New Book Cost Of Living Explores Healthcare System Inside And Out

Three older women are holding pink dumbbells.


A new book by Emily Maloney called “Cost of Living†explores the health care system from a unique point of view.  The book’s author tried to kill herself when she was 19 and ended up in a psych ward.  Later in life she worked as an emergency room tech and later in hospital billing, so she has seen the healthcare system from the inside and the outside.  The book explores the financial side of the health care system but also the emotional side where hospital staff can sometimes be callous.  It’s worth a read.

God Bless Ed Dowd : Largest Donation in Natividad’s History!

A group of people giving thumbs up to the camera.


God Bless Ed Dowd, who just gave a $1 million donation (the largest in its history) to Natividad Foundation, the funder for Natividad hospital and its health care system.  He made the gift in his mother’s memory.  Nora Dowd worked as a registered nurse in Natividad’s mental health unit for 30 years.

Hospital Care At Home To Be The New Norm?

A building with the capitol in the background.


There is growing interest to shift hospital services into patients’ homes, a movement that started even prior to the outbreak of COVID-19.  Startups are providing technology to bring medical services into the home and well-known Venture Capital companies are backing them.  Hospitals are finding that some common illnesses like urinary-tract infections can be effectively treated at home.  This is a very common ailment for seniors and it would be great to see them recover from this at home.  Hospital-at-home care hasn’t taken off in large part due to the fact that insurance companies haven’t covered it.  However, many are trying to convince Medicare and private insurance companies with data published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showing home hospitalization reduced costs, healthcare use and readmissions, while increasing physical activity compared with typical hospital care.  In addition, Medicare recently introduced a new program whereby hospitals can be reimbursed for home care they provide to patients during the pandemic.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/crop-of-startups-move-hospital-care-into-the-home-11614853803

Monterey, CA Online Caregiver Support Group

A nurse is smiling next to an older woman.


Please join Lory Carriedo, Julia Cruz-Moreno and Maria Quiroz on the second Monday every month from 5:30 to 7:30 for a caregiver support group sponsored by Natividad Medical Center.  It can be lonely and depressing during the COVID-19 lockdown so all are encouraged to join in.  Call 1-800-624-8304 for more details.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver : 1,759 New Cases

A close up of the word coronavirus with an image of a virus


After being completely silent since January 1, Monterey County reported today that there have been 1,759 new cases bringing the total over 30,000 with 20 new fatalities for a total of 216. Natividad has seven COVID-19 patients, CHOMP 10, and Salinas Valley Memorial has 14.  The hospitals have 2, 3 and 8 open ICU beds respectively.   Nationwide, there were 198K new cases for a total of 20.889 million to date, while deaths rose by 3,127 to 355,524.  In California, there were 30,375 new cases for a cume total of 2.475 million while deaths rose by 382 to 27,020.  Please stay home and stay safe!

https://www.latimes.com/projects/california-coronavirus-cases-tracking-outbreak/monterey-county/

 

Please visit us at www.familyinhomecaregiving.com

Monterey Bay Aquarium Let’s Natividad Store COVID-19 Vaccine In Freezers


Thanks to Monterey Bay Aquarium for allowing the use of their extra cold freezers to store incoming COVID-19 vaccine.  The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored in industrial freezers, and now the Monterey Bay area has access to one of these freezers.  “We have started to see the vaccines arrive and we really see that as really our only pathway out of the pandemic,†said Andrea Rosenberg, Natividad Hospital Operations & Support Services and Assistant Administrator.  “So, there’s a lot of hope and excitement at the hospital with the arrival of these vaccines,†she continued.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/12/31/monterey-bay-aquarium-loans-natividad-hospital-ultra-cold-freezer-for-covid-19-vaccine/

Salinas, CA Natividad Medical Center Rolls Out Technology To Help Spinal Cord Victims In Hospital


Natividad Medical Center recently purchased a mechanical exoskeleton that helps people with spinal cord injuries and survivors of strokes to stand up and walk on their own.  It even works for people whose legs are paralyzed.  The FDA-approved model looks like a set of full-length braces, going all the way to the ankles from the waist.  Controlled by a smartphone app, it uses hydraulics to mechanically propel you into a standing position, from which you can begin walking with the device’s assistance.  “It’s amazing.  It gives so much hope,†said Sudha Shorian, one of the physical therapists trained on the device.

http://pineconearchive.com/200828PCA.pdf

Monterey Bay Aquarium Lets Natividad Store COVID-19 Vaccine In Freezers

A vial of influenza vaccine next to two syringes.


Thanks to Monterey Bay Aquarium for allowing the use of their extra cold freezers to store incoming COVID-19 vaccine.  The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored in industrial freezers, and now the Monterey Bay area has access to one of these freezers.  “We have started to see the vaccines arrive and we really see that as really our only pathway out of the pandemic,†said Andrea Rosenberg, Natividad Hospital Operations & Support Services and Assistant Administrator.  “So, there’s a lot of hope and excitement at the hospital with the arrival of these vaccines,†she continued.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/12/31/monterey-bay-aquarium-loans-natividad-hospital-ultra-cold-freezer-for-covid-19-vaccine/

Monterey, CA Hospitals, Nursing Homes Struggle With COVID-19

A large fountain in the middle of an indoor area.


COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents are surging and hospitals are overwhelmed with new coronavirus cases which is causing staff shortages, particularly in rural hospitals.  Believe it or not, Monterey County is considered rural, with much of the South County spread out and this is where the majority of COVID-19 cases are occurring.  We have had nursing home outbreaks in Carmel, Monterey, Salinas and Watsonville.  “Nursing homes are not isolated from what happens in the community,†Carrie Henning-Smith, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, told The Wall Street Journal. Facilities in rural counties reported 18% of nursing home COVID-19 deaths in the week ended November 1, although they housed only 10% of the overall population.  Please, please, take this season off and call off Thanksgiving with friends and family.  Many health officials are extremely concerned that this holiday season is going to cause a new surge in cases.

Coronavirus Update For Monterey From A Carmel Caregiver

A blue background with some type of virus


Natividad Medical Center recently purchased a mechanical exoskeleton that helps people with spinal cord injuries and survivors of strokes to stand up and walk on their own.  It even works for people whose legs are paralyzed.  The FDA-approved model looks like a set of full-length braces, going all the way to the ankles from the waist.  Controlled by a smartphone app, it uses hydraulics to mechanically propel you into a standing position, from which you can begin walking with the device’s assistance.  “It’s amazing.  It gives so much hope,†said Sudha Shorian, one of the physical therapists trained on the device.

http://pineconearchive.com/200828PCA.pdf

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