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When hearing or reading information about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), I am often reminded of how individuals are “rarely” affected by this disease. This is quite the contrary in my field of nursing. Being diagnosed with ALS is challenging, not just for the patient but also for surrounding loved ones. At times, patients with ALS are referred to as “difficult.” After having patients of my own with ALS, I found them to be misunderstood, just like their disease.
At Independence Plus, Inc., we appreciate our nurses every day! There is one week of the year, however, when the spotlight is completely on them. National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6 through May 12. The end date is significant because it marks the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
This week is a great time to thank all nurses for their integral role in health care, and the important work they do every day. To celebrate IPI’s team of nurses who work diligently to care for our medically complex, technology-dependent patients, we have compiled a list of recent blog posts featuring them.
José Solorzano was just a teenager when he made a decision that changed his life forever. He says he was “young and dumb,” and found himself involved in gangs.
For nearly 30 years, Independence Plus, Inc. has been providing people with complex medical and respiratory needs the opportunity to live fulfilling lives at home.
One thing that makes IPI unique in the home health care field is that caring for our patients is extremely challenging. Our nurses become trained specialists in directly caring for adult and pediatric ventilator-dependent patients at home, many with rare diagnoses.
Not until witnessing many of the people surrounding me experience deaths in their family and recently experiencing a patient death of my own, did I understand how powerful grief can be. It also brings to my attention various stressors that are affiliated with the passing of a patient or loved one.
Those of us in home healthcare in Illinois already know Sandy Scannell. She first worked as a med-surg nurse and then a pediatric nurse. Later she joined the University of Illinois’ Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) as a case manager. For a dozen years, we at Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) knew her as the nurse who meticulously audited our patient records—and she was particularly exacting! Eventually in 2012, she retired from the State, took the summer off, and then “jumped the fence” and joined IPI’s staff as Director of Quality Improvement. It was great to finally have her sit on “our” side of the table! We sat down with Sandy earlier this week to find out a little more about her career before IPI, as well as what she plans to do next.
Caring for medically complex patients at home is extremely challenging—but we at Independence Plus love the opportunities to deliver complex clinical care while our patient is in their own home. We train RN’s and LPN’s to become specialists in directly caring for ventilator-dependent patients, many with rare diagnoses.
Rare Disease Day is an annual observance day focused on raising awareness about rare diseases and their impact on the lives of patients, caregivers, healthcare, and public policy. Those diseases affecting less than 200,000 Americans at any given time are considered rare. Approximately 80% of rare diseases have genetic origins and 50% affect children.
“In some ways it’s a death sentence,” Dick begins. “But there are many ways to fight ALS. Look around me, there’s my g-tube, ventilator, diaphragmatic pacer… the list goes on.” Dick knows these interventions aren’t for everyone, but it’s his mission to make sure that everyone who is living with ALS knows what’s available to them.
Earlier this week, we participated in an “Employer Forum” panel discussion at a local nursing college. We spoke about what we’re looking for in new graduate nurses, but also, what our patients and families are looking for in the nurses who care for them at home. We asked Hillary Savoie, PhD, to share her thoughts as the mother of a little girl who has rare genetic disorder.
Alishia M., a Recruitment Specialist at Independence Plus, is always coming up with ideas about how we can give back to those in need. Whether its signing us up for a 5k run/walk benefiting a local children’s hospital, volunteering at the soup kitchen, or most recently, gathering a group of employees to purchase 30 gifts for children in need through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree.
We’re expanding our services and offerings. We want you to be a part of the team that is delivering personalized, individual, people-focused skilled home healthcare to those in need. Come join us.