[acb-hsp] Losing Patience with Being a Patient

[Jule Ann Lieberman]

Any disability awareness trainers out there looking for work?
Yes, would be interested in Plaintree, is there work in PA with them?
Thank you
Jule Ann Lieberman
MS LVRT  (soon to be CLVRT)

-----Original Message-----
From: acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org [mailto:acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of
Darla Rogers
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2012 9:52 PM
To: 'Discussion list for ACB human service professionals'
Subject: Re: [acb-hsp] Losing Patience with Being a Patient

Hmm; now there a self-employment opportunity for me.



-----Original Message-----
From: acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org [mailto:acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of
Baracco, Andrew W
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2012 1:45 PM
To: Discussion list for ACB human service professionals
Subject: Re: [acb-hsp] Losing Patience with Being a Patient

She should bring this idea to Planetree.  Planetree is an organization
started by patients who were sick and tired of the way that they were
treated at medical facilities. They began going into medical facilities, and
offering to give training to health professionals.  They have now grown into
a nationwide organization that has designed curricula to train medical
professionals in how to treat patients. They have even established an
accrediting body, and facilities can apply to be accredited, just like they
would for CARF or JCAHO. They now train facility staff to train other staff.
In order to become Planetree certified, the facility must offer the
Planetree curricula to its staff, and a certain percentage of staff must
complete. it.  A big feather in their cap was to get the VA to seek
Planetree certification for all its facilities.  This would be a great
vehicle to promote disability awareness training.

Any disability awareness trainers out there looking for work?

Andy


-----Original Message-----
From: acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org [mailto:acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of
peter altschul
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2012 8:48 AM
To: Acbhsp
Subject: [acb-hsp] Losing Patience with Being a Patient

Losing Patience with Being a Patient

by Stephanie Stephens Van Posted on 12/6/2012 at 10:46 AM by Maureen Duffy

Head shot of Stephanie Stephens Van

Guest blogger Stephanie Stephens Van has lectured nationally on adapted
crafts and leisure activities; adjustment to blindness and low vision;
functional vision skills; and activities of daily living.  Stephanie is a
Vision Rehabilitation Therapist, a Low Vision Therapist, and an adjunct
instructor at the Salus University College of Education and Rehabilitation.
She is the author of A Day on the Road with Vision Rehabilitation Therapist
Stephanie Stephens Van and Finding and Hiring a Driver When You're Blind or
Visually Impaired.  Stephanie has a Master's degree in Blind Rehabilitation
from Western Michigan University.

Why I'm Impatient

Recently, I went to an outpatient medical facility for routine testing.
Since this was the seventh hospital or outpatient facility I've endured this
year, this particular process exhausted my last shred of patience.
I'm no longer patient when I'm a patient!

Most of the time I'll simply go with the flow.  When I don't feel well, I
don't want to create a "teachable moment" just because I'm not on my A-game.
However, since I have low vision and thus have become an ever-visible
advocate for the needs of persons with low vision and blindness, I felt
there needed to be some way to address my growing impatience with the
medical system's "status quo" regarding patients with disabilities.

After my latest encounter with the health care system, I decided that
something had to be done for all of us with vision loss across this great
land.  I felt confident that I wasn't the only person who has been the
recipient of child-like treatment by medical and hospital personnel.

Here's the Problem

In my experience, health care providers range from (a) being overly
solicitous to a long-cane-using, sunglass-wearing patient with low vision to
(b) appearing not to notice the long-cane-using, sunglass-wearing patient at
all.  Thus, more often than not, the patient (me, in this case) must resort
to yelling, "Wait! Where are you? Where are we going?" as the health care
provider sprints down the hall, expecting the patient (me) to follow -- and
keep up!

My Recent Experience

Usually, I am a patient patient, self-assured and proud of my independence,
but my most recent experience truly left me feeling "out of my element."
>From the moment I arrived at the medical facility, I was pushed ahead
through doors, left in the dust while trying to follow someone down a hall,
and - worst of all -- had my identity taken away as the nurses and the
doctor refused me the chance to sign my own "permission to treat" form prior
to the procedure.  I even suffered the humiliation of a nurse offering to
undress me -- which I did not allow, by the way!

I know that medical facilities need to meet their daily quota of patients in
order to receive insurance reimbursement.  I also understand the significant
turnover rates of aides and per-diem staff, along with the long hours
required of registered nurses and physicians.  I understand that training
all staff in every in-patient and out-patient facility throughout this
country may be a bigger-than-possible undertaking.  There will always be
someone who misses the training provided in hospitals, rehabilitation
facilities, and surgery centers because patient coverage is required at all
times.

My Potential Solution

All of this got me thinking: What if I could hand a simple form to my health
care provider to help him or her understand that patients with vision loss
are not deaf, illiterate, or unable to dressstundress or sign our own names?
What if I could hand my health care provider a commonsense form that was to
the point, not overly wordy or time-consuming, and could provide the blind
or visually impaired patient with a modicum of dignity?

Here is what I propose.  It may not be perfect, but I believe it's a step in
the right direction:

FOR YOU: My Health Care Provider

I have a VISION IMPAIRMENT I can:

HEAR THINK SPEAK SIGN MY NAME ASK FOR HELP

I do not like to:

BE GRABBED LEFT IN UNFAMILIAR SPACES HAVE PERSONAL TASKS DONE FOR ME

I need you to:

IDENTIFY YOURSELF WHEN ENTERING MY PRESENCE INFORM ME WHEN YOU ARE LEAVING
MY PRESENCE

I am a HUMAN BEING WHO DESERVES DIGNITY.

How To Use It

This sheet can be copied as many times as needed.  Take it to your personal
care physician's or specialist's office for placement in your medical
chart..  Hand it to the admissions office when you enter a health facility
or hospital.  When you're admitted to a hospital, keep it near your bed for
the culinary and custodial staff, technicians, and therapists.  After all,
sometimes you just get plain tired of explaining everything all the time to
everyone.
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