When to Call a Professional

Our lives are pretty busy, rat race-ish even, these days. Our stress levels are sky high. We feel pulled in 20 different directions at any given time. Our heads are so busy going over every detail that we cannot get to sleep when we lay our heads down at night. These are tough times my friends! Our lives feel like they have been turned upside down, spun around 17 times then sat back down again.

Does anyone else feel this way?

When life seems to be too much we must look at how we deal with stressors. Are we worrying about them so much that they are affecting our quality of life? Are we confused about how to fix a problem? When we have a problem that we cannot fix ourselves what do we do? We call a professional for help. The same applies to your healthcare. If your health is not where you would like it to be then you call a professional. That means bringing in someone with medical training to assist you.

This is sometimes called a patient advocate. Someone that speaks to the doctor in a way they relate to and can understand in a timely fashion. Someone that takes what the doctor says and relays it back to you in a way that you can understand and relate to. But patient advocates don’t stop there! No Sir. They make sure you understand and then they partner with you to follow through with your healthcare plan.

For any given medical problem there is a plan of care. A plan of care has four easy steps…assess, plan, implement and monitor. Without proper medical training how are you suppose to provide yourself or your loved ones with a useful care plan? That is just like me looking at my electrical panel and scratching my head when my lights stop working. I do not start poking around at wires that I am not trained to fix. I call an electrician.

Your healthcare is something that you should never have to be confused about. Stop looking at your healthcare and scratching your head! Call a professional.

If you or a loved one would benefit from someone having a look into your healthcare please call in a professional. Someone that has the time and experience to make healthcare simple.

~ Michelle, RN ~

The Reason Why Most Diets Fail…

The reason why diets fail is because “diets” do not exist. In order to not only meet our weight loss goals but maintain our ideal weight we must make a lifestyle change. Now I know that sounds pretty heavy but hear me out…

The word diet seems scary and restrictive. To me it sounds like denying myself all of the foods/drinks that make me happy. It sounds like an exercise program that I am never going to succeed at. It sounds like spending a ton of money to eat “space food” and living in fear that as soon as I put a roll into my mouth I will gain 20 pounds and then proceed to eat an entire basket of the buttery goodness.

With the proper education and a “can do it” attitude we can take the restriction out of dieting. We can implement a new way of life that not only is healthier but will insure that we meet and maintain our weight loss goals. We can set up a system that WILL work because it is designed for you. We will stop setting ourselves up for failure and start looking at weight loss as a lifestyle change rather than a “diet.” And that my friends is when we will succeed!

How much do you LEARN from your Doctor visits?

Has this ever happened to you?

You go for your routine check up at your doctor’s office and they tell you that your blood pressure is high? They say you need to get it down and if it’s not down when you come back for your next visit you will probably have to go on medication?

Have you ever been told by your healthcare team that you need to lose weight? Did they list off the things that being overweight can cause? Heart disease…high blood pressure…diabetes …even cancer. If so, were you educated on ways to loose weight? Weight loss education is key to preventing obesity.

When you leave from a visit at your doctor’s office do you feel like you have learned anything? Education is the number one way to help people achieve their health goals. When you get in your car after your office visit you should have a clear idea of the way your body works as well as a plan for what to do next.

Nurses are the front line of education for their patients. In fact, during every 12 hour shift the nurses at the hospital are required to note two different types of education that they provided to each of their patients. If you have the opportunity to sit down and talk with a nurse about your health….take it! Nurses are a goldmine of information and a reliable source of education.

Functional and Integrative Medicine: A Look into Better Healthcare

Integrative medicine…

Integrative medicine is a form of holistic medicine that takes into account the lifestyle habits of a patient. The healthcare professional works to treat the whole person rather than just the disease. The mind, body, and soul of a patient are taken into consideration to promote healing and well-being.

Functional medicine…

Functional medicine is very similar to integrative medicine but it uses a medical approach that works to identify and understand the underlying root of a disease. The relationship between patient and healthcare professional becomes a partnership. They can work together to create a plan for better health.

Benefits…

Integrative and functional medicine work together to treat the person rather than the disease. Both strive to determine the root of each and every disease, rather than making a diagnosis and then determining which drugs or procedures will best treat the condition. Using these two forms of medicine together creates a more personalized medicine model. Chronic health conditions like obesity, auto-immune disorders (such as lupus), and diabetes should be treated with a personal approach. Every person is different and deserves their own personal healthcare plan.

What is a Patient Navigator?

A patient navigator works with people to overcome barriers and understand the healthcare system. They are committed to removing client’s barriers to very good care by identifying critical resources, helping them navigate through health care services and systems, and by promoting client health. 

Barriers to healthcare limit or prevent people from receiving adequate healthcare and medical management. For example, language can be a barrier. When you cannot understand your doctor or they cannot understand you, it can create huge barriers for your health.

Have you ever walked out of a doctor’s office, got into your car and thought…I have no idea what they just said? You wished you could have asked more questions but you felt rushed and didn’t want to waste the doctor’s time. Or after your appointment you thought of a few questions that you would like to discuss with your healthcare team? Who has had a family member or loved one call to update you on their doctor’s appointment and they tell you that they want to run some tests but they can’t remember which ones or what they are for? Or maybe, that the doctor is calling them in some new medicine but they couldn’t understand what they were saying so they don’t know what it is.

With access to your EMR (electronic medical record) you have all of the tools to understand your health care. With the help of a patient navigator and your EMR you can do a deep dive of exactly what is going on. A person with a medical background can read doctor’s notes and test results and, in turn, explain them to you in a way that anyone can understand.

Resources are sources of supply or support that are available to everyone. The healthcare system is full of different resources that people never even know exist! This is where someone with medical experience can come in handy. With some research and exploring, the right navigator can be very helpful, both financially and for your well-being.

I believe that our health comes from our entire body. For example, if you have chronic headaches it doesn’t necessarily mean that something is wrong with your head. Chances are it is coming from an issue in an entirely different part of the body. With a holistic nursing point of view you can look at your individual problems and narrow down the list of possible sources. Then your navigator can educate you on possible solutions that may not even require new medications or a doctor’s visit.

Having a patient navigator to talk to can help reduce some of your stress about your health and well being. I would love the chance to be that person for you or your loved one! I truly believe that I can help you walk the path to a better quality of life and healthcare.

Looking for a different way?

Let’s talk about different ways to come off of prescription medications for good!

 

 

It constantly amazes me when positive life style changes give people the opportunity to come off of some, if not all, of their doctor prescribed medications!

 

If you’re sick and tired of expensive medicines and their side effects I would love the opportunity to coach you on a different way.

https://www.facebook.com/MichelleRN11/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My “Why”

I wanted to take a couple of minutes to explain why I am so passionate about healthcare advocacy.

My sweet father has had multiple health problems surface over the last few years. It will be three years ago next week that he was diagnosed with a benign meningioma (non-cancer tumor). He had to have a craniotomy (a surgery to cut open the skull and remove the tumor) three days after being diagnosed. He lost consciousness three days after surgery and did not wake up for four weeks. He was also diagnosed with several other medical issues during that hospital stay. Last summer, he was diagnosed with a second brain tumor in the same spot. Yep, it was back and bigger than ever. Thankfully, he sailed through that surgery and is doing well. He lives in an adorable tiny house in my back yard which makes it easier for me to keep my eye on him.

I said all of that to say this…every single day I am so thankful that my dad is right here next to me and I can be present in his day-to-day as well as his healthcare. I am able to go to all of his doctor’s appointments with him. I can provide an accurate medical history when he sees a new doctor. I can go over his medications and any new issues/concerns we may have. Being a RN for over 11 years, I have seen plenty of people that have no idea what their doctor is saying or what they want them to do. They do not understand their medical issues, much less the medications that they are putting into their bodies. It breaks my heart to think of living miles or even states away from my father and not being able to participate in his healthcare.

I am also so very thankful for my nursing knowledge! When we go to the doctor I can assess, understand and interpret what the medical plan is then explain it to my dad in a way that he can understand. He then gets to be involved in the plan for his healthcare. He trusts me to make decisions for his health but he doesn’t always like it. When I’m getting too big for my britches he will tell me that he’s not dead yet. When he does this, I know that he is feeling left out and confused so I can pump the brakes and explain it to him.

So, next time you or someone you know is having trouble being their own advocate, doesn’t understand a medical diagnosis, wishes they had someone in the medical field in their corner or just needs some hand holding (because – let’s face it – we all need that from time to time) I would love to help!!

http://www.facebook.com/michelleRN11

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How would you like to have your very own RN dedicated to helping you and your loved ones navigate the ever changing world of healthcare?

As a single mom of three kids, head of my household, caretaker to my father and doer of all things I know how complicated life can get. Add a sick loved one or yourself in and sometimes it can feel impossible. With over 11 years of registered nurse experience I can provide services to help you navigate even the roughest waters.

I became a nurse to help people. It is my passion to educate and bring awareness to people who are in need of medical guidance.

Being a registered nurse I have the ability to practice medicine in a private setting. As well as, the time and energy to look at the “big picture” regarding your health.

Are you on medicines that you can’t pronounce or don’t know what they are for? Do you leave your physician‘s office feeling confused and unsure about the plan for your medical issues? Have you ever left the hospital with a new diagnosis and had no idea what steps to take next? I can help!!

With a thorough review of your health and environmental history I can help you organize a plan to put the control of your healthcare back in your hands. 

I want to teach you how to take control of your own healthcare and be your best advocate.

Imagine having a registered nurse at your fingertips to assess, advise and assist in making a plan for comprehensive medical management and follow up….

If you have healthcare related questions, concerns or issues I would love the opportunity to help 💛

Thanks,
Michelle