A Closer Look
Patient Safety Services & Products -
Healthcare Optimization for Business & Families -
- Medical Error Avoidance Monitoring -
727-712-7370
Welcome.
This is a Closer Look at PULSE of Florida and the services provided by our Patient Safety Advocates. My name is Doug Hall.
I have the pleasure of being part of PULSE of Florida, which is one of three PULSE chapters around the country.
We each came to be advocates from different backgrounds and we each approach patient advocate goals in our own way. Here's mine:
Three years ago, I was having lunch with a professor at a local university. When the conversation turned to hospitals and healthcare, she shook her head, had a far-away gaze and was silent for a moment.
She then said,
"The hospitals are nearly out of control. The nurses have too many patients. The doctors have too many patients. More than half the hospitals have reduced staff and reduced services such as patient education and
discharge planning.
This isn't the careful healthcare I knew even a few years ago."
I was surprised to hear of these conditions. Not long ago there was time to talk to patients and their family to provide suggestions how to be the eyes,
ears and voice for their loved-one to monitor care as a Family Advocate.
The patient-centered and family-centered approach takes some extra time.
Apparently, this extra time is no longer available.
It was during this lunch conversation I decided to research and develop
new services to improve the patient's healthcare experience.
A great deal of research and collaboration followed.
First, I decided to base all patient safety advocacy services on the
"Aims for the 21st-Century Health Care System", as proposed by
The Institute of Medicine. Their six aims are that healthcare should be:
Safe, Effective, Patient-centered, Timely, Efficient and Equitable.
Next, was to focus my energy. It wasn't at the national legislative level,
State or local levels but at the bedside, exam table and gurney level.
I then gathered the best resources available to create a single source of patient safety information, services, products and a comprehensive collection for a patient safety bookstore.
The result:
PULSE of Florida - a patient advocacy of one-to-one, patient and family-centered healthcare optimization provided by an all Registered Nurse staff.
Using an advocate to monitor your care for safety, locate needed information, and aid in your comfort is a practical response to the challenges of being a patient in a fast-moving, extremely technical medical environment.
It's a way of ensuring that you have backup when you need it and have
the help available to meet your needs and answer your questions.
It's simply being smart.
Here's an example:
Have you recently received a new diagnosis?
Stop everything. Really, I'll wait.
Now take a deep breath. Close your eyes and count to five.
It's perfectly normal to feel shock about your new condition.
However, your shock and worry can easily overtake your day.
Stop again. Take another deep breath. Close your eyes and count to five.
Although you may feel weak, you are neither powerless nor alone.
Now, lets attack this bad news and fight it with good information, logic,
and the determination that you will receive the best healthcare possible.
Here's how:
First, you need allies such as family and friends who volunteer to be your advocates. In addition, professional patient advocate allies who are your education and safety intermediary and who will intervene to encourage the highest quality patient care before, during and after treatment.
Next, locate the right doctors, surgeons and hospitals.
Then, learn about your condition at your pace with understandable information and evidence concerning the best treatment for your condition.
It is possible. You just need an expert advocate to navigate the way.
The good news is PULSE of Florida is your expert navigator.
We will:
Show your friends and family how to be your patient advocate -
Locate the right doctor, surgeon and hospital or long-term-care facility -
Provide professional, patient safety advocate services -
When you contact PULSE of Florida:
1. A Registered Nurse who is calm, focused and informed greets you.
You're welcome to ask questions about our services or describe your
healthcare situation and we'll offer solutions from our wide-variety of
products and services.
You need not give your name to receive information.
2. All features and benefits explained clearly.
There are no surprises or hidden fees.
3. You have the option of ordering individual services at an hourly rate or
reduced rate blocks-of-time in which all services are available and can
be used as needed.
The block-of-time option also includes our Priority On-Call service.
We will go to an emergency room, hospital or doctor's office, in your
service area, as soon as possible and provide any Patient Safety or
Healthcare Optimization Service.
A single source for these Advocate services may be new but the principles
of patient safety, patient courtesy and healthcare optimization are not.
Welcome to PULSE of Florida
www.PULSE of Florida.org
727-712-7370
Patient Safety Services, Information and Products -
Healthcare Optimization for Business and Family -
