Title: Feeling Safe is Fundamental
People with multiple chronic conditions or a serious illness struggle to navigate the complex healthcare system. They often find themselves in the emergency room or being hospitalized for progression of their medical condition or for distressing symptoms. Many of these hospital admissions are avoidable if members are provided an extra layer of support. The Optum Advanced Illness Program provides an extra layer of support for our most vulnerable seniors.
Feeling safe is fundamental and can allow someone to feel present, comfortable, and happy. When someone feels that their safety has been or could be compromised, this can affect one’s entire physical and emotional wellbeing. Examples might include increased anxiety, high blood pressure, lack of sleep, gastrointestinal problems and more. Our patient, Mrs. D, lives alone and suffers from hypertension, had a recent stroke and has balance issues. Mrs. D voiced great concern about how she would receive help in an emergency.
The registered nurse-maintained communication to evaluate Mrs. D’s medical needs as well as engaged the social worker for resources and mental health needs. The social worker identified that Mrs. D had community resources in place and that her anxiety mainly revolved around her front door and receiving emergency medical attention without having to leave a key in a coded box. The member previously contacted several life alert companies in her area, but all required she keep a key outside her home for EMS access. As she lives in a high crime area, with a high incidence of break-ins, she was understandably unable to meet that requirement. The social worker helped to arrange for a family member to install a code at the front door and worked with the local Fire Marshall and 911 to keep the code safely in their system.
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (OICPD). The OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Provider, the OICPD is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The OICPD maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change
