Transcript Peeling The Human Onion

By
Ann Rhodes RN ,FNP, C
October 29 , 2011
Objectives:
 To learn about one of the many roles of the nurse
practitioner in health care
 To learn about how “peeling the human onion” can
lead to the empowerment of your patient, AND YOU.
 To learn about having a health care proxy and its
importance.
Aging Statistics
 The oldest of the 77 million baby
boomers approach their 60’s.
 The elderly and their concerns are
moving higher on the national agenda.
 The older people are getting smarter,
richer and healthier as time goes on.
Ageism in America 2011
Aging Statistics
 The number of Americans 65 and older is
projected to double over the next three decades
from 35.9 million to nearly 70 million,
comprising 20% of the population in 2030
compared to less than 13 % now.
Aging Statistics
 The 85-and-over population is the
FASTEST growing segment-
projected to grow from 4 million in
2000 to 19 million in 2050 as part of an
unprecedented surge in longevity.
 Americans now turning 65 will live, on
average, an additional 18 years.
2006-2008
Most Frequently Occurring
Medical Conditions of the Elderly:
 Hypertension
38%
 Osteoarthritis
50%
 Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
18%
 All types of Heart Disease
32%
The Alliance for Aging Research
Reports:
The elderly are less likely to receive
preventive care and often lack
access to doctors.
Barriers to Care:
 A shortage of geriatric specialists for the
elderly
 Lack of transportation to medical offices
 Poor communication between clinicians
with fragmentation of care
THE BIG QUESTIONS
1. HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THE
MEDICAL CARE WE NEED AS WE
AGE?
2. WHO IS GOING TO PROVIDE IT?
A registered nurse with advanced
academic and clinical experience who
has completed a formal educational
program at a Master’s level and is
licensed by the State Board of
Nursing.
Their practice emphasizes health promotion
and maintenance, disease prevention,
counseling, and patient education.
 Obtain health histories and
perform physical exams
 Diagnose and treat common
illnesses and injuries
 Recognize complicated medical
conditions that require referral
 Manage chronic medical conditions
such as diabetes, high B/P
 Order and interpret diagnostic tests,
including lab tests and x rays
 Prescribe medications and other
treatments
 Advise on how to prevent disease
 Offer education and counseling to assist
in lifestyle changes
 Give vaccinations
 Refer to community resources and
agencies
Working in collaboration with a physician or
the patient’s physicians, a Nurse Practitioner
provides high quality, cost-effective care to you
and your family.
Chapter 168
 On July 20, 2011, Gov. Cuomo passed the bill,
Chapter 168, allowing Nurse Practitioners and
Physician’s Assistants to complete and sign DOH
3122 forms in nursing homes and assisted living
facilities.
 Patients will be able to have timely, comprehensive
exams and episodic visits for medical issues.
What does it mean to
peel the Human Onion?
Peel the Layers of the
Person Down
 LISTEN to the person for whom you are
caring
 Be attuned to his reactions and actions
Continue to Peel
 Allow him to know you are there as his
advocate.
 Ask him what his wishes are for the rest of
his life.
Nurse Practitioners can:
 Provide medical care in patient homes.
 Work with community agencies/ programs to improve
quality of care.
 Collaborate with specialists and act as a case manager.
 Allow “aging in place.”
 Assist with transition to palliative care and hospice
 Allow the patient and their families to have their wish
come true.
 Allow the patient to have dignity in life, and when
dying at home.
Medical House Calls by
Nurse Practitioners can:
 Reduce hospital admissions by finding small problems
before they become big ones.
 Reduce the expenditures of Medicare and Medicaid
 Reduce unnecessary ER visits by caring for the patient
with medical modalities at home
The Health Care Proxy
 It allows you to appoint someone you trust to make
medical decisions for you if you lose the ability to
make decisions yourself.
 Simple instructions included to complete it
 No lawyer or notary needed
 Can be completed in less than 15 minutes.
Empower Yourself
and your loved ones
 Complete a health care proxy today
 Go to:
www.health.state.ny.us/forms/doh1430.pdf · PDF file
Thank you