The U.S. federal government is expected to decide, as soon as Friday, if it will slash payments to physicians who use medical-imaging machines to screen patients for diseases like cancer and heart problems.

The decision will likely stir controversy, because the government has proposed cutting by up to 38% the amount it pays the roughly one million doctors who participate in Medicare when they use disease-screening equipment for procedures like MRIs and CT scans..(Read the Article here)

From the Office of the Press Secretary The White House:

I congratulate the House of Representatives on the introduction of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, another critical milestone in the effort to reform our health care system.

This legislation is the product of unprecedented cooperation and countless hours of hard work by Speaker Pelosi, Chairmen Waxman, Rangel, and Miller, Congressman Dingell, and scores of House members who share my conviction that we can’t wait another year for health insurance reform..(Full Article Here)

Hospice is rooted in the centuries-old idea of offering hospitality to those on a long journey. Today the hospice movement continues to represent a supportive philosophy and concept of care available to those whose life expectancy is measured in weeks or months. Hospice recognizes death as the final stage of life and serves to enable hospice patients and families to live their final days to the fullest in the comfort of home, surrounded by their loved ones.  One patient described hospice this way: “Hospice has turned an eternal secret into a living principle- that what’s truly important is life lived richly, deeply, meaningfully, for as long as it lasts. Dignity, family, comfort, and caring are hospice, an idea whose time has come, and just in time for me.”

Today hospice care is comprehensive palliative medical care (treatment to provide for
the reduction or abatement of pain and other troubling symptoms, rather than treatment aimed at cure) and supportive social, emotional, and spiritual services to the terminally ill and their families, primarily in the patient’s home. The hospice interdisciplinary team, composed of professionals and volunteers, coordinates an individualized plan of care for each patient and family. Hospice reaffirms the right of every person and family to participate fully in this final stage of life’s journey.  There is no age limit for hospice care. Children as well as adults can receive the support of a hospice program during their final stages of life.

In response to the disaster that left thousands of families flooded, I am organizing through Pipit Fund Inc, a CLOTHING DRIVE for families in Laguna for two areas, Calamba (the barrios of Sucol, Bagong Kalsada, Masili and Tadlac) and San Pedro (the barrios of Cuyab, San Roque, Landayan), all in the province of Laguna who have lost so much due to this calamities.   Although food relief effort from countries like USA, Canada and other rich countries are being distributed to the people, we felt a need to supplement their needs as many of homes are still submerged in water especially at the edge of Laguna De Bay.

 New or used clothing in good condition, suitable for tropics, both for adult or children will be gratefully accepted.  Kindly laundry, fold and iron the clothing before bringing to drop areas for easy packing and boxing for shipment.  Shipment may take 30 days to reach two locations, and will cost $60.00 per 20x20x20 balikbayan box. 

Distribution will be supervised by both United Church of Christ Philippines (UCCP) in Sucol, Calamba and Santo Rosario Church in Pacita, San Pedro. 

 

Donations can be dropped off at New Haven office, care of Eunice Bejar-Lee or Lea Anisco located at 333 Gellert Blvd Suite 249, Daly City, CA 94015.  Donations will be tax deductible through Pipit Fund Inc.  We are targeting to send the first shipment by last week of October and second shipment by the first week of November.

Thank you for your generosity.

 Sincerely yours,

 Gilbert Henry Lee and Eunice Bejar-Lee

The time to read this information is now-before you, a relative, or a friend who
depends on you is faced with a terminal illness. To make informed decisions about hospice care, you need to learn as much as you can about- what services are available to you;  how to get those services;  how to pay for those services; and what benefits you are entitled to under Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance.  We at New Haven want to help!

With health reform reaching the beachhead, painfully, and perhaps having a chance of passing at long last, nobody likes having to think about what didn’t go right. But the truth is, not only is the current legislative fore-runner proposals imperfect, it leaves a barn-door-sized hole open in relationships…. (Read the article here from FierceHealthcare)

Our Services may include:

Clients who require skilled services will be accepted for care at New Haven Home Health & Hospice, Inc., where reasonable expectations of the medical, nursing, rehabilitative, social and safety needs are met.

Skilled Nursing Services:
Registered Nurse
Licensed Vocational Nurse

Rehabilitation Services:

Physical Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Speech Therapist

Medical Social Services:

Medical Social Worker

Personal Care Services:

Certified Home Health Aide

Description:

Registered Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse: Implements and coordinates plan of treatment initiated by the physician; Assesses, evaluates patient’s status; Consults with and educates patient and family regarding the disease process; Coordinates with other needed health care disciplines; Administration of medication and/or treatments as prescribed by the physician; Applies preventative, therapeutic and rehabilitative nursing procedures; Observes patient’s changes in condition and reports necessary changes to the physician; Evaluates effectiveness and outcome of care and does appropriate patient discharge.

Rehabilitation Services:

Physical Therapist: Assesses therapeutic, rehabilitative, functional, and potential needs such as muscle strengthening, range of motion, mobility and gait training; Sets goals and priorities for plan of treatment; Directs therapy programs that provide preventative, rehabilitative, and therapeutic procedures and techniques; Instructs patient on home exercise program to promote patient’s safety, health and independent living; Evaluates and teach patient on proper use of therapeutic equipment and prosthetic devices.

Occupational Therapist: Assesses patient’s occupational therapy needs; Evaluates for muscle function, strength and endurance, visual coordination, written and verbal communication skills, self-care ability and work ability; Establishes goals for communication and develops therapeutic plan of care; Instructs patient on activities of daily living; Evaluates progress and reports to the physician.

Speech Therapist: Conducts diagnostic speech & language evaluation; Identifies functional speech defects, and develops appropriate plan of care with the physician; Provides direct speech therapy using specialized therapeutic technique and recommends communication devices, aids, and/or equipment; Evaluates progress of therapy and reports to physician.

Medical Social Services:

Medical Social Worker: Determines the needs of patient for social work services after assessment of patient’s psychological status and social needs; Makes community referrals appropriate to patient’s needs and serves as liaison between families, patient and community agencies; Assists other home health care team in recognizing significant social and emotional factors related to patient’s health problems.

Personal Care Services:

Certified Home Health Aide: Provides personal care services ordered in the plan of care such as bath, shampoo, oral hygiene, skin care, prevention of skin breakdown, dressing, and toileting; Prepares nutritious meals and assists in feeding as necessary; Takes vital signs when ordered, and assists the patient in self-administration of medicine

Who needs Home Health Services?

Clients who need transitional and intermittent care after recent hospitalization, clients with disability, chronic or terminal illnesses who need skilled services and assistance in the comfort of their home.

Who is eligible for Home Health Services?

Clients in need of therapy or skilled nursing assistance, clients unable to leave their home due to illness or whose physician has ordered home visits per prescribed plan of care are eligible for our services.