New home for our Staff Blog

Please visit our new staff blog at http://staffblog.healthcare-alliance.org/

Ecumen “Awakenings”: Reducing Antipsychotic Drug Use In Alzheimer’s Care

Ecumen is working to change the culture of care in Alzheimer’s through its Awakenings Initiative.  Awakenings has been introduced in 15 nursing homes in Minnesota and is working to reduce, where appropriate, the use of antipsychotic drugs.

We at Ecumen take the “innovate” in our tagline very seriously. We’re constantly looking for better ways to empower and honor our customers, whether they live in their own homes, in our senior housing communities or our nursing homes.

A few years ago, when our staff members became concerned about the number of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases being admitted who were on antipsychotic drugs, we started exploring alternative treatments that could provide them a better quality of life. These treatments emphasize human relationships and non-pharmaceutical remedies. In 2009, we piloted these alternative treatments in one of our nursing homes in Two Harbors, Minnesota.

We call this initiative Awakenings, (Frequently Asked Questions here) because it re-awakens residents to physical and cognitive vitality that’s often been severely diminished by an inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs. We can’t cure Alzheimer’s, but we have learned much more about how to control the aggressive and sometimes violent behaviors that accompany it without using drugs that rob residents of their personalities and energy.

The results of this trial were so remarkable we decided to expand Awakenings to 14 other Ecumen nursing homes across the state. Thanks to a $3.8 million grant from the State of Minnesota’s Department of Human Services, we’re in the process of doing that right now.

America’s Culture of Alzheimer’s and Memory Care

To help residents with Alzheimer’s lead fuller lives, Ecumen is spurring a major shift in the way antipsychotic drugs are used in nursing homes.

To understand how Awakenings works, you first have to understand the culture of Alzheimer’s care in this country. In many nursing homes, antipsychotic drugs are commonly used to stop problem behaviors that can accompany Alzheimer’s and dementia. For some people, antipsychotic drugs can play an appropriate role. But for many others, they can effectively end life for the still-living.

Long-term use often results in a “zombie” effect, not calming residents but instead stealing their personalities and energy. Antipsychotics have been found to actually worsen cognitive functioning among elderly people with dementia, and speed their decline. In addition, these drugs make elders more likely to suffer a stroke, develop pneumonia, or experience a serious adverse drug effect that leads to hospitalization or even death. These drugs carry a Food and Drug Administration black box warning that elderly people who use them have an increased risk of death.
Yet, more than 20% of American nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s-related illnesses are on such medications. The use of these drugs has skyrocketed in recent years. Medicaid spends more on this class of drugs than any other—including antibiotics, AIDS drugs, or medicines to treat high blood pressure.

Ecumen Introduces A Better Way

When we piloted Awakenings, the entire culture of the Two Harbors facility changed. Instead of the fragmentation found in much of American healthcare, Awakenings took a more holistic approach. Trusted, collaborative teams—“circles of care”—were built around each resident, involving family, professional staff, and the right doctors and nurses who created individually tailored alternative care plans. The focus became human relationships rather than drugs. The team’s goal was to exhaust all other resources before turning to pharmaceutical care.

As residents in the Two Harbors home were weaned off antipsychotics, staff members engaged more with residents, taking them on walks, playing games, and exercising. Certified Nursing Assistants assumed a more important role. Therapies using validation, reminiscence, music, aroma, and pets were employed to improve residents’ physical and cognitive functions.

Within six months, the nursing home had eliminated the use of antipsychotics among all residents, and the use of antidepressants decreased by 30-50%. Before the pilot project, the home was quiet; several residents preferred to stay in bed all day and others sometimes held a far-off, vacant look. Today, it’s not uncommon to walk into the home and see a large group of residents playing a rousing game of balloon volleyball.

Expanding Awakenings To Other Nursing Homes

Based on our success in Two Harbors, and with the help of a $3.8 million state grant, we have formalized and expanded Awakenings to 14 other Ecumen nursing homes across the state, including:

Alexandria, Bethany Home Austin, St. Mark’s Lutheran Home
Balaton, Colonial Manor Chisago City, Margaret S. Parmly Residence
Clarkfield, Clarkfield Care Center Detroit Lakes, Emmanuel Nursing Home
Duluth, Bayshore Health Center Grand Rapids, Grand Village Nursing Home
Lake Park, Sunnyside Care Center Litchfield, Emmanuel Home
Mankato, Pathstone Living North Branch, Villages of North Branch
Park Rapids, Heritage Living Center Pelican Rapids, Pelican Valley Health Center

This is a major, three-year undertaking that involves: 1) recruiting and educating local doctors, 2) hiring project leads and other staff ready and willing to care for residents in new ways, 3) informing and fully engaging families, 4) retraining management staff, and 5) developing systems and procedures to make sure that new methods of care are used instead of or in addition to appropriate prescribed medicines.

At the end of this period, we’ll report our findings to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, as well as the larger medical community. We’re hopeful that Awakenings represents a new Alzheimer’s care “best practice” that can ultimately bring many of the estimated 27,000 Minnesota nursing home residents on antipsychotic drugs new vitality, joy, and dignity. It is innovation, empowerment and honor.

This article found at: http://www.ecumen.org/aging-resources/24–awakenings-transforming-alzheimer-s-care-treatment/

Practical Nursing Students, Staff and Facutly Host Annual Health Fair April 18

Uncover your talents — FREE!

Current and prospective healthcare students at Anoka-Ramsey Community College,Cambridge, or Pine Technical College, and incumbent healthcare workers in the area may be eligible for a FREE StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment. 

You’ll get a personalized Strengths Discovery and Action-Planning Guide for applying your strengths in the next week, month, and year. 

Recieve 50 Ideas for Action: 10 strategies for building on each of your Top 5 themes.

The redesigned StrengthsFinder 2.0 companion website also features:

•  a strengths community area
• a library of downloadable discussion guides and activities
• a strengths screensaver
• a program for creating display cards of your Top  5 themes.

You’ll even get a FREE one-on-one coaching session to better understand your results!

Contact the Healthcare Alliance to get YOUR FREE StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment TODAY!

Phone: 320-629-4570

Email: fridstromk@pinetech.edu

Men’s Health Event Presented by Kanabec Hospital

On Thursday, January 27, Kanabec Hopsital is presenting a Men’s Health Event featuring former Twins Pitcher Jack Morris and urologic surgeon Dr. Tortorelis.  The event will be held at Trailview Middle School, in Mora, MN, 5-8pm.

Register for Health Care Provider CPR/AED Courses

Health Care Provider CPR/AED trainings offered at Pine Technical College.

Health Care Provider CPR/AED Initial

This American Heart Association course is designed to teach the skills of CPR for victims of all ages, use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), and relief of foreign-body airway obstruction. It is intended for participants who provide heath care to patients in a wide variety of settings. This course is required for all health care providers, EMTs, first responders, police, and fire fighters. Certification is valid for 2 years (1 year for HCP).

Choose only one date.

Added: Wed., Jan 19 6:00-10:00 p.m. Rm 92 Cost: $85.00

Tues., Mar 8 6:00-10:00 p.m. Rm 92 Cost: $85.00

Health Care Provider CPR/AED Refresher

This American Heart Association course is designed to re-certify individuals in professional rescuer adult, child and infant CPR. Cost includes an American Heart card. Prerequisite: Must show instructor current HCP CPR card when you come to class.

Choose only one date.

Added: Wed., Jan 19 6:00-10:00 p.m. Rm 92 Cost: $55.00

Tues., Mar 8 6:00-10:00 p.m. Rm 92 Cost: $55.00

CECT REGISTRATION INFO & FORM

SimMan® and SimBaby™ visit Burnett Medical Center

      Grantsburg, WI – Portable, advanced patient simulators provide effective training for nurses and providers at Burnett Medical Center.  Thanks to Burnett’s participation in the region’s Healthcare Alliance, Burnett Medical Center was able to loan these interactive technologically advanced manikins at no cost.  January 6 and 7, staff from Burnett’s Continuing Care Center, critical access hospital, and rural health care clinic listened to an array of heart, lung, and bowel sounds on SimMan® and SimBaby™.  “The realistic anatomy and clinical functionality of these simulation manikins allowed our healthcare professionals to conveniently practice the treatment of patients,” explained Burnett’s Education Coordinator, ICN, Cindy Michaels, RN.  “Having access to these SimMan® resources is a huge benefit to our staff and, in turn, our patients.”

       The Healthcare Alliance is a vibrant partnership between k-12, higher education, healthcare providers, and the workforce center system born in 2007.  Just over three years later, and more than two dozen partners strong, the assembly has “built a vision for a strong, qualified workforce with opportunities for professional growth,” according to Pine Technical College President Robert Musgrove.  As a result, in the spring of 2010, the Alliance was awarded a $4.2 million grant under the President’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, to fulfill its mission.  The purchase of these simulation manikins was fully-funded by this federal ARRA grant.

For more information about the Health Care Alliance, please visit http://www.facebook.com/ Health-Care-Alliance/ or call 320-629-4566.  For more information about Burnett Medical Center, please visit http://www.burnettmedicalcenter.com/ or call 800-293-5353.

Help Create Great Ideas to Strengthen the Primary Care Workforce in Minnesota

Participate in regional planning for strengthening Minnesota’s primary care workforce by attending one of eight two-hour “Great Ideas for Minnesota’s Primary Care” regional strategic input planning meetings in February. Complete registration information is online at http://www.healthforceminnesota.org/HRSA-Primary-Care-Grant/Regional-Meetings-Schedule.html.

The meetings are sponsored by HealthForce Minnesota and the regional Area Health Education Centers (AHECs). Funding for this project comes from a federal HRSA Primary Care Workforce Grant.

MN HOSA Wants YOU!

Are you a Post-Secondary /College Student in Health Sciences?

Add Vitality & Strength to your Health Science Education Courses

Become a member of a Pre-Med HOSA chapter at your college and become a part of the fastest growing student organization that is 100% HEALTHCARE!

Become one of the over 120,000 students nationwide that have gained knowledge, leadership, teamwork skills through this Highly Motivating Student Organization.

HOSA’s Mission statement:

“To enhance the delivery of compassionate quality healthcare by providing opportunities for knowledge, skill and leadership development of all health science technology education students, therefore, helping students to meet the needs of the health care community.”

WHY:

• Learn about health care professions with speakers and tours set up through your chapter
• Perform community service projects decided by your chapter or through HOSA’s Service Project (JDRF) recognizing hours submitted to be valuable to HOSA and your college requirements
• Serve as role models, mentors, and/or judges  for HOSA events
• Gain connections with the HOSA Industry Board , your future employers/co-workers
• Introduce High School programs with your health science programs through educational sessions or exhibits at HOSA events
• Build resume’ activities through volunteering at HOSA events

HOW To Start-

• Contact Alison Holland at hollanda@pinetech.edu to request a regional chapter supported by the Healthcare Alliance (East Central Minnesota and/or Western Wisconsin).

Check out HOSA on Facebook

How Can You Help?

When a public health emergency happens, the need for volunteers will be tremendous. Minnesota is looking for people trained in healthcare, public health, and related occupations who are willing to volunteer their skills in the event of an emergency.

We all have a role to play in preparing Minnesota for the challenges of responding to a public health emergency. We need public health and health care professionals, people in allied health, and others. We need everyone who can be part of a health response, regardless of whether they are in a licensed or certified field.

If you work in a health-related discipline, we encourage you to register in Minnesota Responds.

For additional information please visit this list of frequently asked questions.