Discussion about entry
Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley Medical Advocacy Program
This is discussion about Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley Medical Advocacy Program.
Take action: |
||
|
Share This Forum |
add to favorites |
|
Medical Advocates Program
Most consumers are overwhelmed by their own medical information. They rarely do research on their own health encounters beforehand, and often leave doctor's office unsure of what they have been directed to do and why. We have not been trained to ask health care professsionals the questions we have, and to keep asking questions until we understand the answers. We would not buy even a cellphone on such skimpy information as we seek for our own critical health care decisions. This is especially true for many older consumers, who accept the "doctor knows best" attitude, and accept what they are told based on faith, rather than knowledge. For this reason, compliance with medical advice is often weak because older consumers don't grasp why it is they are doing what they are doing in the first place. Medication noncompliance is a major concern, because seniors believe its not a big deal to skip a medicine, or to cutback to lower monthly costs.
The MEDICAL ADVOCATES proposal submitted by Elder Services of Merrimack Valley in Massachusetts accomplishes several goals at once: 1) it makes sure that elders in the community actually get to their appointed doctor visits on time, 2) that they prepare for, and understand the content of what occurs with the doctor, and 3) they are coached in what to do in order to comply with their medical plan of care.
All of this is done with an easily replicable project that is predominately volunteer driven. This is far more than just a medical escort program. This is a medical coaching program, which has the intended effect of not only better preparing elders for their medical encounters, but puts their mind at ease and lowers anxiety about using health care services because their advocate is with them.
Every elder services agency should provide this basic coaching assistance, but few do. Part of the key is providing the resources needed to get the model up and running, and demonstrate its effectiveness. Here in Massachusetts, we have 27 non-profit Aging Services Access Points prepared to replicate this model in all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth.
This fundamentally empowers the consumer, and ensures that nothing will happen to them, without them.
Medical Advocates Program
Research indicates that taking an active role in your health care is critical to making informed decisions. One highly recommended way to do this is to "bring a friend or family member" to help you communicate your concerns and questions clearly and to help keep track of what the doctor tells you. Many older adults could benefit from a trained, impartial volunteer who can help them prepare for the visit, help facilitate communication during the visit, and review with the older consumer after the visit what was said, what the next steps are, and what follow up is needed. Not only is there the potential for improved health care outcomes for the older consumer, but family that is at a distance may be relieved of the stress and worry about an elderly loved one going to appointments alone and potentially learning difficult or confusing news. A primarily volunteer driven program that empowers older consumers to make informed decisions and improve their health is one worth replicating.
Medical Advocates Program
The Medical Advocates Program is a nationally recognized model for its innovative and creative use of senior volunteers to provide non-emergency medical transportation and valuable advocacy assistance to older persons who want to continuing living in their own home. The Community Transportation Association (CTAA) has a feature in two of its primary technical assistance manuals, the Senior Transportation Toolkit and Best Practices and its Medical Transportation Toolkit. A description of the program is also posted on CTAA's website. In May 2003 at CTAA's EXPO and pre-EXPO National Conference on Transportation for Elders in St. Louis, Missouri, Ms DeRoo presented on the program.
Every aspect of the ESMV program that I have examined -- planning, development, management, and supervision -- is outstanding. The program use volunteers to provide meaningful and demanding work. Their careful volunteer policies and procedures (recruitment and selection, training, and supervision) and overall excellent program management policies and procedures are the reasons why they can successfully use volunteers to perform such demanding work. When I have spoken with the leadership of the ESMV, I have been impressed by the agency's commitment to the program and its support of the Medical Advocates staff.
I frequently use ESMV in presentations at national and regional professional conferences as an example of a
program model that should be adapted in other communities.
The Medical Advocate Program
I want to say that in my opinion, both personally and professionally, transportation is one of the major impediments in acccessing medical services. Many organizations, both private and governmental agencies only provide service to the curb which is not adequate for an elderly frail person. In addition to this major obstruction, the cost of the service, can reach into the hundreds of dollars. Recruiting and training quality volunteers will significantly increase the availability of the services and access to the service. We strongly support this application. Currently we have a tremendous availablitity of younger retirees who are available to assist their fellow seniors.
Medical Advocacy Program
We learned about the program developed by Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley at a recent association conference. How intrigued we were to learn of the innovative ways that ESMV has utilized volunteers to provide much needed transporation services in conjunction with medical advocacy. So many elders are intimidated by medical professionals that they forget their questions, or if they do ask, may not understand the replies given. ESMV's volunteers can write down the questions ahead of time while talking with the elder in a more relaxed environment and then can also note answers so that elders and family members can refer to them later. The volunteers also assist with medical plan compliance by reminding elders to adhere to their specific medication schedules. We were impressed with ESMV's program planning and development. They took particular care in creating policies and procedures for the Medical Advocacy Program that enable it to grow successfully. We support ESMV's competition entry.
Medical Advocates Program
As the director for an Area Agency on Aging for over 20 years and a primary caregiver for my 88 year young mother, I have seen first hand the need for medical "advocacy" (someone who is a good listener and can take careful notes) and the transportation needed to get to and from health care appointments. Addressing the two needs via a volunteer model is not only effective, it is sustainable. The model proposed by ESMV has the potential for widespread replication and success in a vareity of geographic and cultural settings. It can work in urban as well as rural areas. Cultural and lingusitic differences can be addressed through careful screening and matching of volunteers. By offering staff support and backup through a formal system of recruiting, training and scheduling, volunteers and participants alike can be assured of a well run and stable program that will meet needs over the long term. I enthusiastically support the program and would like to be one of the agencies that replicates the model in our planning and service area.
Dan O'Leary, Exec Dir, Mystic Valley Elder Services, Malden, MA
Medical Advocates
As director of an organization which provides services to elderly persons, I am very interested in the model for medical advocacy as proposed by Elder Services of Merrimack Valley. While our agency does assist in transporting some elders to doctor's appointments, we do not have the resources to take this a step further and provide the advocacy often needed during or following the appointment. Many of the elders we serve are quite frail, may have some hearing loss or diminished capacity to comprehend the medical information being given to them. Also, they may have no local family members or close friends that are willing to "interpret" medical jargon, intervene on their behalf, or advocate for them on issues or problems which may arise.
The model the ESMV has put forth appears to be both cost-efficient and effective. By using volunteers, resources are greatly expanded. Also, the type of volunteer that would be interested in participating in such a program would probably also be very motivated in improving the quality of life of an older person. By helping someone make better, more informed decisions about their health care and life care, everyone wins.
Medical Advocates Program
Last year volunteers for Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services escorted frail elders to 777 medical appointments. While the primary purpose of our escort transportation service is to ensure that frail, disabled or cognitively impaired elders are able to get safely to and from their medical appointments, a critically important second purpose has emerged. Many of our clients will informally seek the assistance of our volunteers at their medical appointments. This assistance can take the form of interpreting for non-English speakers, acting as a recorder of vital health information, or explaining the instructions of the health care provider.
Elder Services of Merrimack Valley has developed an excellent program that should be replicated throughout Massachusetts. Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services would like to expand the scope of its escort transportation service to include a formal medical advocacy component, and we hope that we will be able to learn from the experience of ESMV.
Support of Medical Advocates Program
I am pleased to have the opportunity to comment on the “Medical Advocates” program developed by Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley. I represent the Beverly Foundation which undertakes research related to transportation options for older adults, and I believe that the “Medical Advocates” program includes some of the most innovative ideas found in any of the more than 400 volunteer driver programs in our data base. After hearing about the program and meeting its founder, Mary DeRoo, I had the opportunity to make a personal visit to this extraordinary program to meet with Ms. DeRoo, program staff, and volunteers; and came away from my visit even more impressed with the important contribution the program makes to the patients, the caregivers, and the community.
And now about my impressions regarding the “Medical Advocates” program innovations. Indeed it is an innovation in the transportation sector, for while many transportation programs around the country provide escorts who stay with passengers at the destination, I know of no other transportation program that trains the drivers (in this case the medical advocates) to act as an advocate and/or surrogate family member for the elder. The involvement of volunteers as volunteer drivers/medical and the assistance they provide enable members of the community to take major responsibility in providing assistance by asking appropriate questions, by recording information provided by the physician, by reporting to caregivers, and by empowering the elder during health care visits. Indeed the “Medical Advocacy” program is an innovative way to involve the community in helping older adults through patient support, as well as transportation services. While their social contribution is important, their economic contribution of $63,875 in volunteer hours is what makes it possible for such a program to flourish.
Indeed, I believe that the “Medical Advocates” program should be replicated or adapted throughout Massachusetts. And, as a next step, I hope that the program will be shared with the rest of the country.
Helen K. Kerschner, Ph.D.
President & CEO
The Beverly Foundation
Pasadena, CA
Medical Advocacy Program
At Ethos we have a number of medical escort volunteers who help frail elders go to medical appointments. As the Volunteer Coordinator, I hear a lot of reports from the volunteers, that the clients, who have limited family involvement or other informal support, need a lot more than just a shoulder to lean on during their medical visits. Many elders that we provide with medical escort services are very frail and disabled, with diminished ability to understand the medical information they receive, as well as follow doctors’ orders. I am very interested in the medical advocacy model that the Elder Services of Merrimack Valley developed. I strongly believe that this is an excellent program. It is designed to make a significant difference in the lives of many of our most frail clients. I fully support the ESMV’s application, and I look forward to being able to replicate the Medical Advocacy Program at Ethos.
SURGERY
Cosmetic laser surgery and liposuction specialists in Australia; contact The Ashley Centre in Melbourne and see how we can help you.
Porn fitness video
Porn fitness video-Movies of sex-Baywatch star Nicole Eggert in a sex scene
Sexy housewife fucking-Movies of sultry babe sucks on a big dick and makes it cum on her face
Cock sucking big tit teen- Movies of a big tit blonde hottie gets fucked after a workout
Free anal gang bang movies-Movies of a gorgeous busty ebony chick riding on black phallus
Gang bang my wife- Everyday amateur girls acting li
Free asian big tit movie-Hot and sexy fotos of different amateur teens.
Big tit video movie clip-Horny amateur party girls getting kinky together.
Big black fat tit movie-Movies of a hottie gets her tight hairy pussy fingered and fucked.
Free porn big tit lesbian-Three delightful cuties lustily lick tasty quims in kitchen.
Big mature sex tit video-Movies of crazy women waiting their turn to pleasure male dacners
In biology, sex is a process
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms .
escorts
In my country medical most
In my country medical most university is Indonesia University and Gadjah Mada University at Yogyakarta. To be study at there I think I must pay expensive price, so many people just trying to enter with beasiswa test.business directory |jobs|walk in tub
I just finished up my eating
I just finished up my eating disorder treatment and eating normal again happy which is the best part and not dreading what i'm eating.