It's Official - AAHSA Now LeadingAge

On July 1, we told you that the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) was planning to change its name to LeadingAge because it felt the new moniker better reflected the group's role and internal vibrancy.

The change was dependent upon a vote from AAHSA's membership. On Monday, AAHSA announced that approximately 40 percent of members cast their votes, with 85% voting for the name change and 15% voting against it.

The new name will take effect in early 2011, the organization's 50th anniversary. The group will also begin using a new mission statement: "Expanding the world of possibilities for aging."

Another Walk/Run for Life Tribute

My husband and I are walking in the Barnes Foundation 5K Walk/Run for Life this year in honor of his best friend, Jim Ebersohl. In 2006, Jim found a little lump on his tongue. At first, he thought he bit it accidently. It was very painful and created a little divot in his tongue. Soon he realized it was not going away and his wife Sandi encouraged him to go get it checked out. Jim was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue. Now, for a man who loves to cook and grill, this was a difficult venture to start. This 280-pound Marine was going to have part of his tongue cut out with radiation treatments to follow. A gastrostomy tube was placed into his stomach so he could get nutrients into his body. Today he weighs in at 135 pounds and only eats sweets, soft foods, soups and hot, spicy food items because he can’t taste the foods, but it’s the scent of food that he enjoys. His favorite saying is “Eating is overrated.”

We are walking in honor of this man because of his fight for life, his will to live and his friendship. We spend many moments on the road with Jim and Sandi riding our Harleys and we always have fun. He makes us laugh, especially as he performs his six flag routine. With Jim, our goal is to have “more fun”!

- Pam West, VP of Clinical and Regulatory Compliance, Professional Medical

Tons o' Fun to Follow Barnes Foundation Walk/Run for Life

Participants in the Barnes Foundation's Second Annual Walk/Run for Life this Saturday, August 28, won't want to get in their cars and hit the road after the walk is over. Instead, they should make their way to the Family Fun Festival held outside ProMed's corporate headquarters, just steps from where the walk will finish.

The Family Fun Festival is open to the entire community, not just walk participants! Attendees will be treated to food, a bake sale, dunk tank, silent auction, magician and DJ. A massage therapist will also be on hand to ease the muscles of tired runners and walkers. Kids of all ages will love the wide assortment of games, including limbo, ring toss, treasure sand pool, "pick up a duck," basketball shoot and inflatable jumpy.

Each activity requires tickets, which can be purchased at the event, or cash.

All proceeds from the festival will benefit the American Cancer Society's Illinois Patient Navigation Services. To learn more about the walk and festival, please visit www.barnes-foundation.org.

A Walk/Run for Life Tribute

In honor of the Barnes Foundation's Second Annual Walk/Run for Life this Saturday, August 28, we encouraged participants to tell us about the people they are honoring or remembering by walking. ProMed Territory Manager Jay Jermo won't be able to join us this year, but he shared this moving tribute to his friend's father.

I would like to pay tribute to my friend Robin Beamish’s Father, George Beamish. George fought a valiant battle with leukemia for 2 years with help from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He received repeated rounds of stem cell therapy. After repeated complications from the treatment, he finally succumbed on June 25, 2010. He is survived by his children Robin, Kathy, Scott, his wife Janet, and grandchildren – Tyler, Chase and Keaton.

I never met George, but from all accounts he was an active outdoorsman, devoted father and enjoyed his family and relationships above all else. My friend Robin misses him terribly. While I will be unable to participate in the Barnes Foundation Walk/Run for Life, I am very proud to represent a company that takes an active approach to improving the lives of others affected by cancer. Our continued involvement in this cause is a wonderful thing to be a part of.

To learn more about the Walk/Run for Life, please visit barnes-foundation.org.

A Journey of Hope

The Road to Recovery Program is a Driving Force in Cancer Care
By Laura Kuhn

A cancer diagnosis generates an untold number of questions - "Can I be cured?" "How am I going to tell my family?" "What if it spreads?"

"How am I going to get to my treatments?" should never be one of those questions. That's why the Barnes Foundation has paired with the American Cancer Society's Illinois Patient Navigation Services to help fund Road to Recovery, a program that provides transportation to and from treatment for cancer patients who are unable to drive themselves to their appointments.

There are three key components of the Road to Recovery program: financial supporters, such as the Barnes Foundation; volunteers who give their time and resources to transport patients to their appointments and, last but not least, the patients themselves.

The Barnes Foundation: Helping to Make it Possible
The Barnes Foundation was established in 2008 by Terry Barnes, founder and president of Professional Medical, Inc. Terry was inspired to create the foundation as a way of giving back to the community that had supported his company since its doors first opened in 1968. He decided the foundation's mission statement would be to "Improve the lives of those around us as well as the world in which we live."

The Barnes Foundation's inaugural event was 2009's Walk for Life, a 5K walk that raised more than $30,000 for the Illinois Patient Navigation Services, specifically the Road to Recovery program. The foundation's $30,000 donation was matched by the Duchossois Family Foundation for a combined donation of $60,000. This was enough to fund the Road to Recovery program for almost an entire year.

The Barnes Foundation chose to focus their first charitable efforts on cancer because "cancer touches every person in some way," according to Amy Gollan, the foundation's president. In fact, Terry Barnes's sister is currently fighting sarcoma.

Gollan was touched by the tremendous impact that something as simple as a ride could have. "Many patients would not make it to critical appointments without the help of the people dedicated to this amazing program," she said. "Providing rides might seem small, but it can truly save lives."

Harry Gramse: Giving His Time to Help Others
When Harry Gramse was laid off from his job in the early '80s, he didn't panic. "Something told me I would be back working in a year and not to worry about it," he said. "I thought to myself, God's giving me a year off. I might as well give something back to Him."

As it turned out, Gramse was right. He was back on the job a year later - but he didn't stop giving his time to help others.

At the time, Gramse's wife was involved with hospice care. Gramse began volunteering at the hospice as well as with the American Cancer Society. He's been a driver for the Road to Recovery program, off and on, since the early '80s.

Gramse's driving takes him all over Chicagoland, and he meets all types of people. Some people want to talk with him, others don't. Some will volunteer what type of cancer they have while others keep that information to themselves. Other than all having cancer, what unites the group is that they're all grateful and genuine people, Gramse said.

While the patients are receiving their treatments, Gramse usually settles into a hospital waiting room with a good book. When their appointments end, he helps them back to his car, sometimes in a wheelchair if they are feeling weak. He recalls that he once had a tough time trying to find a comfortable way to fasten one woman's seatbelt because she was in so much pain.

Over the years, Gramse has had many patients try to tip him for his services, and he's explained that not only can he not accept their money, he doesn't want it. The rewards of being involved with the program are payment enough. "The most rewarding part is when they say 'thank you,'" Gramse said.

Sharon Grossklaus: Taking the Road to Recovery
For most people, the hospital is one of the last places they'd want to celebrate a birthday. That's not the case for Sharon Grossklaus. The Joliet, Illinois resident underwent thyroid cancer surgery the day before her fortieth birthday. She recalls that birthday as "the best birthday ever - because I was alive."

Grossklaus credits that positive outlook for inspiring her to keep fighting what has already been a long battle with cancer. Her first cancer diagnosis came on October 10 of 2002, when doctors discovered that she had thyroid cancer. Over the next eight years, that cancer would spread to her liver, back to her neck, her lungs and her bones. She also underwent a double mastectomy with reconstruction as a preventative measure.

Her cancer treatments have taken Grossklaus to both Lexington, Kentucky and Chicago - and the American Cancer Society has been there for her all along the way. In Lexington, Grossklaus stayed at the ACS's Hope Lodge, which provides free overnight lodging for cancer patients and their caregivers in an effort to lessen what is already emotional and financial burden. The patients who are staying there rally around each other and often cook group dinners. Occasionally a group of volunteers come in to cook for everyone and plan game nights.

"I totally believe that the Hope Lodge brings new meaning to the word 'hope,'" Grossklaus said.

When she began receiving cancer treatments at the University of Chicago, one of Grossklaus's friends told her about the ACS's Road to Recovery program. She's received at least a dozen rides into Chicago through the program. "I can't say enough about the pleasant atmosphere that the drivers bring to the patients," she said. "They're so nice, so caring, so understanding, so compassionate. They're absolutely wonderful."

Grossklaus doesn't sugar-coat her prognosis. She currently has Stage IV cancer in her bones and lungs. "I was told 'Your cancer is advanced. There is no cure. All I can do is give you time,'" she said. "So I asked 'How can I get the most time possible?'" She learned about a clinical trial at the University of Chicago that was showing positive results and could possibly prolong her life.

"I asked for the paper right away to sign up for the trial," Grossklaus said. "I'd rather live than die."

The clinical trial is a time-consuming process. Grossklaus often spends all day at the hospital having her blood drawn and seeing doctors. Many times, the Road to Recovery drivers stay by her side to keep her spirits up and help her pass the time.

Grossklaus will remain on the clinical trial drug as long her cancer does not metastasize. She has started to lose her hair from the treatment. "My son said 'Mom, what are you going to do if your hair keeps falling out?'" she said. "I told him 'I'll just have to shine my head! I'll be like Mrs. Kojak!"

Grossklaus is fighting for her life, and she views her sense of humor and positive outlook as two of the most powerful weapons in her arsenal. "You have to be positive," she said. "I totally believe that someone who views cancer with a negative attitude will not have the same life expectancy as someone who goes into it with a positive attitude and a sense of humor."

Courts: Indiana NH Residents Cannot Specify Caregiver Race Preference

A new court ruling in Indiana declared that nursing home residents cannot request treatment from a particular caregiver based on that person's race. All nursing homes in Indiana will soon be notified of the ruling.

At the center of the case is Brenda Chaney, a black CNA who was prohibited from caring for a resident who preferred to be treated exclusively by white caregivers. The ruling found that residents' racial preferences do not supersede a caregiver's civil rights.

To learn more, click here.

"Split the Pot" Raises $817 for the Barnes Foundation

During the week of August 16, ProMed held a "split the pot" contest in our corporate office to benefit the Barnes Foundation's Second Annual Walk/Run for Life. Employees could purchase cards for $1 each or $5 for six cards. The cards were cut in half, with employees keeping one half and other going into the pot.

The idea was that the employee whose card was drawn would keep half of the total raised, and the other half would be donated to the Barnes Foundation...but that wasn't how it turned out!

Barnes Foundation President Amy Gollan asked Jim Arnold, Director of Purchasing, to select the winning card. He did - and managed to draw his own card! He immediately said that he would donate his winnings to the Barnes Foundation. Instead of $408, the foundation received $817!

Split the Pot was so popular, we're doing it again this week!

Embrace is Proudly Displayed at Healthwin

In the newest issue of Embrace magazine, we featured Healthwin, a facility in Indiana that has achieved three consecutive perfect surveys. This past Friday, Al Wiggs, ProMed's VP of Strategic Sales and Marketing, met with Healthwin's DON, Dawn Long, and administrator, Teresa Smucker, as they prepared to display a framed copy of the magazine article at the facility. We're honored that they enjoyed the article and they allowed us to feature them!

Not an Embrace subscriber yet? Subscriptions are available free of charge to our customers. To register, please visit embracethemagazine.com and click on "Subscribe."

Study: Palliative Care Can Lead to Longer, Better Lives

A new study from Harvard Medical School has found that for some terminally ill patients, palliative care can lead to longer, better lives.

The researchers found that lung cancer patients who received palliative care during the last months of life reported a 50% lower rate of depression and lived an average of 2.5 months longer than patients who received standard medical care. Palliative care traditionally focuses on treating pain, anxiety and loss of appetite.

The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. To view the study's abstract, click here.

"Why I'm Walking"

In honor of the Barnes Foundation's Second Annual Walk/Run for Life, we encouraged participants to tell us about the people they are honoring or remembering by walking. Here are three tributes we have received.

"This year I am participating in the Walk/Run for Life in honor of my nephew Michael. In 1998, at the age of 20, his life changed forever when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer). On Good Friday 1998, he started his chemotherapy. Because of the toxicity of the treatment, he had to be hospitalized each time he had chemo. His heart and bladder had to be monitored. After three grueling months of treatment, he had surgery to remove the tibia bone from his leg. They put a rod in his leg; the other option was amputation. He will never run jump or climb. He has a permanent limp and bad hips, but he is alive. He is here today because of people like yourself who took time out of their busy day to fight this horrible disease. We must never give up the fight until this disease is eradicated from our lives. Though Mike will never run, jump or climb, he now watches his daughters run, jump and climb. On behalf of Mike and my family, thank you."
- Carol Loebe, Accounts Payable, Professional Medical

"I am participating in the Walk/Run for Life in memory of my grandmother, Marietta Volz. On February 15, 2006, the day after Valentine’s Day, I stood in an ICU in Rockford, Illinois. The hospital was still bedecked with hearts and cupids and other whimsical tokens of love. They were a sharp contrast to what I saw right before my eyes – my grandfather weeping at the bedside of the love of his life. My grandmother was diagnosed with lymphoma right before Thanksgiving of 2005. By Christmas, she had begun receiving chemotherapy treatments. We sat around the table on Christmas Day helping her pick out wigs because she had already started to lose her soft brown hair. By New Year’s Eve, she had grown very weak, and the day after Valentine’s Day, we lost her. Cancer took this beautiful creature from her loving family and friends. It did so quickly, and without mercy. I had always thought that love and prayers could overcome anything, but they weren’t enough to defeat cancer. I’m walking in memory of a woman whose love lives on in me."
- Laura Kuhn, Creative Resource Copywriter, Professional Medical

“I am honored to be participating in this year’s Walk/Run for Life for my Aunt Tina. This past December (2009) she had a cold/cough that she couldn’t shake. After trying over-the-counter medications to no avail, she finally went to the doctor. On January 6t, after seeing the doctor, she drove herself to the hospital. She was admitted for what they thought was pneumonia. After further testing, on January 9 she was diagnosed with Stage 3 lung cancer. On February 2, 2010, three weeks after being diagnosed, she lost her battle with cancer. On February 24, she would have celebrated her 50th birthday. She was a free spirit that everyone LOVED to be around. She did what made her happy and lived a life that was simple yet fulfilling to her. I am walking in the hope that others diagnosed with cancer are able to live long fulfilling lives as my aunt lived hers.

“I am also walking in this year’s Walk/Run for Life for my father-in-law, Tom. He was diagnosed with lung cancer about a year and a half ago. At first, he was told he had about one year. He defied those odds. At a recent doctor’s visit, he was told that he probably wouldn’t make it through this summer. Summer is almost over and thankfully, by some miracle, he is still with us. He has been fighting valiantly for his life. He is on oxygen 24/7, he isn’t supposed to be outside for extended periods of time, he cannot do simple daily activities as they compromise his breathing. He has had to retire from a job he loved and stop doing things he truely enjoyed. Understanding that he is terminal, he stays positive about everything, he takes nothing for granted and every minute spent with loved ones is genuinely treasured. I am walking for the hope that others can continue to do the things they love and to continue to do the simple things in life that most of us take for granted. My hat’s off to you, DAD!

“From everyone in my family, immediate and extended…thank you to those of you who are walking and to those of you that have donated to a life-changing cause. God bless!”
- Cheryl Hatley, Customer Service Representative

To learn more about the Walk/Run for Life, which will be held on August 28 in New Lenox, Illinois, please click here.

Driving for Quality Care Rolls through Eau Claire

The AHCA's nationwide petition tour, Driving for Quality Care, rolled through Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, making a stop at Dove Health Care. Here are some great photos from the event! A big thank you to Angela Hite at Dove Health Care for providing the photos to us.

CDC: New Superbug Not So Scary

Last week, we told you about a newly discovered gene variant, NDM-1, that has been found to cause some bacterium to become extremely resistant to to antibiotics. Now there's good news. The CDC is reporting that there have been no new cases involving NDM-1 in the U.S. since the initial health warning in June of this year. They added that the bugs are susceptible to the use of some older antibiotics.

Several doctors at renowned facilities weighed in with the New York Times on NDM-1 and noted that while there are numerous strains of antibiotic-resistant germs, none of them have yet lived up to their "superbug" and "flesh-eating bacteria" stigma. In other words, there's no need to panic right now.

Indiana Legislation Would Require Nurse Background Checks

In response to Indiana's governor's decision not to pursue federal matching grants for nursing home background checks, a state senator is introducing legislation that would mandate the checks in all settings.

Senator Patricia Miller's proposed legislation would require healthcare employers to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks. Any information about nurse criminal records that is discovered would also have to be reported to state licensing officials.

Currently, Indiana relies on its 120,000 nurses to self-report criminal history when renewing their licenses. While details of the plan are still emerging, it has been mentioned that one way to help offset the cost of the program is to have nurses help pay for the checks through licensing fees.

Penny Wars at ProMed

For the past three weeks, Penny Wars have been raging at ProMed! The competition was a fundraiser for the Barnes Foundation's Second Annual Walk/Run for Life, which benefits the American Cancer Society's Illinois Patient Navigation Services.

Here's how it worked: Each department was assigned a bucket. Pennies that were placed in the bucket had a positive value. Any silver coins or paper money that were placed in the bucket had a negative value. For example, if a team put 25 pennies in their bucket, those pennies would be canceled out if somebody put a quarter in the bucket.

This year, sabotage was the name of the game! With a great prize on the line - being able to wear jeans to work every day for two weeks - departments were in it to win it!

Here are the final standings - don't forget, negative amounts mean that other teams contributed "sabotage money."

First Place: Warehouse

$64.70 contributed, $40.75 in sabotage money

Total: $23.95

Second Place: Customer Service

$90.70 contributed, $106.15 in sabotage money

Total: -$15.45

Third Place: Finance/HR

$67 contributed, $93.85 in sabotage money

Total: -$31.35

Fourth Place: MedB

$15.25 contributed, $69.80 in sabotage money

Total: -$54.55

Fifth Place:IT/Inside Sales

44 cents contributed, $62.75 in sabotage money

Total: -$62.31

Sixth Place: Purchasing/Special Sales

$43.76 contributed, $172.30 in sabotage money

Total: -$128.54

Seventh Place: Marketing

$103.40 contributed, $477.70 in sabotage money

Total: -$374.30

MRSA Slows Down, New Superbug Ready to Pick Up the Pace

Would you like the good news or the bad news first? The good news? Okay, here it is - according to an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, severe MRSA cases in healthcare settings fell by 28 percent between 2005 and 2008, possibly because of successful preventive measures.

So...now for the bad news. While MRSA appears to be waning, a new superbug is waiting in the wings. According to an article published in Lancet Infectious Diseases, British scientists are warning that a gene known as NDM-1 has been found to be capable of altering bacteria to become almost impervious to antibiotics. The bug has already been found in the U.S. and could continue to spread people travel to India and back. The bug has also been found in the U.K., Netherlands, Canada, Australia and Sweden.

Congratulations, Natalie Lenz!

Team ProMed congratulates Natalie Lenz on being named the August 2010 Employee Spotlight Award winner! Natalie is a Customer Service Representative and has been with ProMed for two and a half years.

“Natalie is a team player. She will always do whatever is asked of her and approaches every issue or problem with a positive attitude,” said Dena Trudeau, Director of Customer Service. “She makes my job easier. She is a great asset to my department and I couldn’t be happier to have her on my team.”

When we asked Natalie the best part of being a member of Team ProMed, she told us “I like the people I work with, and I also enjoy interacting with our wonderful customers.”

As the Employee Spotlight Award winner, Natalie will be able to proudly display the Torch of Excellence trophy at her desk for the month of August. She was also give a $100 cash award.

Cuddly Robot Gets the "Seal" of Approval for Dementia Patients

(Photo from parorobots.com)

Meet Paro, the cuddliest robot we've ever seen. Paro is a robotic seal that "allows the documented benefits of animal therapy to be administered to patients in environments such as hospitals and extended care facilities where live animals present treatment or logistical difficulties," according to its manufacturer, AIST.

Paro is primarily used to calm residents with dementia in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. The robotic seal purrs and paddles its flippers when petted. It also opens its eyes and moves it head when spoken to, and when held against a chest, a simulated heartbeat can be felt.

Paro has been shown to reduce stress, stimulate interaction, promote relaxation and motivation and improve socialization.

To learn more about Paro and view a gallery of Paro being used around the world, click here.

Study: Keep Your Shoes On

It's not as comfy as lounging in slippers or socks, but a new study has found that seniors who wear shoes, especially sneakers, around their homes are less likely to fall.

The study, performed at Boston's Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, found that people who wear shoes on a regular basis at home are far less likely to fall than people who wore slippers, socks or went barefoot. During the study, researchers followed 765 people between the ages of 64 and 97 for more than two years. Falls took place all over the house, including the bathroom, stairs, kitchen and living room, not just in wet or slippery areas.

The researchers pointed out that the traction and ankle support of sneakers help account for the reduction in falls. Sneakers are also ideal for fall prevention because more of the shoe has contact with the ground, which in turn provides more information to the brain to allow for better balance.

To learn more, click here.

We've Reached Our First Embrace Subscriber Goal!

When we were still in the planning stages of Embrace magazine, we had a lengthy discussion what we thought a "reasonable" goal would be in terms of subscribers. For 2010, our first year of publication, we set our goal at 300 subscribers.

Today, we reached that goal - and passed it! We want to thank all of you who have taken the time to visit embracethemagazine.com and subscribe. We're thrilled that so many of you are enjoying the magazine and we can't wait to share upcoming issues with you!

Reminder: ProMed Closed Until August 9, Website Also Unavailable

We wanted to remind you that ProMed will be closed until August 9 while we perform physical inventory and system upgrades. During this time, our website, http://www.promedsupply.com/, will also be unavailable. You will not be able to sign in to the site or use any of our online tools.

We understand that this is an inconvenience for our customers, and we greatly appreciate your patience while we transition to a system that will allow us to better meet your needs.

CMS Keeps Filling In the Part D Donut Hole

CMS has taken another crucial step in its efforts to close the Medicare Part D "donut hole." They've released a drug maker agreement that will make manufacturer discounts available to eligible Medicare beneficiaries.

Under the agreement, manufacturers must sign an agreement with CMS that states they will provide a discount on all of its applicable products, such as prescriptions drugs. Beginning in 2011, only drugs that are covered under a signed manufacturer agreement will be covered under Medicare Part D.

This is the second step that CMS has taken to assist beneficiaries who fall into the Medicare Part D payment gap. Earlier this year, they began sending $250 relief checks to eligible recipients.

To learn more, click here.

Customer Reminder: ProMed Will Be Closed August 5 and 6

Professional Medical will be closed Thursday, August 5 and Friday, August 6 for physical inventory and systems upgrades. Orders placed after Friday, July 30 will be delivered the week of August 9.

Please call our customer service department at 800.648.5190 with any questions or concerns. We thank you for your patience and understanding!

How Administrators Can Prep for MDS 3.0 This Summer

With MDS 3.0 set to be implemented on October 1, we're sure that many nursing home administrators are spending their summers wracking their brains on ways to prepare for the switch. We thought we'd pass along a few preparation strategies that we've heard. We hope they help!

Over the summer, it is recommended that you evaluate your MDS staffing levels. Keep in mind that after the initial learning curve, MDS 3.0 is expected to take less time to complete than MDS 2.0.

It will also be helpful to keep track of how many discharge assessments would have to be completed that are not currently being completed through other assessments. Doing this will help you gauge the possible increase in assessment workload and weigh it against the expected reduction in overall MDS completion time.

Once you examine these areas, it's possible that you'll discover your current MDS staffing level is sufficient or even greater than you'll need. Hopefully this knowledge will help you spend time relaxing and enjoying your summer rather than worrying about what MDS 3.0 will bring with it this fall!