Palliative Care versus Hospice Care…Alike and Different

Every year the Healthcare industry recognizes National Hospice and Palliative Care in the same month. The two practices are celebrated together, as they share a similar philosophy on person-centered care and an interdisciplinary team approach focused on quality of life. But they also share misunderstandings about what each practice offers.

Hospice care is elected when a patient and family wish to go from a curative plan of care to one of comfort and caring. Hospice addresses a patient’s pain and symptom management, and overall well-being from an interdisciplinary approach – including physical, mental, social, and spiritual. This care supports both the patient and their family, helping bring focus to quality of life and allowing a patient to realize their wishes for their final life chapter.

Palliative care helps individuals with a serious illness, at any age and any stage of their illness. Patients do not require a terminal diagnosis and often still receive curative treatment for their condition. Palliative care provides a specialized team, including clinical, social workers, and pastoral care, who work with patients to help them understand their treatment options and can act as a central coordinator of care – which can be extremely beneficial in the often overwhelming early days following the diagnosis of a serious illness. Care is intended to improve quality of life and give a patient more control by improving their ability to cope with their disease.

Common illnesses addressed by both palliative and hospice care include cardiac and respiratory illnesses, cancer, Alzheimer’s, AIDS, kidney disease, and more. Both practices address symptoms for comfort, including pain, shortness of breath, depression, nausea, and difficulty sleeping, to name a few.  The largest difference is in the individual decision to continue treatment for disease, which palliative care addresses, or cease treatment and focus on quality of life and final wishes with hospice. With both practices, early intervention is most beneficial to the patient.

RVNAhealth offers both hospice and palliative care in the home or at a patient’s facility. If you have questions or would like to discuss a potential palliative or hospice care need, please contact us at 203.438.5555.

Now is a Great Time to Join our Governor Society!

RVNAhealth’s Governor Society is a membership program for business and community partners who invest $1,000 or more each year in the health and well-being of their community. Governor Society support funds our Community Health & Wellness programs, such as our Chronic Care program for low-income individuals, community education, blood pressure clinics, vaccinations, and our Well-Child Clinics for underinsured children. Contributions may also support Hospice care, enabling us to provide bereavement support, music therapy, and even pet therapy – services not covered by insurance.

Governor Society membership options include event and program sponsorships, targeted gifts by service area, or unrestricted contributions to areas of greatest need.  The benefits to Governor Society Members are many, including recognition on our website, brand exposure in event materials, publicity, exclusive access to special events, and concierge services.  In customizing their philanthropic support over a 12-month period, our Governor Society members can target their giving to strengthen their communities in a way that is both meaningful to them and beneficial to their business or organizations.

For more information on RVNAhealth’s Governor Society or other ways to support RVNAhealth, contact Jennifer Christensen at jchristensen@rvnahealth.org or call 203-438-5555, x1052.

Other ways to support RVNAhealth:

Every gift—no matter the size—has a meaningful impact on our work and the communities we serve. There are many ways for businesses to support RVNAhealth:

  • Donate to RVNAhealth’s Annual Fund
  • Choose to become an event sponsor 
  • Advertise in event program books
  • Make an in-kind donation of gift certificates, event tickets, or unique experiences or services for our event auctions and raffles
  • Partner with RVNAhealth to present on a health and wellness related topic
  • Sponsor a community health and wellness program
  • Encourage your staff to volunteer with RVNAhealth

Upcoming ‘Save the Dates’:

  • March 25 – Wellness Fair, East Ridge Middle School, Ridgefield
  • April 28 – Spring Breakfast, Amber Room, Danbury
  • September 30 – Autumn Dinner, Silver Spring Country Club, Ridgefield

Let’s Talk Bone Mineral Density

Beating Osteoporosis education

Osteoporosis is a common condition characterized by decreased bone mineral density which can lead to an increased likelihood of fractures from low trauma forces resulting in hospitalizations and decreased quality of life.  According to a 2010 CDC study, more than 10 million adults over the age of 50 had osteoporosis, with women having a higher likelihood (~30% of population, vs. men at ~16%). And with the consideration that osteoporosis increases with age, the lifetime risk of resulting fracture is 50% for women and 20% for men.[1]

Researchers recently took a closer look at the effectiveness of the current clinical practice guidelines and created a new and improved model for treatment. The new research shows that weight bearing exercises (such as walking, yoga, and tai chi) in combination with resistance training of varying loads were most effective in increasing bone mineral density in susceptible fracture locations such as the hips and base of the spine.

These guidelines are not universal. Fitness plans and treatments should be customized by a trained professional for each individual.

RVNAhealth is pleased to offer several upcoming and ongoing programs, aligned to osteoporosis prevention and treatment:

  • Ongoing class: Balance & Beyond – Every Tuesday and Thursday, 12:00-1:00pm at RVNAhealth. An ongoing drop-in class (come for one or come for all!) that focuses on building muscle, restoring balance and improving your walk or jog, all while giving your brain a great workout! Learn more and register here.
  • Ongoing class: Strength & Beyond – Every Tuesday 1:00-2:00pm, and every Thursday 11:00am-12:00pm at RVNAhealth. This class is a level up from the Balance & Beyond class and will have you moving through a series of upper and lower body strengthening, functional mobility, balance and cognitive stations all customized to meet your fitness level and goals. Learn more and register here.
  • Past class: Beating Osteoporosis with Targeted Nutrition and Exercise – January 25th from 12:00-1:30pm. Join us at the Ridgefield Library to hear RVNAhealth experts discuss (and demonstrate!) key exercises to optimize bone health and how nutrition can help to prevent and improve Osteoporosis. Come prepared to move! Watch presentation HERE.
  • Past class: Interactive Cooking Class – Three Bone-Building Recipes – January 27th from 4:30-5:45pm at RVNAhealth. Separate myth versus fact on all things osteoporosis and discuss mechanisms to promote bone health while cooking alongside RVNAhealth’s registered dietitian. Check back to our nutrition calendar for future offerings.

If you have questions regarding any of the above programs or would like to schedule an appointment with our therapists to create a program specialized to fit your needs, please contact us at 203.438.7862 or rehabcenter@RVNAhealth.org. We hope to see you soon!

[1] https://journals.lww.com/jgpt/Fulltext/2022/04000/Physical_Therapist_Management_of_Patients_With.9.aspx

RVNAhealth Nurse Family Partnership: Ruth’s Story

Friends, peers on the high school leadership initiative where she served as President, and her mother all assumed the baggy clothes Ruth-Ann Bucknor suddenly preferred were just fashion choices. They were actually how she hid her unplanned pregnancy for nearly six months. Born in Jamaica, Ruth-Ann was raised in Connecticut by a single mother devout to her cultural religious foundation who had high expectations and standards for herself and her daughter. Isolated and disappointed in herself, Ruth-Ann feared the news of her unplanned pregnancy would devastate her mother.

An exceptional student and curious young woman by nature, Ruth-Ann researched available resources for young mothers, made a list of questions, and a pre-natal doctor’s appointment. She felt judged and shamed during the visit because of incorrect assumptions made about her education, circumstances, and aspirations and fled the visit with her list of questions unanswered. On the way out, a flyer advertising support for first-time mothers caught her eye; she grabbed one and called the 800 number desperate for support better than what she had just received.

“It’s a joy watching her grow as a mom and young woman.”

A representative at Nurse Family Partnership, a national program that pairs first-time mothers with a dedicated nurse during pregnancy and the first two years of the child’s life, referred Ruth-Ann to RVNAhealth, the local program partner. Melissa Smith, RN, BSN, and RVNAhealth Nurse Supervisor who has been working with Ruth-Ann since that initial phone call considers her “smart, curious, and resourceful.”

“She comes with questions, listens intently to the answers, and then researches things further. She is wise beyond her years and is an exceptional human being. It’s a joy watching her grow as a mom and young woman.” Over time, the two developed a level of trust that likely saved Ruth-Ann’s life…more than once.

Just before Mother’s Day 2020, Ruth-Ann revealed her secret to her mother who works as a live-in Certified Nursing Assistant, alternating weeks between her patient and home. “She was disappointed but acted better than I expected. She took a few hours to process the news and then offered me her unconditional support,” Ruth-Ann recalled. But she hadn’t given her mother the whole story. The baby’s father and Ruth-Ann’s boyfriend, had developed an aggressive temperament since learning of the pregnancy. Determined to have an in-tact family because she experienced a fatherless childhood herself, she navigated his unpredictability as best she could, thinking it was in her baby’s best interest. In the sidelines was Smith, who met Ruth-Ann each week virtually, because of the COVID-19 crisis, to review everything an expectant mother needs to know from the facts about pregnancy and childbirth to stress management and life skills strategies. “We had an instant connection,” Ruth-Ann said, “I immediately felt accepted without any judgement. I could ask her the most embarrassing questions and never felt ashamed or scared. It was exactly what I had been looking for but didn’t know I needed. Every expectant mom should have what I have with Melissa.”

A Rare Genetic Clotting Disorder

During these visits, Smith unearthed a concerning piece of family medical history that resulted in the death of Ruth-Ann’s sister one week after she gave birth. Protein S deficiency is a rare genetic clotting disorder that can result in life-threatening blood clots like the one that took her sister’s life. Ruth-Ann’s prenatal physician, who is not associated with RVNAhealth or Nurse Family Partnership, refused to test her blood levels for Protein S deficiency despite her complaints of excessive fatigue and family history. Smith “empowered me to fight for it,” Ruth-Ann said, “and thank God she did, because that blood test probably saved my life. My voice was quieter before and Melissa helped me amplify it. I wouldn’t have the voice I do now without her.”

In fall 2020, Ruth-Ann delivered a full-term healthy baby girl and soon thereafter confided in Smith about her safety concerns given her partner’s increasing volatility. Smith connected Ruth-Ann with resources specializing in interpersonal violence and in early December she moved back in with mother full-time under a court-issued protective order. “I stayed longer than I should have just so my daughter could be around her dad,” Ruth-Ann said, “but Melissa reminded me that a father doesn’t have to be biological and blood doesn’t make a family.”

“I don’t need to be perfect and it’s okay not to have the answers to things but can be dangerous not to ask questions.”

Today, Ruth-Ann is juggling motherhood of an intelligent, radiant, one-year-old with mischief in her eyes and apple cheeks with a full college course load as she pursues a degree in social work so she can “make life better for others and connect with a wide range of people on a variety of social issues.” A newly elected cabinet member with the Office of Early Childhood, the state agency that funds Nurse Family Partnership, Ruth-Ann was one of 15 chosen in a pool of over 70 applicants to develop solutions for issues facing parents and families statewide. In her spare time, Ruth-Ann is an advocate for RVNAhealth and the Nurse Family Partnership that she attributes to giving her the support and tools to transform her life. She cautions those who are intimidated by the word nurse in the program title because nurses traditionally focus on medical care whereas the NFP nurses help their clients navigate every tentacle associated with new motherhood. “Melissa is my mentor,” Ruth-Ann said, “she’s walked beside me on this entire journey. She reminded me that I don’t need to be perfect and it’s okay not to have the answers to things but can be dangerous not to ask questions.” As for her daughter, the reason she and Smith were brought together, Ruth-Ann says “she’s a mini me…a determined thinker and very curious. She loves books and can express
herself well already. She has a strong voice.”

Just like her mother.

To hear and learn more from Ruth about her RVNAhealth Nurse Family Partnership experience, watch this video

Kicking Off Your New Year with Tips from RVNAhealth

As the new year kicks off, some of us may be thinking about resolutions or things we want to do differently. Whether you’re into resolutions or not, some of our RVNAhealth health and wellness experts would like to offer a few simple tips and gifts of wisdom. From nutrition and exercise, to doing good, feeling good, being prepared, and nourishing your spiritual side – we hope you find one or more tips to help you make the most of your new year!

Eat Well: Many companies will be looking to capitalize on your desire to improve your health and wellness. Protect your health and your wallet this new year by avoiding gimmicks, fad diets and trending supplements. If you do want to make some changes to optimize your health follow these evidence-based nutrition tips: when possible, eat whole, unprocessed, plant-based foods; eat 5-8 different fruits and veggies per day; and finally, eat a minimum of 35g of fiber–the plant nutrient found in fruits, veggies, whole grains and legumes. – Monica Marcello, RVNAhealth Registered Dietitian

Exercise: Just get moving! In any capacity–just get started. Starting is the hardest part. Keys to success: make sure it’s something you enjoy, put it on your calendar and do not cancel on yourself, make it convenient (at home or close to home, low cost), and get an accountability buddy — Kate Campbell, DPT, RVNAhealth Outpatient Practice Manager

Feel Good: Scheduling your annual wellness exams can often take a lot of work.  There are a lot of appointments – physicals, dentist, eye exams, gynecology, and skin screenings, to name just a few!  They’re also very hard to keep track of given that they’re often “due” at different times throughout the year, depending on last completion.  As a suggestion, to keep things a bit simpler and ensure nothing slips through the cracks, designate one month each year (maybe even the 1st week of that month), to making calls to schedule all your annual exams.  They may continue to fall at different times throughout the year but getting in the habit of thinking about and making appointment calls during a single time period can help ensure you stay on track with your well visits! – Dr. Tiffany Sanders, RVNAhealth Hospice Medical Director

Do Good: Did you know 96% of people who volunteer say that volunteering enriches their sense of purpose? Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, but it also can benefit your overall health and well-being! It can make you feel healthier, improve your mood, and help to make your community a better place. At RVNAhealth, we thrive on the time and talents of our volunteer team in order to serve our patients, families and communities.  Please consider volunteering for RVNAhealth in the new year! – Stephanie Peppe, RVNAhealth Hospice Volunteer Coordinator

Spiritual: We care for our bodies by eating right and exercising. But we are so much more than the bodies we inhabit. We are all spiritual beings and that part of us needs nourishment as well. What do you do to care for your soul? Consider one or more of the following in the new year: meditation, journaling, attending services at a house of worship, taking a moment to appreciate your higher power, or prayer. – Garrett Walkup, RVNAhealth Spiritual/Pastoral Care Coordinator

Be Prepared: Peace of mind comes when things are in order. Have you thought about your wishes for care? Reaching decisions for personal care can be a daunting process and an ever changing one. This is why conversations about your wishes are so important…but how do you get started? A variety of resources are available to help you in your process. One such resource is completing a document known as Five Wishes.  The Conversation Project is another on-line resource.  Most important is to talk about your wishes with those that matter to you! – Cynthia Merritt, RVNAhealth Licensed Social Worker

RVNAhealth wishes you a wonderful new year!  And if you need a little extra help getting started with any of the above or have questions for any of our experts, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 203.438.5555.