#The first step healthcare professionals should take after feeling burnout

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A Guide to Creating a Self-Care Routine for Mothers | Solh Wellness

Motherhood can be a fulfilling experience, but it can also be stressful due to the various responsibilities that come with it. This stress can lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression. In this blog, we will discuss the importance of self-care for mothers and provide a step-by-step guide to developing a self-care practice.

Sources of Stress for Mothers

Mothers face many stressors, such as parenting responsibilities, financial pressures, work-related stress, relationship issues, health concerns, and societal pressures. These stressors can negatively impact their mental and physical health. Therefore, it is essential for mothers to recognize and address the sources of stress in their lives and seek support from partners, family members, friends, or mental health professionals when needed.

Creating a Self-Care Routine

Developing a self-care practice can help women manage stress, avoid burnout, and improve their well-being. Here are the steps to follow:

Assess Your Needs: The first step is to evaluate your requirements. Consider what makes you happy, what activities help you relax, and what you need to feel healthy and content. This can involve getting enough sleep, eating healthily, exercising, and spending time with loved ones.

Identify Self-Care Activities: After assessing your needs, find self-care activities that you enjoy and can realistically incorporate into your routine. This can include having a warm bath, reading a book, meditating, or taking a walk outside.

Schedule Time for Self-Care: The next step is to set aside time for self-care activities. Set aside time daily to accomplish things that make you happy. Prioritizing self-care and making it a non-negotiable element of your daily routine is crucial.

Get Support: Feel free to seek assistance from loved ones or specialists. To devote more time to self-care, ask your friends and family to assist with childcare or home responsibilities. You can also seek help from healthcare professionals such as therapists or counselors to handle stress and other mental health issues.

Practice Mindfulness: Meditation and deep breathing are two mindfulness practices that can help you stay present in the moment and reduce stress. Begin with a few minutes of daily practice and progressively increase the duration as you get more comfortable.

Self-Care Activities to Reduce Stress

Here are some self-care activities that mothers can do to reduce stress:

Practice Mindfulness or Meditation

Take a Relaxing Bath

Exercise

Connect with Loved Ones

Practice Self-compassion

Conclusion

To sum up, motherhood can be challenging and stressful, but prioritizing self-care is essential for maintaining excellent physical and emotional health. Mothers should assess their needs, select self-care activities they enjoy, schedule time for self-care, and seek help when necessary. Investing in their well-being will help mothers handle the difficulties of daily life and positively impact the well-being of their families.

Solh Wellness is running a campaign called #MomMeTime for mothers who feel stressed and overwhelmed by the demands of motherhood. The campaign offers resources and support to help mothers prioritize their mental health and well-being. In addition, Solh Wellness is hosting a mental health mela on 31st  May called "Solh Fiesta", featuring mental health sessions specifically designed for mothers. To learn more about the campaign and participate in the support group, download the Solh app and join #MomMeTime to take steps towards better mental health and well-being.

[toddxsaballe]

What Is The Prometric Exam And How To Pass

What Is The Prometric Exam And How To Pass

Prometric is a company that administers exams for colleges, universities and other programs that require applicants to take an exam. Prometric is best known for the Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) it offers. CAT tests are adaptive in nature and measure the competency of the applicant in real-time by measuring their responses.

What is the Prometric Exam?

The Prometric Exam is a computer-based test that is required for licensure in many professions. The test is administered by the Prometric company. It is similar to the bar exam in that it tests your knowledge of the law. However, the Prometric Exam Questions is not as difficult as the bar exam. If you study for the Prometric Exam and take practice exams, you should be able to pass the test without any problems.

How is the Prometric Exam structured?

The Prometric Exam is a computer-based test that is taken at a testing center. The test is made up of multiple-choice questions, and you will have two hours to complete the exam. There are 100 questions on the exam, and you will need to answer 70% of them correctly to pass.

How to register for a Prometric exam?

If you want to take a Prometric exam, the first thing you need to do is register with the company. You can do this by visiting their website and creating an account. Once you have an account, you will need to provide some basic information about yourself and your educational background. After you have registered, you will be able to schedule an appointment for your exam.

What is the cost of registering for a Prometric exam?

The cost of registering for a Prometric exam can vary depending on the particular exam you are taking. However, the general registration fee is $80. You may also be required to pay an additional fee for certain exams, such as the Exam for Professional Engineering (PE).

What are some common barriers that one faces while preparing for a Prometric exam?

One common barrier that many students face when preparing for a Prometric exam is procrastination. It can be difficult to motivate oneself to study for an exam, especially when the test is not for a class credit or grade. In addition, Prometric exams can be challenging and require a significant amount of time to prepare for. Some students find it helpful to set small goals, such as studying for one hour each day, in order to make progress without feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, it is important to create a study plan and schedule that fits with your individual learning style and needs. If you struggle with focus, try studying in short bursts or listening to music while you review material. Lastly, remember to take breaks and give yourself time to relax; too much stress can lead to burnout and negatively impact your performance on the exam.

Which books should I read before an exam?

If you're wondering what books you should read before taking the Prometric exam, we've got you covered. Here is a list of our top five picks to help you prepare for success. 1. "The Official Guide to the TOEFL Test" by ETS 2. "Barron's TOEFL iBT" by Pamela Sharpe 3. " Kaplan TOEFL iBT Premier" by Kaplan Test Prep 4. "TOEFL Exam Success in Only 5 Steps" by Cambridge University Press 5. "The Insider's Guide to the TOEFL iBT" by George Stadecker

Conclusion

The Prometric Exam is a computer-based test that is required for licensure in many professions, including healthcare. If qchp qatar are planning on taking the Prometric Exam, it is important to understand what it is and how to prepare for it. With the right preparation, you can increase your chances of passing the exam and achieving your professional goals.

#qchp exam

[consciousowl]

PTSD: How to Deal with Traumatizing Events

Back in October 17, 1989, I was working in San Francisco at a construction company located on the 21st floor of a downtown high-rise. Just after 5:00 PM, the Loma Prieta earthquake hit, and shocking me with its suddenness and impact. The skyscraper began to sway, the lights went off, and then all the telephones.

For many years, I had wondered when the Big One would come. Perhaps this was it. I was fortunate to get a ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, passing the Marina where an apartment building caught fire. Only when I got home and played the TV did I grasp the full scope of what had happened. For example, my stereo had slid across the carpet several feet. Outside, the San Francisco Bay Bridge had undergone considerable damage.

Although this earthquake wasn’t the end of the world, I developed a strange reaction over the next several days and months. I kept watching movies on earthquakes, hoarding emergency supplies and obsessing over the news. I kept expecting more earthquakes to come. I got smart and decided it was no longer safe to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. I would now take the Ferry.​

It took me nearly half-a-year to get over it. While this wasn’t a full-scale trauma, it was a memorable foretaste.​

PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Definition

Due to growing uncertainty throughout our world, capped by religious wars and terrorism, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has become a fact of life, no longer limited to Vietnam, Gulf War or Afghan vets. With climate change increasing hurricanes, floods and fires, anything can happen at any time. If the situation is drastic and dangerous, it can provoke severe psychological reactions.

PTSD entails sustained stress well over and beyond the initial traumatizing event, which can be as intense as attempted murder, torture or child abuse, or can be more along the lines of a sudden loss of job or career, a marital disruption or flunking a final exam.​

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The stress manifests as nightmares, unwanted flashbacks, obtrusive memories or exaggerated emotional reactions to anything that reminds you of the initial event. For example, when someone broke into my car and stole my laptop in a well-lit spot in a prominent private university, I felt violated. I called security, and drove home almost crying. Later, I took out home insurance. Does it mean I am now paranoid or traumatized?

Symptoms of PTSD

Symptoms of severe trauma can result in panic attacks around anything that reminds you of the painful event, such as someone who resembles a rapist, riding in a plane after a crash or facing heavy winds after suffering a major hurricane or tsunami. This can involve a pounding heart, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness and even chills.

Traumatized individuals can develop severe avoidance behavior, withdrawing from public interaction and becoming homebound. You go out only when accompanied by others. Your basic trust in humanity has been shaken to the core, and it may take a great deal of time for it to ever come back.

PTSD can also lead to suicidal thoughts amidst deep depression, especially in rape victims. These thoughts are compounded if you don’t feel free to discuss them with anyone. For relief, people may reflexively turn to alcohol or drugs to deaden the pain. You might feel betrayed by the world, and even God, following acts of terrorism.​

Shock Trauma

It is important not to confuse PTSD with shock, which is a dangerous medical condition after an accident resulting in a fall of blood pressure and loss of blood, marked by cold skin, irregular breathing, rapid pulse and dilated pupils. First-Aid is demanded. Unattended, shock can rapidly lead to death.

If one survives the initial shock, however, perhaps through being taken to a nearby hospital, trauma can develop over the incident that caused it, which might be warfare, inner city violence, flood or fire. As the physical danger is removed, the persistent dreams and memories can make the stress continue months, even years.

One need only think of the holocaust survivors who came close to the ultimate degradation. If they escaped, they were haunted for the rest of their lives as to why they were spared, while their family and friends died in the most degrading circumstances imaginable.​

Rape Trauma Syndrome

Rape victims often suffer from a brutalizing stigma, that they did something to be raped, or that the incident wasn’t really rape if they were on a date. Here we see a violation of trust on one of the deepest possible levels, with the possible exception of child abuse.

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This can severely set back a woman’s ability to ever open up again to another man, even if she loves him or wants to demonstrate affection. Women have to heal from the initial trauma and beginning to narrow their association of the rapists with other men. Even the slightest resemblance can trigger a powerful reaction.

Exceptional women have been known to forgive and forget in these circumstances, but only through the aid of a powerful spiritual force within them. There is good reason for etiquette with women, and a basic code of honor, empathy and tenderness. Women carry humanity forward. Without them, we would all perish in a single generation.​

Vicarious Trauma

Less well-known is vicarious trauma, where family, friends, colleagues and healthcare professionals can experience distressing feelings entailing upset, overwhelm, shock and grief over the condition of their loved ones. Professionals include doctors and nurses, law enforcement officers, therapists and counselors, even religious leaders.

No one is exempt from feeling overwhelmed over the severity of another’s misfortunes. It is interesting that, in the Gospel account, Jesus Christ, Himself, wept over the death of his dear friend, Lazarus.

Vicarious trauma can show up in therapists having difficulty discussing their own feelings, losing sleep over clients or actually dreaming about their clients’ traumatic experiences. This can further manifest in overwork, exhaustion, withdrawal and isolation from colleagues, apathy or even profound existential doubts about the validity of their own worldview.​

Psychiatry has the highest suicide rate of any profession, and this can closely relate to overload, feelings of burnout, getting to the point where you can’t take it any more, but are unable to admit this to your colleagues. These problems are finally being recognized and programs are emerging to address them.

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Healing Trauma with Therapy

Several different approaches to PTSD have been developed in therapy, including anxiety management, cognitive therapy and exposure therapy.

Anxiety management entails learning to relax, start breathing consciously, replace negative thinking with positive self-talk, be more assertive and stop the flow of distressing thoughts.

In cognitive therapy, trauma victims are guided to a more rational approach with their past experience. For example, soldiers may blame themselves as to why their buddy was shot and killed, and not them. You are encouraged to identify your upsetting thoughts and assess the rational evidence for and against them.

It becomes easier and easier to accept that what happened, happened, that it is time to move on.

In exposure therapy, you are supported in confronting actual situations, people, objects, memories or emotions that evoke intense aversion and fear. You may retell the traumatic memories in a safe environment. If you stay with the situation, and repeat this process enough times, your intense fear may go away, much like learning to handle a live snake.

Healing Trauma with Medication

In the face of severe trauma, it may be desirable to seek additional assistance beyond therapeutic intervention. Medication may be prescribed by an MD over several months, even as long as a year Each medication may have unwanted side-effects, which sometimes decrease with usage.

Common serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant medications include Zoloft, Paxil and Prozac.

Mood stabilizers include Depakote (divalproex). These are typically recommended for being with combined bipolar disorder and PTSD.​

Anti-anxiety medications are typically prescribed for shorter periods of time, such as Valium, Xanax and Klonopin.​

Medication is most typically used to counter depression, especially when it leans towards suicide.​

What must be avoided is thinking that the chemicals, all by themselves, can do it. They should be considered only temporary adjuncts to therapy to see yourself through an extremely stressful period.

Importance of Reaching Out: Powerful Online Help

Most important of all in dealing with PTSD is to reach out to others, family, friends and concerned professionals, either health or spiritual in orientation. Support groups and peer counseling have made a powerful difference to patients and clients in clinical settings.

What has opened up for us in the Internet era is powerful online support, where you can educate yourself on trauma and phobias and actually receive expert assistance from highly experienced professionals, skillful in dealing with real-life problems. You can maintain your own privacy and confidence, while discovering new options and relevant resources.​

Steve King offers a helpful course on PTSD for both clinicians and clients that explores the condition in great depth with both video and audio, as well as substantial resources. His is a good-natured, no-nonsense style that developed out of helping thousands of people through very challenging conditions. You may want to take a closer look at his offering to see how it fits your current needs.

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PTSD: How to Deal with Traumatizing Events appeared first on http://consciousowl.com.

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Diabetes and Depression: A Toxic Combination for Suicide

New Post has been published on http://type2diabetestreatment.net/diabetes-type-2/diabetes-and-depression-a-toxic-combination-for-suicide/

Diabetes and Depression: A Toxic Combination for Suicide

Diabetes and Suicide

More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, diabetes, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined. It is the 2nd leading cause of death in kids aged 10-24 and the 4th leading cause of death of people aged 25-54.

Suicide is a serious problem.

Depression, especially when combined with other disorders and diseases, can make you feel like your back is against the wall with no moves left to make with a feeling of hopelessness, sparking suicidal thoughts.

Add the burden of diabetes, the (at times) seemingly impossible management, health care costs, and a slew of other problems brought on by diabetes, depression can really cloud better judgment in both kids and adults struggling with the disease.

After looking into suicide rates in the type 1 diabetes community, I was speechless in what I found.

Depression and Diabetes: A Toxic Combo for Suicide

Ask anyone with the condition—diabetes management is a grueling process that requires 100% attention to detail, day in and day out. There is no downtime. No breaks.

From endless medication administration to restrictive food choices to the blood sugar roller-coasters that occur to diabetic complications like blindness, heart and kidney failure, and limb amputation, are all occurrences that people who are non-diabetics don’t have to deal with. It can be very frustrating and depressing— especially if you don’t know many other people who can empathize or relate.

The link between diabetes and suicide is depression. Roughly 16 percent of the general population experience depression, but the percentage is nearly doubled for diabetics as seen in a meta-analysis reviewing 39 studies with a combined total of 20,218 subjects.

“Mortality rates in people who have both diabetes and depression are about 2.5 times the rates in people with either or neither,” says psychologist Susan Guzman, PhD, director of clinical services for the Diabetes Behavioral Institute in San Diego.

Intentional self-harm resulting in death or suicide has a higher hazard ratio than Neurological disorders, Alzheimer’s, and COPD-related deaths among diabetics as you will see in the table below in section B. That means a diabetic is more likely to commit suicide than die from mental or neurological disorders.

The table is in descending order from highest to lowest hazard ratio of death in diabetics.

That is terribly unsettling.

Another study went as far as saying diabetics were 58 percent more likely to die from suicide, mostly because they were more likely to be depressed. Indeed, it showed that management of diabetes can cause chronic stress and strain, which in the long run, may increase the risk of depression – the two are linked not only behaviorally but biologically.

The combination of diabetes and depression complement each other in the worst way possible at times. Coexisting depression in people with diabetes is associated with decreased adherence to treatment, poor metabolic control, higher complication rates, decreased quality of life, increased healthcare use and cost, increased disability and lost productivity, and increased risk of death.

Diabetes can cause an onset of depression and depression can cause the worsening of diabetes management which is why depression management in diabetics is just as vital and diabetes management.

One recent meta-analysis linked depression in diabetes with hyperglycemia1. There is also evidence from three controlled trials to suggest that treatment of depression improves glycemic control 3, 4, 5.

Something very interesting to note— most HbA1cvalues were <8.0% in diabetics with depression, and very few patients in the study sustained HbA1c levels <7.0%.

Suicide by Insulin

A common method of suicide attempt in patients with diabetes includes uses of high doses of insulin or other medications to treat the disease.

As evident from the table, insulin has been widely used in suicidal self-harm attempts in patients with DM. The first report of use of high dose of insulin with a suicidal intent in a diabetes patient dates back to 1934. A 50-year-old female patient consumed 400 U of insulin apparently being depressed due to financial issues.

Insulin is such a powerful drug that a mere 3-4 extra units could kill me in less than an hour. Being attached to an insulin pump with 100’s of units available at the push of a button is a scary thought for a child or an adult struggling with depression and diabetes.

How widespread is insulin suicide? According to research published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, an analysis of overdose-related calls to a poison center suggested that 95 percent of insulin overdoses were deliberate.

I came across an article from an anonymous mom of a type 1 teen who took his own life. In her bone-chilling recollection of the events leading up to his suicide, she mentioned how “he chose to end his life using his pump – the major thing that [they] had gotten him to improve his life with diabetes.” He struggled with bipolar disorder, depression, and diabetes and didn’t receive proper care and support. I encourage you to go read her tragic, eye-opening message on Diabetes Health here.

Along with insulin overdose, a case of fatal self-induced hyperglycemia by drinking excess amounts of sugared tea has been reported for a 15–year-old boy with diabetes5. Similarly, a case of fatality has been reported with the use of sugary solution in a patient with DM.

The risk of psychiatric morbidity in children with type 1 diabetes compared with the general population was tripled within 6 months after the onset of diabetes.

If you are diabetic or know someone who is, you probably realized how depressed someone would have to be to put themselves through this. I truly don’t think people understand the severity, complexity, or difficulty in living with diabetes. It should become clearer with seeing how suicide is not uncommon in this disease.

How You Can Help: Tips for Preventing Diabetic Suicide

Know the Signs of Diabetic Depression

Depression leading to intentional self-harm usually doesn’t just appear out of thin air. Often signs are ignored and cast aside as if not important or real. “Look for any kind of warning signs,” says family medicine expert David Katerndahl, MD, and take action. “Don’t sit on it. You’re better off talking to the patient or the physician and, if it turns out your wrong, that’s fine. You don’t want to end up second-guessing yourself.” Your awareness and insistence could make the difference in you or your loved one’s life.

Two-thirds of doctors fail to recognize depression.

It may be because they didn’t ask or the patient didn’t tell. Either way, you can play a vital role in spotting these signs:

4 Major Signs of Diabetic Burnout

Diabetic burnout is a type of psychiatric morbidity resulting in a genuine disregard for managing diabetes and can lead to depression but can also be caused by depression which puts diabetics at great health risks including self-harm and long-term complications like limb amputations, diabetic blindness (retinopathy), and organ failure.

Diabetic burnout usually happens due to the complex nature of managing diabetes and stress associated with the disease. Diabetics know that no two days are the same and no matter how tight your blood sugar control and general management is, there will be anomalies and variables that occur. The lack of control in diabetes tends to be one of the most frustrating parts.

The 4 major signs of diabetic burnout are:

Negligence about medical care. This is one of the most dangerous signs of diabetes burnout. Canceling doctor’s appointments, not taking medications as prescribed, eating poorly, not checking blood sugars and not exercising are warning signs that you’re not taking care of yourself as you should.

Social withdrawal: Distancing yourself from family, friends, doctors etc can be a signal of depression and diabetic burnout

Decline in activity or performance level: Reaching a point of just getting by or doing no more than the minimum that is physically or mentally required of you may suggest diabetes burnout.

Emotional exhaustion: Managing a chronic illness like diabetes takes an emotional toll and can leave you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and down.

Emotional Support for Diabetic Depression

Accepting your feelings is the first step. It’s okay to feel frustrated, angry, or sad so don’t hold back your feelings. Reach out to trusted friends and family. Find a diabetes support group where you can talk with others who can relate to what you’re facing.

Having ongoing emotional support is a key component of diabetic self-care as well as depression management.

Type 1 diabetes community support app!

Thankfully, with social media today, support is endless. I only know of one other type 1 diabetic my age in my area but with Facebook groups like Daniel Borba’s Type 1 Athletes and meet ups, I am in contact and supported by thousands of others going through the same struggle. The emotional support is 1 click away in most cases and I have life long friends because of it so I highly encourage people with diabetes to do a search on Facebook for type 1 diabetes groups and connect with others.

Along with social media, many areas have group meetups for diabetics. You can ask your endo, google local type 1 diabetes groups, or check out meetup.com for local events.

Medical Support for Diabetic Depression

If you are struggling with depression or know someone who is, talk with your doctor. Ask for a referral to a mental health professional. Research indicates that professional counseling, sometimes in combination with anti-depressant medication, is a very effective treatment for depression. Regular screening for suicidal ideas and appropriate psychiatric management of the symptoms can help in reducing potentially fatal outcomes.

Talk to your endocrinologist. Seek a local CDE (certified diabetes educator) in your area or work with one remotely via Skype like Gary Scheiner or Kelley Crumpler.

Ed Cook, a San Diego resident, was diagnosed with diabetes 38 years ago. For much of the time, the government administrator and, after retirement, entrepreneur felt life was balanced despite his illness. But as Cook, now 66, gradually lost his vision and then his driver’s license, his business, and most recently, one toe to amputation, depression infiltrated his life.

“The complications led me to severe depression,” Cook admitted. He tried anti-depressants for a time, and now regularly attends both therapy and support groups. “It helps to know I am not alone,” he said. “Diabetes is not the end of the world. Getting treated for depression was a godsend,” said Cook.

Setting Goals

On top of emotional support, group therapy, and professional medical help, setting new goals and actively engaging in hobbies can also help with diabetes and depression management. Personally, I vouch for how fitness saved my life (read more about my story On Beyond Type 1’s website here).

I help type 1 diabetics lose weight, get stronger, and most importantly, improve their confidence with my online fitness and nutrition coaching. I know what it is like to be in a dark place in your life. Getting in the gym and improving my body not only helped my diabetes management but provided me with a way to overcome depression. It’s really hard to be negative when you see positive changes in your body.

Get to a gym. Go for a run. Find something to like to do where you can blow off steam and take your mind off things. Improve some area of your life.

Diabetic depression should not hold you as a hopeless hostage. Get support online. Find medical help from your doctor/psychologist/psychiatrist. Go to a gym and set goals. Diabetes is tough and so is depression but you are not alone and you are not out of options.

References

Lustman PJ, Anderson RJ, Freedland KE, de Groot M, Carney RM: Depression and poor glycemic control: a meta-analytic review of the literature. Diabetes Care 23: 434–442, 2000

Agnieszka Butwicka, Louise Frisén, Catarina Almvqvist, Björn Zethelius, Paul Lichtenstein: Risks of Psychiatric Disorders and Suicide Attempts in Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: A Population-Based Cohort Study. Diabetes Care 2015 Jan; dc140262.

Lustman PJ, Griffith LS, Clouse RE, Freedland KE, Eisen SA, Rubin EH, Carney RM, McGill JB: Effects of nortriptyline on depression and glucose regulation in diabetes: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Psychos Med 59:241–250, 1997

Lustman PJ, Griffith LS, Freedland KE, Kissel SS, Clouse RE: Cognitive behavior therapy for depression in type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 129:613–621, 1998

Lustman PJ, Freedland KE, Griffith LS, Clouse RE: Fluoxetine for depression in diabetes: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Diabetes Care 23:618–623, 2000

Darok M, Gatternig R. Suspected suicide and suicide attempt with mysterious concomitant circumstances. Forensic Sci Int. 2005;147(Suppl):S17–9.

Jacobson AM, de Groot M, Samson JA: The effects of psychiatric disorders and symptoms on quality of life in patients with type I and type II diabetes mellitus. Qual Life Res 6:11–20, 1997

Mezuk B, Eaton WW, Albrecht S, Golden SH. Depression and type 2 diabetes over the lifespan: a meta-analysis. Diabetes Care2008;31:2383-239

Photo Credit: Chris Ruden

Living with Diabetes Type 2 The Diabetes Solution Doctor Pearson Diabetes Original Article

#Diabetes Type 2

[technicaldr]

The Promise of Tomorrow’s EHR 

Advances in technology have fundamentally altered and inarguably improved the way we drive, shop and travel. Just ask anybody who uses Google Maps, Foodler or Uber.

Sadly, however, information technology has failed to deliver so far in the most crucial service of all – healthcare.  This is at least partly because electronic health records (EHR) systems grew out of the computer systems that run the hospital’s inner workings — patient scheduling, admission and discharge, staff payroll and accounts receivable. For system designers, physicians’ needs were an afterthought, which is problematic because physicians are, after all, the linchpin of the healthcare delivery system.

To begin pulling healthcare IT out of the past, we must first take a look at how it supports physicians. The short answer today is “not well.” In fact, EHRs are creating as much frustration as benefit.  Problems include poor presentation of patient data, fragmented information sources and unwieldy user interfaces that require dozens of mouse clicks or screen taps. It’s no wonder more than half of physicians who responded to a recent survey claimed their EHR system had negative impacts on costs, efficiency and productivity – three things IT should help, not hinder. These issues not only affect physicians’ professional satisfaction, they contribute to the phenomenon of physician burnout, which is a growing concern across healthcare. Studies show some 30 percent of primary-care physicians age 35 to 49 plan to leave medicine, and there’s an expected shortage of 25,000 surgeons by 2025. A Mayo Clinic study released earlier this year directly connected the burnout problem to physicians’ use of EHRs.

Today’s EHRs have done little more than “pave the cow paths.” We’ve gotten rid of paper in the hospital and made processes electronic, which is why EHRs can legitimately claim to have reduced transcription errors. But eliminating paper is just table stakes; the critical next phase is to do for healthcare what Uber has done for transportation: Reinvent the process so it’s optimized for and native to the technology that enables it.

Patients and physicians can and should advocate for such change. Today, patients have access to a vast body of information—the notes a doctor took, quality of care rankings, the level of personalization provided—and it’s only going to increase.  As Lygeia Ricciardi, former director of the Office of Consumer eHealth at ONC said, “Getting access to personal health information is the start of engaging patients to be full partners in their care.”

Patients of the (near) future are going to choose alternate care if they experience poor administrative practices, or if they don’t feel a connection with their doctor. And patients will know when technology inefficiency negatively impacts their quality of care, whether it’s due to admin issues or diagnosis.

In the coming decade we will begin to realize the benefits of computing and genomics in determining patient care. For example, modern medicine delivers anesthesia based on a number of factors, such as height, weight and age.  But people metabolize it very differently, and you can’t know how an individual will react unless you look at the genome. For the 20 percent of people for whom drugs do not work, it’s usually because of their specific DNA. But since this is something we’re currently not tracking, physicians are left to trial and error. Doctors should know what works for each type of person—perhaps based on what has worked for similar people in similar situations in the real world in the past.

On the technology side, EHR vendors aren’t going to get us to the next step. We must look to data, data scientists and innovative start-ups. Medical research and development is poised to move from a traditional molecular “hypothesis/proof” model to a data-centric “observation/analysis” model, in which it’s possible to do a trial without a (clinical) trial. Upwards of 90 percent of Americans are willing to share their medical data to benefit care and treatment research. We currently have enough institutions with enough data to build algorithms and apply them to other populations in such a way that we can change—and dramatically improve—healthcare.

It’s time to make healthcare work better for both patients and providers. Leveraging the innovative, ground-breaking tools we have at our disposal will propel healthcare quality and efficiency forward. Making EHRs and other healthcare IT as intuitive to use as Uber, Foodler or Google Maps will not only improve the quality of care, it will help to enhance the overall healthcare experience for everyone involved in it.

    Technical Dr. Inc.'s insight:

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Caregiver Duties – How Can You Make Your Life Easier?

View Original Article Here: Caregiver Duties – How Can You Make Your Life Easier?

The list of caregiver duties can become endless for many who provide care for a loved one or senior in need. Being a caregiver is a daily responsibility with very little downtime or relief. One of the most important things a caregiver can do is develop an organized plan to aid them in their responsibilities and look for ways to make their lives easier.

More importantly, a caregiver needs to make sure they’re caring for themselves. Providing care for someone else is nearly impossible if it is coming from a caregiver who is suffering from feelings of stress or burnout.

What is a Caregiver?

Caregivers provide assistance to someone who is in need. Many seniors need a caregiver in their older ages to assist them with duties such as administering medication, keeping the house clean, cooking, paying bills, and much more. Being a caregiver is extremely difficult because they have very little free time.

In the video below, you’ll learn more about exactly what a caregiver is and what their jobs entail on a daily basis.

    By the Numbers

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 70%of those who reach the age of 65 should expect to need some form of long-term care. There are various reasons why seniors eventually require a caregiver in their lives.

Chronic illness or accidents are two examples of disability causes that will require long-term care. On average, 8% of those between 40 and 50 years of age fall into this category. The disability number grows exponentially with age with that figure ballooning to nearly 70% of those age 90 or over.

Other examples of seniors who are likely to need a caregiver are those with high blood pressure or diabetes as well as those who exhibit poor diet and exercise habits.

Developing a Care Plan

The responsibilities of a caregiver are a continual process. There aren’t likely to be many days that are not busy or stressful once it becomes a full-time responsibility, so the best course of action is to develop a care plan. A care plan will enable you, as a caregiver, to provide the best care that you can as efficiently and effectively as possible.

The first step in developing a care plan is to determine which responsibilities can be taken on by you, and which need to be handled by family members, helpers, professionals, etc. It’s unrealistic for any caregiver to handle everything and maintain any semblance of healthy living for themselves.

Creating a chart is one of the best ways to organize the needs of the senior for whom you are providing care. A chart will help determine whether you can provide those services yourself or whether they can be handled externally.

For example, if the senior you are caring for cannot drive themselves and cannot use public transportation, you may look into transportation services offered for those who have disabilities. If healthcare costs for your loved one are too overwhelming, you may opt to seek assistance such as Medicare or Medicaid to reduce some of the burdens.

Assisting with Personal Care Needs

As a caregiver, you’ll find in many cases that the senior you are caring for has a difficult time maintaining personal hygiene. Activities such as bathing or shaving may be difficult for them to do on their own. Skin care is often overlooked and should be addressed. Some skin care tips for caregivers to use include:

Keep skin clean and dry. Some elderly patients will have difficulty controlling their bladders or bowels and will need extra attention in this regard

Bedding should be kept clean, dry, and wrinkle-free. Disposable mattress pads may be a consideration as they can save time in constantly changing sheets or bedding

Gently massage the skin every few hours to encourage circulation

Mattresses and chairs should be soft and form fitting rather than rigid

Pay attention to developing redness or skin breaks and notify a physician as soon as possible

Medication Assistance

On the surface, being the one to administer medication for a senior in need of care on a daily basis seems simple enough. But for many caregivers, it can be a tumultuous process when the person they’re caring for requires numerous medications.

There are hassles often involved in helping with medications that may not be evident from the outside. Many medications need to be administered via injection. Some seniors need eye drops on a daily basis; others need inhalers. The senior being cared for may not always be agreeable in these situations and may offer up resistance.

Day to Day Tasks

Many caregiver duties include common daily activities. Some of these activities may include things like preparing meals, transportation, housekeeping, shopping, and more.

Transportation

For most elders, there comes a time where driving independently is no longer an option because it has become too dangerous. When this time comes, it is going to be up to their caregiver to either account for transportation themselves or find alternate options.

As a caregiver, your starting point will be determining the physical and cognitive capabilities of the senior who is under your care.  Some seniors will still be capable of utilizing public transportation options after they are no longer able to drive themselves. For seniors who are also unable to use public transportation, alternate options such as Paratransit services.

Cleaning and Housekeeping

Seniors who are in need of a caregiver aren’t likely to have the capacity to maintain their homes as necessary. Many times, it will be up to the caregiver to take on cleaning and housekeeping duties.

In some cases, the caregiver will already have too much on their plate and may want to seek assistance with housekeeping duties. High schools and colleges often keep lists of students willing to perform these chores for a small fee which could be an excellent option for a caregiver seeking relief.

Meal Preparation

The elderly often find that they struggle to prepare their meals on a daily basis and may need assistance, so meal prep tends to make its way into the category of caregiver responsibilities.

Meal preparation can require a lot of energy and become tiring after a while. If you are feeling burned out as a caregiver and don’t feel like you can sustain the responsibility of preparing meals, it may be wise to look into alternative options.

Providing Emotional and Spiritual Support

What sometimes gets lost in the sea of caregiver duties and responsibilities is that the senior they care for could probably use some emotional support. One of the most important things a caregiver can do is just be there and be available. Listen to the person to whom you’re providing care. Talk to them and provide a shoulder to lean on. The appreciation may not always be visible, but it’s there.

Taking Care of Yourself

When discussing caregiver duties and making arrangements, caregivers often leave out the most important part of the equation: Caring for themselves. Filling caregiver duties is impossible if the caregiver is too tired, burned out, or stressed to provide the services required of them adequately.

Research has shown that caregivers tending to seniors suffering from dementia have particularly high levels of stress hormones that could be potentially harmful. Regardless of the ailment or disability, being a caregiver requires an incredible amount of patience and stamina and can take a serious toll over time.

Caregiver burnout is real and is an issue that most caregivers may not even notice at first because they’re so busy and overwhelmed. A few signs and symptoms of burnout may include:

Onset of depression

Constantly feeling tired

Losing interest in work and other activities

Withdrawing from social activities and social contacts

Increased use of alcohol or stimulants

Abnormal eating patterns

Feelings of helplessness

Caregiver support groups exist to alleviate some of the stresses of caregiving and offer up a reprieve for those who spend the majority of their free time doing so. Other ways to combat caregiver burnout include getting regular exercise, taking time to do things you enjoy, and re-shuffling your responsibilities to potentially lighten the load and make things easier.

Being a caregiver is an unenviable job and is rarely rewarding. The duties of a caregiver seldom see the appreciation they truly deserve. Providing care can be exhausting and can present numerous hurdles along the way. It is important to find the most efficient and least demanding ways to provide care and put a plan into action in order to avoid burnout.

Do you have experience as a caregiver and have tips or a story to offer up? Comment below and let us know!

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