Dani

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Medical Arts Programs Bring Healing and Hope

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Arts in medicine, or arts in health programs, are commonly found in many hospitals and health care organizations. These medical arts programs often incorporate a variety of creative channels such as performing and visual arts, literary works, and design. Through the creation and development of art activities, performances, and other imaginative curricula, arts in health as a specialty proves year after year to have positive lasting effects on patients during their individual journeys towards healing.

Individual research suggests that patients can improve their well-being by taking part in an arts in medicine program at a hospital or other health care organization since it stirs so much creative expression, and often requires teamwork and collaboration. This can take the focus off of a patient’s circumstances and encourage the restoration of mind, body, and spirit. Hospitalists, caregivers, and family members are also able to benefit from the therapeutic effects of arts in medicine programs.

What is an Arts in Medicine Program?

Typically, a hospital will have a studio that patients (if they are able), family members, and health care workers can visit on specific dates and times for events and opportunities to create meaningful experiences. The studios are purposefully created to offer relief and relaxation to all who utilize them. If patients are too ill or have mobility challenges, arts in medicine staff members can bring the experiences to them bedside. In several scenarios, professional artists and musicians serve as managers of arts in medicine programs. This brings an unmatched level of experience and professionalism along with charisma and empathy.

What Are Examples of Arts in Medicine Programs?

Examples of how arts in medicine can be utilized in the hospital or other health care settings include:

  • Bedside art projects and crafts
  • Open art studios for patients, families, and team members
  • Live musical and concert performances (usually held in the lobby of a hospital, or brought to patients via room-to-room visits)
  • Special theatrical presentations
  • Creation of poems or short stories patients, families, and team members (led by an arts in medicine staff member)

How Can I Participate?

There are so many ways for patients, their families, and even health care providers to get involved in an arts in medicine program. The above list is only a fraction of what you may find in any health care group.

At Advanced Care Hospitalists, many of our hospitals and health care organizations offer successful arts in medicine programs that are a huge benefit to all who are a part of them, whether as a participant or an employee.

Many arts in medicine programs also look for volunteers to help facilitate activities throughout the year. If you’d like more information about any of the arts in health programs that our facilities are a part of, or would like to learn about volunteering, please contact us. We would be happy to connect you to the right resource within the hospitals we partner with.

 

Learn More About Advanced Care Hospitalists (ACH)

ACH is a Lakeland-based hospitalist group providing comprehensive patient care in community hospitals across Central Florida. Our providers are highly skilled, board-certified internal medicine specialists who are available around-the-clock to meet the care needs of patients from hospital admission through discharge. Post-discharge from the hospital, we continue overseeing patient care for 30 days.

We’ve found that continued care coordination ensures more accurate medication reconciliation, improved compliance with discharge plans, better scheduling of follow-up visits, and fewer hospital readmissions. Our providers do everything in their power to make sure our patients receive the compassionate and comprehensive care they need to promote healing and prevent a second hospital admission.

For more information about our services and our practice, please contact Advanced Care Hospitalists at 863-816-5884 or fill out a contact form online.

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Five Ways to Disconnect from Work on Vacation

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Feeling overworked? It may be time for a vacation. And this type of getaway involves putting away your phone, computer, or tablet for a few days. According to research by Forbes, 68% of people work on vacation and have a hard time detaching. This can lead to a reduction in happiness and effectiveness, especially at work. In the case of being a hospitalist, you are likely always on the go, and emails as well as important messages can start stacking up easily. The more behind you seem to get, the more time you will need to spend on catching up. This creates a certain pressure to be available, and expectations grow to an all-time high.

To combat this, it’s important to unplug while you are away on vacation. There is a common misconception that you can become more stressed while stepping away from work, however, this has actually been proven to be the opposite. When employees take time off and don’t feel a sense of urgency to check in with work related tasks and communications, they ultimately come back much more refreshed and energized to tackle their workload. Intentionally taking time away to reduce the intensity of your job has many benefits.

Ways to Detach

  1. Schedule time away and plan for it. By looking at your calendar at a glance and planning out your vacations ahead of time, you can book time off well in advance. This not only gives you something to look forward to, but also allows you plenty of time to strategize on how you can tick specific items off of your to-do list in preparation for being away.
  2. Set expectations with your team. Before going on vacation, be sure to communicate with your team that you plan to disconnect and will not have regular access to phone and email. While it is understood that emergencies may arise, there shouldn’t be an expectation set forth for you to respond to non-urgent matters on a regular basis.
  3. Make a list and check it twice. Especially if you get overwhelmed easily, it is best to keep an ongoing list as you think of things you will need to address before leaving for vacation. This can include things you need to take care of before heading out, a transition plan with names and numbers for backup support, and how to proceed with a situation if you are not reachable.
  4. Give your team support too. Just as you need the time to unwind and disconnect, your fellow colleagues and staff need it too. When your teammates and superiors are out of town, try to do your part in helping them. Think of it as – “do to others as you want done to you.” Help your coworkers by stepping in for them when they are away and doing your part, so they aren’t bombarded with work while they are out, or when they get back.
  5. Silence your phone. If you are in a position to do so, and have cleared this with your team, it may be a good idea to put your phone and any other device on the “do not disturb” mode. If you speak with your team and find that you do need to check in even while you are away, try to block off certain timeframes on your schedule so you aren’t constantly checking in.

Often times it can be a lot of work to plan a vacation. Some may feel it is almost not worth it, which is why they end up not taking any time away or working their entire vacation. Although it can be tough to plan ahead and take a retreat, it usually pays off ten-fold. We hope the above advice provides encouragement and extra support for you to relax, slow down, and enjoy some much-needed recuperation.

 

Learn More About Advanced Care Hospitalists (ACH)

ACH is a Lakeland-based hospitalist group providing comprehensive patient care in community hospitals across Central Florida. Our providers are highly skilled, board-certified internal medicine specialists who are available around-the-clock to meet the care needs of patients from hospital admission through discharge. Post-discharge from the hospital, we continue overseeing patient care for 30 days.

We’ve found that continued care coordination ensures more accurate medication reconciliation, improved compliance with discharge plans, better scheduling of follow-up visits, and fewer hospital readmissions. Our providers do everything in their power to make sure our patients receive the compassionate and comprehensive care they need to promote healing and prevent a second hospital admission.

For more information about our services and our practice, please contact Advanced Care Hospitalists at 863-816-5884 or fill out a contact form online.

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Feeling Frustrated at Work? Try These Five Tips to Regain Satisfaction in the Hospital

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As a hospitalist, it’s a given that you will remain busy throughout the day. Included in your schedule is likely a jam-packed lineup of patient rounding, meetings, administrative duties, follow-ups, procedures, continuing education, mentoring, and more. All of these things can leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, especially if your schedule is disorganized. Unfortunately, in the hospital setting, it can be difficult to plan your day out through an exact science – this is because so much is going on around you. Instead of losing patience and becoming frustrated, you can take a few proactive measures to help yourself remain calm, collected, and satisfied in the workplace.

Regain your control and peace of mind in the workplace by trying these five things:

  1. Come to terms with the unknown.

    Because of your busy schedule, it is going to be helpful to learn that the unpredictable isn’t always bad. Sometimes the unexpected can lead to a great reward in the end. This means you should try to think positively even if things don’t go as planned. Sometimes you may not have the picture-perfect solution to a problem, but by letting go and embracing what you cannot control, your vulnerability you may actually help you to relax and move on.

  2. Allow yourself to overthink, but only for a set time.

    In a perfect world, we’d never overthink, and everything would always go as anticipated. However, because this is not often the case, we do recognize there are going to be times that frustration may get the best of you. When this happens and you cannot seem to practice healthy coping strategies, give yourself a few moments to set free all of your worries. This may look like talking things out in your head, writing your concerns down on paper, or taking a walk to decompress. Remember to keep this to a specified time limit, say 10-15 minutes, and then forge ahead to something new.

  3. Be kind to yourself.

    When things aren’t going the way we’d like, it can be easy to be hard on ourselves and place blame personally. When we are experiencing these feelings after a long day, it’s best to show ourselves empathy and compassion. What does this look like? Practicing mindfulness as well as self-forgiveness and eliminating self-judgement. What’s more, you should try not to compare yourself with others, especially colleagues in the same position as you. If you need extra reinforcement, try writing a tenderhearted letter to yourself or talking to yourself in the mirror with kind words and affirmations.

  4. Collaborate with others.

    Creating meaningful relationships with others can be a great way to de-stress and recalibrate. Often others are going through similar situations, and by participating in constructive dialogue about various frustrations, you may find solutions where you least expected. By engaging in healthy dialogue with your colleagues, family, and friends, you will be more likely to find the positive even in any discomfort you may be facing.

  5. Rethink your role.

    Sometimes, your greatest setbacks can come from how you process your expectations versus realities, as well as how you approach your job. If you simply look at your role as a hospitalist as a “means to make a living,” your job satisfaction will probably be lacking. However, if you choose to look at your career as a way to give back and help others, you will more than likely have an easier time overcoming hurdles when you are overwhelmed.

Take a step back and concentrate on your motives for choosing your occupation – chances are, you will feel encouraged to keep moving forward with an optimistic attitude, no matter the challenges you face.

Takeaways

Remember, the above ideas are things to keep in mind on a daily basis as issues arise. Give yourself credit even if you only manage to remember one tip from this list. Take it slow, and one step at a time. Ultimately, the most important part of this way of thinking is to be gracious and patient with yourself even on your most problematic days.

 

Learn More About Advanced Care Hospitalists (ACH)

ACH is a Lakeland-based hospitalist group providing comprehensive patient care in community hospitals across Central Florida. Our providers are highly skilled, board-certified internal medicine specialists who are available around-the-clock to meet the care needs of patients from hospital admission through discharge. Post-discharge from the hospital, we continue overseeing patient care for 30 days.

We’ve found that continued care coordination ensures more accurate medication reconciliation, improved compliance with discharge plans, better scheduling of follow-up visits, and fewer hospital readmissions. Our providers do everything in their power to make sure our patients receive the compassionate and comprehensive care they need to promote healing and prevent a second hospital admission.

For more information about our services and our practice, please contact Advanced Care Hospitalists at 863-816-5884 or fill out a contact form online.

 

* Disclaimer: The information within this blog does not serve as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or mental health professional. If you have specific concerns about coping strategies (personally or in the workplace), you should consult your doctor or mental health professional.

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Midyear Goal Setting Check-in

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August marks the “more than” halfway point of 2022. As we enter into the back half of the year, it’s a good time to take a look at the goals you may have set at the beginning of the year and see what kind of progress you have made. Often the start of a new year brings eagerness to make many healthy changes and resolutions – but as time marches on and the busyness of life takes a toll, these aspirations can end up falling by the wayside.

By taking a few moments to evaluate where you are and how far you’ve come, you can give yourself a little extra motivation to spur on any goals you may have left behind.

Some common goals that many of us set at the beginning of the year (that we often give up on within 30 days) include:

  • Lose weight
  • Stick to an exercise regimen
  • Travel more
  • Get organized
  • Save more money
  • Destress & unplug
  • Spend more quality time with family
  • Learn a new skill
  • Cook more
  • Give up bad habits
  • Get more sleep

If you have set any of the above goals or others that are not on this list, and haven’t carried them out, it may be time to review and re-establish patterns. It’s not too late to start over!

Go Back to the Basics
Chances are, if you made a resolution, it was for an important reason. By going back to the original purpose for choosing your goal and ruminating on it, you can re-establish your enthusiasm and ignite your passion for wanting to make a change in the first place.

Establish Check Points 
In order to keep yourself on track for meeting and exceeding your goals, you need to have smaller, daily objectives in place that serve as check points. Examples of this would be setting a reminder to exercise for a specific amount of time each day and meal prepping/planning if your goal is to lose weight.

Stick with a Plan
Make sure you evaluate and rearrange your schedule to meet the needs of your goals. If you intend to cook more, but you do not go to the grocery store to get fresh foods, then you won’t be in a very good place to achieve what you set out to do. Make sure you set aside time in your calendar to accomplish the things that will ultimately help you succeed.

Utilize Conveniences
There are plenty of apps, resources, and services that can help you in your quest for fulfilling a goal. A quick search online can help uncover exactly what you need to get to the end result you desire. An example of this would be, if you are looking to destress and unplug, it may be a good idea to download a meditation/prayer/reflection app that will help you in your search for peace after a long day.

Celebrate Your Victories
No matter how far you have come since January, it’s important to celebrate your milestones. It can be easy to shuffle the small things under the rug and ignore how far you have come, especially if you are met with opposition. However, by celebrating your achievements on a regular basis, you are more likely to keep going. It’s also important to give yourself grace when you haven’t gotten as far as you would have liked. Remember, tomorrow is always a new day, and you can try again.

It is our hope that by revisiting your resolutions during this half-way mark of the year, you can be encouraged to keep going in your quest. We believe that if you keep a positive, can-do attitude, nothing is impossible, especially for our health care heroes!

 

Learn More About Advanced Care Hospitalists (ACH)

ACH is a Lakeland-based hospitalist group providing comprehensive patient care in community hospitals across Central Florida. Our providers are highly skilled, board-certified internal medicine specialists who are available around-the-clock to meet the care needs of patients from hospital admission through discharge. Post-discharge from the hospital, we continue overseeing patient care for 30 days.

We’ve found that continued care coordination ensures more accurate medication reconciliation, improved compliance with discharge plans, better scheduling of follow-up visits, and fewer hospital readmissions. Our providers do everything in their power to make sure our patients receive the compassionate and comprehensive care they need to promote healing and prevent a second hospital admission.

For more information about our services and our practice, please contact Advanced Care Hospitalists at 863-816-5884 or fill out a contact form online.

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Become a Hospitalist Without Racking Up Student Loan Debt

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Hospitalists are board-certified physicians who typically practice internal or family medicine and have completed a four-year degree, attended medical school, completed residency and fellowship programs, and obtained a state license to practice. If you are planning on a profession in hospital medicine, all of the above can add up when it comes to incurring student loan debt.

Although a lengthy process, becoming a hospitalist is a rewarding career. By taking a few minutes to plan accordingly, you can limit your odds of racking up debt that you’ll inevitably have to pay back later.

Top Three Tips to Keep Your Student Loans to a Minimum

  1. Consider Community College
    By attending a community college for the first two years of your undergraduate program, you will save an exponential amount of money in tuition costs. There are many other advantages to first going to a community college and then transferring to a university after two years. These include smaller class sizes, flexibility in class schedules, skilled instructors, less pressure, more affordable courses, and books, as well as giving yourself an opportunity to get a feel for higher education without having to move away from home.

    According to the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, annual average tuition for a public two-year college comes in at just over $3,400, while annual average tuition for an in-state resident of a public four-year college is around $9,400, and for out-of-state students it’s nearly $24,000. And a private four-year university is around $32,400 per academic year. Add in housing and other living costs, and you can see how easily it can all add up.

 

  1. Apply for Scholarships
    With stiff competition surrounding scholarship opportunities, you must be proactive in seeking them out. It’s a good idea to begin applying for grants and scholarships between one and two years prior to attending college. Filling out applications can be time consuming, so procrastination will only limit your opportunity to obtain financial assistance through this route.

    Many scholarships and grants also request that you submit letters of recommendation, transcripts, and essays – this means that the longer you wait, the less time you will have to put detailed thought into your responses. Remember, the more financial assistance you receive, the less debt you will incur, and the less time you will have to spend working outside of studying.

 

  1. Create a Budget & Stick to It
    It can be easy to overborrow when it comes to student loans. Especially in the case of long grace periods for paying back debts and interest rates, it can be very appealing to take more than you need with the intention of paying it back “later.” Without paying much attention to how much you’ve actually borrowed; it can be an abrupt surprise when it comes time to start paying it back. By creating a comprehensive budget, itemizing all of your expenses, and only spending what you’ve allowed as part of your financial plan, you will be much better off. By following this plan, you will likely not fall prey to overspending and overborrowing.

    The best way to keep yourself in check is to keep track of all your spending and compare it regularly to the budget you set. If you find you are spending more than you have allotted, then it may be time to make some minor adjustments. If you also find you have a surplus at the end of each month, try putting that money away in savings or begin paying off small chunks of your student loan at the principal amount.

 

There are many ways that you can limit your chances of incurring hefty student loan payments after graduation. By making practical decisions like those mentioned above, you can greatly reduce the likelihood of needing to take out student loans. Perhaps you won’t have to take any out at all. At the end of the day, enjoying the fruits of your hard work and finding satisfaction in your career as a hospitalist is important. And if you can mitigate stressors such as paying back sizeable debts upon graduation, why not try your hardest to create a plan that will help you do just that.

If you have already incurred student loan debt, consider looking into options like auto-debit monthly payments to reduce your interest rates, as well as student loan tax deductions. For more information, you can check out the IRS website.

Have questions? Our team of hospitalists can help you find answers! Contact us today!

 

Learn More About Advanced Care Hospitalists (ACH)

ACH is a Lakeland-based hospitalist group providing comprehensive patient care in community hospitals across Central Florida. Our providers are highly skilled, board-certified internal medicine specialists who are available around-the-clock to meet the care needs of patients from hospital admission through discharge. Post-discharge from the hospital, we continue overseeing patient care for 30 days.

We’ve found that continued care coordination ensures more accurate medication reconciliation, improved compliance with discharge plans, better scheduling of follow-up visits, and fewer hospital readmissions. Our providers do everything in their power to make sure our patients receive the compassionate and comprehensive care they need to promote healing and prevent a second hospital admission.

For more information about our services and our practice, please contact Advanced Care Hospitalists at 863-816-5884 or fill out a contact form online.

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Connecting with Patients Through Pet Therapy

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Does your hospital have a pet therapy program? If not, you may be missing out on an opportunity to divert patients’ attention from their ailment(s) to feelings of joy, support, and encouragement. At ACH, many of the hospitals we work with offer pet therapy programs, and we enjoy keeping up with the many stories that showcase how special animals have brought inspiration and courage to patients and their families, as well as team members. Especially in an inpatient setting at a hospital, nursing home, or assisted living facility, therapy pets can help decrease anxiety and depression related to illness, lower blood pressure, and help lift spirits. Many times, patients don’t realize they need the extra TLC a therapy pet can bring until they are visited by one.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many pet therapy programs were temporarily suspended to protect the health of patients and team members. Now with enhanced screening processes and protocols in place, pet therapy programs at many hospitals and health care organizations have started back up again. In a recent social media post from Lakeland Regional Health, Tucker, a Samoyed breed therapy dog that is well known to the LRH team, was able to visit after being away for quite some time. According to a direct quote from LRH, health care units across the board said, “Wow I really needed this,” “This was the best part of my day,” “Thank you for coming to visit us, Tucker!” This is just one example of how beneficial it can be to have a pet therapy program in place.

Therapy pets, the most common types being dogs, can bring comfort to patients of all ages and are generally well tolerated by many. It’s important to note that all therapy dogs receive proper care and certification, training, and vaccinations prior to joining any type of program at a health care facility. Our partner hospitals and SNF’s always make sure this is a priority.

The volunteers behind their certified therapy pets also benefit from these types of programs. Not only does the act of volunteerism provide many with a sense of community and purpose, but the simple act of bringing a smile to those in painful or stressful situations can do wonders for the volunteer’s self-esteem and overall happiness. In fact, those who volunteer, with pet therapy being just one example, are more likely to have an improved mood, lower anxiety, and less stress. The more we give of our time and talents, the happier we often feel.

At ACH, we are thankful for our pet therapy programs and the volunteers behind them. If you have stories of success with therapy pets and would like to share, please contact us! If you would like more information on how to run a successful pet therapy program and would like to learn from one of our partner organizations on how they run their programs, send us a message and we will be happy to connect you!

 

Learn More About Advanced Care Hospitalists (ACH)

ACH is a Lakeland-based hospitalist group providing comprehensive patient care in community hospitals across Central Florida. Our providers are highly skilled, board-certified internal medicine specialists who are available around-the-clock to meet the care needs of patients from hospital admission through discharge. Post-discharge from the hospital, we continue overseeing patient care for 30 days.

We’ve found that continued care coordination ensures more accurate medication reconciliation, improved compliance with discharge plans, better scheduling of follow-up visits, and fewer hospital readmissions. Our providers do everything in their power to make sure our patients receive the compassionate and comprehensive care they need to promote healing and prevent a second hospital admission.

For more information about our services and our practice, please contact Advanced Care Hospitalists at 863-816-5884 or fill out a contact form online.

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The Role of the Patient Portal

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Now more than ever before, hospitals and health care organizations alike are adopting patient portal applications. These electronic health record management tools allow patients to see their health data including lab results, discharge summaries, immunization history, and radiology reports, in real time. Although all portals are not the same, it’s important to note that simply having a portal alone can increase patient satisfaction and engagement.

Perhaps one of the most beneficial things patients find when using a portal is the opportunity to communicate with their provider(s) when they have a concern or question. Generally, patients who reach out to their physician through a patient portal and receive a response feel a deeper connection and sense of trust in their ongoing relationship. However, if a health care practitioner does not respond to a patient’s messages or takes an extremely long time to provide a follow-up, then the messaging feature of a patient portal can bring on frustration rather than satisfaction.

Patient portals can be helpful when managing an extensive case, especially when a patient has multiple providers within the same practice or organization. As a one-stop hub for all of a patient’s records, an electronic health portal can be a real time saver for physicians who need to see results and records quickly, without having to wait for a colleague to send them over by means of a hard-copy. Additionally, when patients have the opportunity to get a head start on looking over their medical records, they often feel a sense of preparedness prior to their follow-up appointments, which can also make interactions with their providers smoother and more fulfilling.

What’s more, patients are more likely to follow doctors’ orders and suggestions while utilizing a patient portal. In a past Geisinger study, nearly 80 percent of patients who were taking an antihypertensive medicine and had access to their records were following their doctor’s orders for taking prescriptions, compared to 75.3 percent of patients on the same medications who did not view their medical data online. 

For those patients who don’t have access to a computer or are uncomfortable using technology, providers may have a more difficult time relaying critical information and results. Because of this, backlogs in callbacks and follow up visits can be an issue. To help combat this, it’s important to be an advocate for your patients and encourage them to find comfort or the proper resources to take charge of their health by setting up and engaging with their portals (if applicable).

Providers enjoy using an electronic health record since it helps them educate their patients and keep their processes streamlined. A common hiccup though is that it can be time consuming and challenging to keep up with the influx of messages as well as transcribing patient visits electronically. What practitioners have found useful is to take at least one half-day per week (sometimes more) to catch up on requests and updates within their patients’ portals, aside from their normal office hours.

One of the most crucial things to mention to patients is that electronic health records via hospitals and doctors’ offices are secure, and information should not be shared with anyone outside of a patient’s medical team or designated family member(s). There are multiple platforms that health care organizations use for their patient portals. As an example, one of Advanced Care Hospitalists’ preferred partners is Lakeland Regional Health. The Lakeland Regional Health Physician Group recently adopted Epic MyChart across its physician offices. Because of its success with the utilization of technology, Lakeland Regional Health earned its spot as a 2021 College of Healthcare Information Management Executives Digital Health Most Wired Hospital and Health Systems. We are proud to see health care organizations like Lakeland Regional Health employ successful programs that provide examples of effective support to both patients and providers.

If you have not adopted an online patient portal, we encourage you to look at options to begin a journey towards improved experiences for both patients and providers. For more information about the EHR programs our hospitals and medical groups employ, contact us today!

 

Learn More About Advanced Care Hospitalists (ACH)

ACH is a Lakeland-based hospitalist group providing comprehensive patient care in community hospitals across Central Florida. Our providers are highly skilled, board-certified internal medicine specialists who are available around-the-clock to meet the care needs of patients from hospital admission through discharge. Post-discharge from the hospital, we continue overseeing patient care for 30 days.

We’ve found that continued care coordination ensures more accurate medication reconciliation, improved compliance with discharge plans, better scheduling of follow-up visits, and fewer hospital readmissions. Our providers do everything in their power to make sure our patients receive the compassionate and comprehensive care they need to promote healing and prevent a second hospital admission.

For more information about our services and our practice, please contact Advanced Care Hospitalists at 863-816-5884 or fill out a contact form online.

 

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Can Joy Be Prescribed?

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As hospitalists, we are all to familiar with prescribing medications for our patients when they need it most. Whether its for high blood pressure, to aid in pain management, to suppress abnormal rhythms of the heart, or to heal an infection, medications are crucial components of healing for many. Working with patients shows us how delicate life can be, and the importance of taking care of ourselves so that we can limit our exposure to certain ailments.

We don’t have to be sick though, to prescribe ourselves a daily dose of something imperative to our well-being. What are we talking about? Positivity and joy. These emotional and psychological states can be arrived at by “prescribing” yourself and even your patients a plan that includes practicing good habits that promote happiness that cannot be shaken, no matter the circumstance.

Here are a few of our favorite tips for improving your state of mind and overall happiness in and out of the workplace.

Breathe Deep
Deep breathing exercises can help activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for allowing you to relax, and will ultimately help balance your autonomic nervous system and decrease your stress levels. Deep, or diaphragmatic breathing, can help calm anxiety and bring you to a position of peace. It can also help you feel better if you are in physical pain. To breathe deep, you should take slow, long breaths from your diaphragm, and push your stomach out each time you inhale.

Be Compassionate
People who show empathy tend to be happier. Whether it is showing gratitude, bringing a meal to someone in need, encouraging a patient, writing a thank you note, or simply offering a kind word and a hug, you can display compassion in a variety of ways. Often times, these acts help you just as much as the recipient.

Show Vulnerability
It’s OK to be show sensitivity. Especially in the health care setting, it has almost become a faux pa to show any sort of vulnerability in front of patients and colleagues. And while as a clinician, you should want to be taken seriously and looked upon as an expert, you can’t be afraid to show a tender side. After all, we are all human. When we let our guards down and become more approachable, we may help our patients and their families in their healing process more than we realize. This in turn helps us feel happier.

Affirm Yourself
Instead of being our own worst critics, let’s try talking to ourselves in a powerful and loving voice. In a recent blog post, we discussed the importance of practicing positive and personal affirmations. These can help you challenge your negative thoughts, increase your confidence, and help you feel calmer and more prepared to tackle anything that comes your way. All of this can equal higher spirits and cheerfulness.

Be Silly
Every now and again you just have to let loose and tap into your child-like self. Engaging in activities that make you smile will improve your mood and help you to feel happier. These could include singing, dancing, cracking jokes, or making funny faces with your colleagues. Humor has a way of breaking the ice and creating memorable moments that are filled with lots of laughter. And you guessed it – if you are laughing more, chances are you will be happier.

 

The above list is not exhaustive, as there are many other things you can do to increase your level of joy. However, as we mentioned, these are a few of our favorites. If you have any tips that have worked well at your organization, share them with us! We’d love to hear from you. We hope you will try a few of these tips to not only improve your joy, but also the joy of those around you, too.

 

Learn More About Advanced Care Hospitalists (ACH)

ACH is a Lakeland-based hospitalist group providing comprehensive patient care in community hospitals across Central Florida. Our providers are highly skilled, board-certified internal medicine specialists who are available around-the-clock to meet the care needs of patients from hospital admission through discharge. Post-discharge from the hospital, we continue overseeing patient care for 30 days.

We’ve found that continued care coordination ensures more accurate medication reconciliation, improved compliance with discharge plans, better scheduling of follow-up visits, and fewer hospital readmissions. Our providers do everything in their power to make sure our patients receive the compassionate and comprehensive care they need to promote healing and prevent a second hospital admission.

For more information about our services and our practice, please contact Advanced Care Hospitalists at 863-816-5884 or fill out a contact form online.

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Preparing for Hurricane Season in the Hospital

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Hurricane season is June 1 through November 30, and this year, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officials forecast a season very similar to last year, which was the third most active on record. According to the CSU, factors playing a role in the forecast include the lack of El Niño and warmer-than-normal waters in the subtropical Atlantic. Additionally, the NOAA is predicting La Niña will continue throughout the summer, which will likely keep tropical storm formation above average.

When it comes to storm hurricane preparedness in a health care facility, especially a hospital, planning ahead is key. Organizations must be ready to respond to natural disasters swiftly to guarantee that safety of patients and team members remains a top priority. Because of this, it’s crucial in the hospital setting to have a hurricane preparation plan and/or guide in place well before a storm strikes. Since the threat of hurricanes impact our area so often, Florida-based hospitals and health care organizations should make this an action item sooner than later.

A great place to start your planning journey is to check out your county’s Emergency Management Website. Here you can find more information about creating an annual disaster planning guide, and learning about evacuation and flood zones, emergency shelters, fire jurisdiction maps, and much more. Managers and directors should review this information on an annual basis and update their response plans accordingly. This includes updating team member rosters, staffing plans, and hospital-wide communications leading up to the storm. As a leader in your respective area, you should also encourage your staff to create their own at-home hurricane readiness plan.

Hospital Hurricane Plan Basics

  • Make sure you have a crisis communications plan in place that outlines specific instructions for keeping in contact with employees, patients, vendors, and emergency personnel. Establish a team member hotline that can be updated regularly with operating information, further instructions, and updates.
  • Put together a list of frequently asked questions and answers surrounding storm operations and communicate these to team members regularly.
  • Coordinate with county emergency management to better understand routes to and from your facility. Confirm which routes will remain open for patient transport and emergency services.
  • Create a damage assessment plan, which will ensure that patients and staff have the supplies they need in the event of an evacuation or shelter-in-place.
  • Enroll in your county’s official emergency mass notification system to keep leadership up-to-date and alert on weather conditions.
  • Create toolkits for each area of hurricane storm management and identify possible risk factors for each: inland flooding, severe wind, power outages, tornadoes, and fires.
  • Have “safe spaces” mapped out inside your facility and be sure to communicate these to patients and team members ahead of time.
  • Regularly take part in town hall programs that keep your staff feeling confident in the case of an emergency.
  • Conduct hurricane and emergency management drills as well as employee training sessions on an ongoing basis.
  • Regularly check inventory of pertinent supplies and be sure you have an ample amount on hand.
  • Offer additional CPR and first-aid training courses to employees.
  • Prioritize preparedness measures and follow a succinct plan in a 1-2-3 manner.

Perhaps the most important aspect of hurricane readiness planning is to remain calm. At the end of the day, if you and your team work together to create and maintain a successful plan with proper protocols in place, you will be in a much better position to handle the unexpected.

For more information about hurricane and natural disaster planning, visit https://www.ready.gov/business.

 

Learn More About Advanced Care Hospitalists (ACH)

ACH is a Lakeland-based hospitalist group providing comprehensive patient care in community hospitals across Central Florida. Our providers are highly skilled, board-certified internal medicine specialists who are available around-the-clock to meet the care needs of patients from hospital admission through discharge. Post-discharge from the hospital, we continue overseeing patient care for 30 days.

We’ve found that continued care coordination ensures more accurate medication reconciliation, improved compliance with discharge plans, better scheduling of follow-up visits, and fewer hospital readmissions. Our providers do everything in their power to make sure our patients receive the compassionate and comprehensive care they need to promote healing and prevent a second hospital admission.

For more information about our services and our practice, please contact Advanced Care Hospitalists at 863-816-5884 or fill out a contact form online.

 

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