The Move Has Started!

The move has started and will be done by the end of the weekend, so we can be fully operational out of the new office starting Monday February 1st, 2010.

Walk and Roll for Disabilities

Interim HealthCare of Omaha is sponsoring KellyLynn for this years Walk and Roll for Disabilities. The walk raises money for the C. Louis Meyer Rehabilitation Foundation, which helps poeple with developmental disabilities, by supporting programs at the Monroe-Meyer Institute.

KellyLynn is this years honorary captain, and those who sign up through Interim will be privileged to walk on her team.

The walk takes place, Sunday, Febuary 21st at 10:30am on the second floor of the Westroads Mall.

Please click on the link below to learn more and make a dontation. All donations are secure and go directly to the C. Louis Meyer Rehabilitation Foundation.

http://firstgiving.com/kellylynnwakehouse

GO TEAM KELLYLYNN!

The Road to Driving Safety: How to survive winter's hazards

from Interim HealthCare's HealthCare Professional Digest

Over the long months of warm weather, we forget how to drive safely when winter rears its sometimes ugly head. Sleet, snow, freezing rain and street ice all pose dangers for even experienced drivers.

And, as a home healthcare professional or hospital staffing nurse, you don't have the luxury of pulling the bed covers over your head and waiting for the mess to thaw. You have patients who need you, regardless of the weather.

So, here are some ways you can keep yourself safe, no matter what winter throws your way.

Before you get behind the wheel

If you haven't already, you should immediately "winterize" your car. Having it prepared for cold weather will help you get your car started -- and keep it safely on the road. So, be sure to:

• Ask your mechanic to check your car's battery, antifreeze, wipers/windshield washer fluid, ignition system, thermostat, lights/hazard lights, exhaust system, heater, brakes, defroster and oil level/weight.
• Inspect your tires for adequate tread.
• Put a windshield scraper and small broom in your trunk for ice and snow removal.
• Put together a car kit including: a flashlight and extra batteries, first aid kit, blankets, newspapers for insulation, matches, warm clothes, small tools, booster cables, brightly colored cloth, canned fruit and nuts, nonelectric can opener and bottled water.
• Put a few bags of sand in your trunk over the rear axle if you have a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. Line them up with the center of your wheels. If you drive a front-wheel-drive car, forget the sandbags.
• Know how your car handles ice and snow. If you're not sure, go to an empty, ice- or snow-covered parking lot and practice. Slam on your brakes, try to turn into the skid and see what happens. And keep on doing this until you know how to regain control of your car.
• Don't go anywhere with less than a half-tank of gas. If you get stuck or stranded, the engine will be your only source of heat. Plus, keeping your tank close to full will prevent warm daytime temperatures from filling empty space in the tank with moisture, which can condense during the cold night and, sooner or later, rust out your tank.

Rolling, rolling, rolling

Once winter comes, there's always the possibility of encountering adverse road conditions. And just like it's not very smart to drive around with the convertible top down during the winter, you have to adjust your driving tactics and techniques if the weather turns nasty.

For instance, in inclement weather, you should:

• Listen to your radio or call the state highway patrol for the latest road conditions.
• Give yourself some extra time.
• Clear snow and ice from all your windows and lights, as well as the hood and roof -- before driving.
• Never warm up your car in an enclosed area (carbon monoxide can quickly build up).
• Always wear your safety belt.
• When snow's on the ground, and the day's very bright, wear sunglasses.
• Start out in the lowest gear recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer.
• Decrease your driving speed and proceed according to road and weather conditions.
• Keep your headlights on. (But never use your high beams since they reflect the snow and make it more difficult for you to see.)
• Leave plenty of room between your car and the one in front of you, and brake early.
• Be extra careful when crossing bridges. They really do ice up first.
• Look farther ahead in traffic. What other drivers do can alert you to problems and give you extra time to react to them.
• Watch electronic highway signs for information
• When it's freezing or below, don't use your cruise control or overdrive. Touching your brakes to deactivate cruise control can cause you to lose control of your vehicle if you're on ice or snow. Overdrive automatically accelerates or downshifts your car when you're on a hill, and that can cause a loss of traction.
• Don't think you're indestructible just because you have four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive may help you get to your destination quicker, but it won't help you stop any faster if you hit an icy spot.
• Never pump anti-lock brakes. Instead, "stomp and steer."
• Unless it's absolutely necessary, never pass a snowplow or salt/sand spreader.
• If driving conditions worsen, turn on your four-way flashers, get off the highway to a safe area and wait for the visibility and road conditions to improve.

I never thought it'd happen to me

Despite your best efforts, you might find yourself trapped in bad weather. Don't panic. You can get through this, too, if you:

• Stay in your car unless help is visible within 100 yards.
• Hang a brightly colored cloth on your radio antenna, and raise your car's hood.
• Run your car's engine and heater for about 10 minutes each hour. You can also turn on your car's dome light at the same time if you need to.
• Clear snow from the exhaust pipe periodically, and open a downwind window slightly to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Watch for any signs of frostbite, hypothermia or dehydration.
• To aid in circulation, clap your hands and move your arms and legs from time to time.
• Use newspapers, maps and car mats for added insulation.
• Don't overexert yourself. Shoveling snow from your car or pushing your car can bring on a heart attack if you're not in tip-top shape.
• Always carry a cell phone. If you don't want to sign up for a plan, invest in a pre-paid cell phone. You can get one for $30 or so, and some companies have calling cards you can purchase for as little as $10 for a month's activation. A few even allow you to make 911 calls if you don't have any time left on your card -- as long as you did an initial activation when you purchased the phone and first loaded up time. But make sure you get a card without an activation fee. Once the bad weather is over, you can just put the phone away until winter comes back to town.

By following these tips you should be able to "weather" winter and all its hazards just fine. But if the thought of driving on ice and snow still gives you goose bumps, the Car Talk Guys offer a sure-fire way to get around safely during those months between November and April -- move to Hawaii.

Sources: Washington State Department of Transportation, TDC Marketing and Management Consultation and Car Talk.

Here's To Your Health: Glaucoma

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month and we will be spreading awareness by posting information on our blog, facebook page and twitter account.


Glaucoma is a condition that affects the eye and causes changes in your vision, which can lead to blindness. As you age you become more at risk for glaucoma, therefore it is especially important for you to know the risks as well as the warning signs in order to protect your eyesight and prevent injuries. When discussing glaucoma we want you to know what it is, who is at risk and what may be happening to your eyesight if you have this disorder. We will also cover the tests for glaucoma, why it is important, and when you should have the tests done. There are different treatments for glaucoma and we will explain how these tests are done and what the goals are of each.

Glaucoma is caused by increased pressure in your eye. A normal eye has fluid known as aqueous humor, which helps to maintain the shape of the eye. If the flow of that fluid is interrupted, pressure can build up and put stress on the optic nerve, which produces your vision. The stress on the optic nerve causes gradual loss of eyesight. The loss of sight begins on the sides (known as peripheral vision) and if not treated can lead to blindness.

The most common reasons for people to get glaucoma are: their age (over 60), infection, tumors, trauma, family history, diabetes or anything that interrupts the flow of the fluid in the eye. Glaucoma is described as seeing halos around lights. Another common complaint is tunnel vision; Imagine if you had on sunglasses and we took a paintbrush and painted white paint on the outside of the lenses. Now imagine that we started painting on the outside and left just a small hole in the middle of the glasses for you to see through; that is tunnel vision. It is very hard for people with tunnel vision to see to the side without having to turn their heads and body. Tunnel vision can cause problems with the ability to judge distances and make many of the day’s activities much more difficult and dangerous. If you have glaucoma you may also have mild aching or pressure in your eye and other vision problems that are not improved with eyeglasses.

It is necessary to see a doctor and discuss any difficulties that you are having with your vision. Glaucoma can either be very slow or quite fast to occur, depending on the type. It is also a major cause of blindness in older adults, so regular eye tests are very important. Some of the tests for glaucoma include reading the eye charts and testing what and where you can see.The doctor will also perform further tests, to measure the pressure in your eye. These tests will let the doctor know how to treat your specific glaucoma. Again, these tests should not cause pain. Detecting glaucoma early is so important because treatment can not return eyesight that has already been lost.

Treatment for glaucoma focuses on slowing the damage to your optic nerve, which means lowering the pressure in your eyes. The treatment options available are medications, laser and surgery. The success of treatment for glaucoma depends on your learning about the disease, which includes using your medications correctly and getting regular checkups to lower the chance of problems. Medications such as eye drops, pills and liquids that you drink are normally used before surgery is considered. If these medications cannot control the pressure in your eye, then surgery must be performed. Surgery is done with either a laser or an incision (cut) and simply creates an opening to allow fluid to drain from the eye; this will reduce the stress on the optic nerve. The surgery usually takes less than one hour and although there may be some burning or stinging, it should not be painful.

Interim HealthCare staff is trained to assist you before and after glaucoma surgery, if you need or want assistance before surgery the goal is to aid you in avoiding injuries that may occur due to poor vision. The staff will help you prepare your home to make sure that it is safe and allows you to live as independently as possible. Interim HealthCare staff will let you know which items may be dangerous to you, such as throw rugs, clutter or cords. Lighting will be checked to make sure that you are able to see as well as possible, especially if you have stairs or other obstacles. Your bathroom will be assessed for any areas that may be dangerous and also for safety equipment that might be needed. Furniture and beds will be tested to make sure that they are secure and safe for you to get in and out of, and also to see if you have a phone or assistive device such as a call light close by. The kitchen is also an area of concern and the staff will help you to organize the space in the safest way possible. Labeling faucets, stoves, thermostats and other hazardous objects will help you to prevent burns and injuries. Creativity and planning ahead, using items like pill boxes, large-print reading materials, voice-activated switches, electronic timers and
other equipment will allow you to remain at home in a safe environment for as long as possible.

Here is a short review on Glaucoma:

• High pressure in eye which damages the optic nerve

• Risk factors include:
– Age
– Infection
– Tumors
– Trauma
– Family history
– Diabetes

• Signs and Symptoms:
– Eye pain
– Loss of peripheral (side) vision
– Seeing halos around lights

• Complications include:
– Blindness

• Open Angle vs. Closed Angle Glaucoma:

o Open Angle is chronic
Insidious onset and slow progression
Mild aching in the eye
Loss of peripheral vision
Loss of visual acuity un-correctable with glasses
Seeing halos around lights

o Closed Angle can be acute
Ophthamalic Emergency!!
Rapid onset
Unilateral pain and pressure over affected eye
Moderate pupil dilation
Nonreactive to light
Cloudy cornea
Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
Decreased or blurred vision
Seeing halos around lights

• Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests for Glaucoma
o Tonometry (measures intraocular pressure)
o Silt-lamp examination (visualize cornea)
o Gonioscopy (determines angle of anterior chamber of eye)
o Visual field test
• Pharmacology for Glaucoma
o Topical beta blocker (betaxolol, Timoptic) eye drops
o Epinephrine
o Diuretics
o Miotic eye drops (pilocarpine)

References:

Allender, J., & Spradley, B. (2005). Community Health Nursing (6th ed.).
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Black, J., Hawks, J., & Keene, A. (2001). Medical-Surgical Nursing (6th ed.).
Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company. Allender and Spradley.
Cass, P., Luckmann, J., Nigro, C., Schlapman, N., & Timby, B. (2002). Content
Mastery Series Registered Nurse Medical-Surgical Review Module (4.1
ed.). United States: Assessment Technologies, LLC.
Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute. (2004, October). Cataract Surgery. Retrieved
October 17, 2005, from http://my.webmd.com
Division of Aging and Seniors Health. (1999). Communicating with Seniors
[Brochure]. Ottawa, Ontario.
Ellman, M. (2005). Glaucoma Surgery. Retrieved October 17, 2005, from
http://www.somersetmedicalcenter.com
Jarvis, C. (2000). Physical Examination and Health Assessment (3rd ed.).
Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company.
Knolle, G. (2004, August 3). Cataract Awareness. Retrieved October 17, 2005,
from http://my.webmd.com
Porth, C. (2002). Pathophysiology Concepts of Altered Health States (6th ed.).
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Rayfield, S., & Manning, L. (2004). Nursing Made Insanely Easy (4th ed.).
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