Am I doing enough to keep my heart healthy?

The internet is full of information. Some can be very helpful, and some is just wrong. Even with helpful and accurate sources, knowing how to implement the information is critical to getting the benefit. Heart health is a hot topic and lots of websites provide key tips and strategies.

At Elite Home Health & Hospice, we rely on information from our medical partners – doctors in the community – who prescribe treatment regimens for our patients. As practitioners, we attend training and complete ongoing education for our licenses to make sure we are providing care that is consistent with the latest research. While the internet can be a great source to gather ideas, our goal is to make sure that your care is in alignment with your physician’s and your goals.

If you would like information on heart health strategies. We recommend reviewing with your physician the following reputable websites :

heart.org

cdc.gov

nih.gov

These websites are excellent resources to learn about strategies to manage your health and create a plan which may include lifestyle changes, diet changes, new medication regimens, and establishing care with a cardiologist. This can often be overwhelming and difficulty to implement alone. Elite’s home health services are designed to partner with you and your physician to create comprehensive interventions that are critical in managing heart disease. Ask your doctor about a course of home health as part of your care plan.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Weekly Pulse for February 7, 2022

Home Health (Therapy) Start DateHospice (Nursing) Start Date
Clarkston2/82/8
Lewiston2/82/8
Moscow2/72/7
Orofino2/72/7
***Start Dates are contingent on receiving a complete referral***

Clinical Focus

It’s Cardiac Awareness Month!

We are taking some time this week to focus on heart healthy habits and ways we can support patients with cardiac disease. Simple tracking tools like measuring blood pressure and logging daily weights are essential for basic health management.

Accessing resources in physical and occupational therapy to maximize endurance to meet daily needs, discuss a healthy diet plan with a medical dietitian, and identify community resources with a social worker to support health goals are all integrated services of home health.

If you have a patient who is struggling with a health regimen for their cardiac health, speak with your liaison about a course of home health.

Question Corner

What are basic diagnosis rules for home health services?

Identify the disease process causing the symptom

The patient may be weak, but what is causing the weakness? The patient may show disinterest in eating, but is this behavior related to loss of taste and appetite associated with aging and dementia?

Stating the disease process in your referral and your face-2-face creates a picture of the disease we are treating, not the symptom or the resulting behavior.

Specificity and Laterality matter

The patient may have arthritis, but where? Left side? Right side? Knee? Hip? Shoulder? 

The more information, the better!

People to know

Clarkston Liaison – Jana (509) 220-6766

Lewiston Liaison – Beth (509) 254-1381

Moscow & Orofino Liaison – Scott (509) 234-3102

Business Development – Ashley (509) 843-7605