Monday and Tuesday of this week delivered a nice change of scenery.
As a standardized patient (SP) (someone who acts as a patient with a variety of maladies for medical research or exams) it has been my pleasure to participate in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) educational videos.
Wardrobe was way cool - I got to wear scrubs - always wanted to do that and I didn't even have to go to school for 5 years to get the chance. I played a nurse in various scenes but mostly helped coordinate scenes and actors. Long days, decent pay and tons of fun.
What did I learn? That's the beauty of being an SP you always come away with more than you came. We had first hand training in CPR, bagging a victim/patient (with oxygen), learning about defibrillators both hospital and portable types, and what a code blue team does. Extremely fascinating stuff. And yes - they really can deliver 200 joules - that's the jolt you see on TV when they defibrillate a patient.
I got to have a bird's eye view of what a code blue looks like from a healthcare perspective while being a participant in a mock emergency. It never ceases to amaze me how much we take our healthcare teams for granted. Our healthcare professionals are highly trained and while yes they are human and will make mistakes they really have yours and mine best interest at heart.
Everyday we have the opportunity to learn. The more I learn about the medical field and how we can best help our healthcare teams the more I realize that when the Personal Healthcare Journal is used as it is intended we really can receive a quicker diagnosis and treatment for our illnesses.
So... keep on using your book, maximize it's potential and in no time you'll learn how to more effectively manage your health.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
MEETING WITH THE MINISTER
As promised, here's an update on my meeting with the Minister of Healthy Living - Kerri Irvin-Ross.
Time sure goes fast. I had a half an hour to state my case for the book. I gave her some history, we talked about various ways it could be used and by whom, who's using it and who's looking at it.
Overall I think it went very well - being my first time meeting with a Government official I really have nothing to compare it with. I do have to say though - she was impressed with the briefing note I had ready for her - a huge thanks to my friend Barb from Biggar Ideas for giving me the idea.
I left the meeting with a promise that Minister Irvin-Ross would review the book and my proposal and then get back to me. Very Cool!
I feel grateful for the opportunity to have met with her and introduce the Personal Healthcare Journal to her. She now knows it exists and that's a good thing. If it leads to anything more - I'll let you know.
Time sure goes fast. I had a half an hour to state my case for the book. I gave her some history, we talked about various ways it could be used and by whom, who's using it and who's looking at it.
Overall I think it went very well - being my first time meeting with a Government official I really have nothing to compare it with. I do have to say though - she was impressed with the briefing note I had ready for her - a huge thanks to my friend Barb from Biggar Ideas for giving me the idea.
I left the meeting with a promise that Minister Irvin-Ross would review the book and my proposal and then get back to me. Very Cool!
I feel grateful for the opportunity to have met with her and introduce the Personal Healthcare Journal to her. She now knows it exists and that's a good thing. If it leads to anything more - I'll let you know.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
DISTRIBUTORS WELCOME!
My Care Necessities is looking for Canadian and American distributors for it's Personal Healthcare Journal in the following areas:
- Healthcare Products
- Hospital Gift Shops
- Book Distributor
- Pharmacies
PLEASE CARRY MY BOOK - Honest it's Amazing!
A month or so ago I joined this incredible email network called HARO or (Help A Reporter Out). Through this I've managed to submit stories for blogs and websites that are book and health related. This story Please Carry My Book - Honest It's Amazing talks about how to get your self-published book into stores and how to look for markets that seem outside the box.
As stories get published I'll provide links so you can read them for yourself.
Enjoy your day - thanks for your support.
Betsy
As stories get published I'll provide links so you can read them for yourself.
Enjoy your day - thanks for your support.
Betsy
Thursday, August 21, 2008
INVISIBLE CHRONIC ILLNESS WEEK
Invisible Chronic Illness Week
September 8-14, 2008 in the U.S.
This is my submission for an article to be posted for this week.
This past June our daughter got married. It was a beautiful wedding and of course I cried. Now imagine planning a wedding for 200 guests that is predominantly gluten-free. What's gluten- free you ask?
Three years ago our daughter was diagnosed with an invisible illness called Celiac Disease. One year later another 4 of us were also diagnosed. Today there are 7 of us in our family that have Celiac Disease. This plunged all of us into an unkown world of new foods and diets. We got a crash course in all things gluten-free.
Celiac is an auto-immune illness that prevents the absorption of wheat, rye, barley and sometimes oats. I had no idea that these offending grains could have such an impact and that they were in just about everything!
Imagine having to giving up your favourite bread, pasta, cookies, pastries, processed meats, salad dressings, ice-cream cones, cereal, soy sauce - well you get the point.
I used to wonder why people stood and read labels at the grocery store. Just buy it already was the thought that popped into my head. Well... guess what - I'm now a label reader myself. Who knew that even bacon could have hidden glutens or soup in a can or even salad dressings of all things. But it's true - we all read labels now.
Some people in our family get sicker than others if they've accidently ingested gluten. Take for instance my oldest daughter, she gets violently sick for days. My brother on the other hand doesn't really experience any symptoms so it's much harder for him to stick to a regimented diet. Me, I just really gassy, bloated and the odd time have diarrhea - kind of like a flu.
So back to the wedding, what did we serve? We managed to have an amazing stuffed chicken dinner complete with gravy and steamed veggies. The buns of course were not gluten-free but we managed to score some really great pavlova for dessert for our gluten-free members. Once the dance began we brought out a huge 32" tower of fruit, some gluten-free and regular desserts. For a really cool alternative to serving all you can drink alcohol we served all you can drink espresso's, latte's and cappuccino's.
It's not easy eating gluten-free, especially when you travel. I have to bring a suit-case full of my own food just so I can be sure I have something to eat when we get to our destination. Airports can also be tricky. But like I have told my kids who are all celiac's you can either manage your disease or let the disease manage you.
September 8-14, 2008 in the U.S.
This is my submission for an article to be posted for this week.
This past June our daughter got married. It was a beautiful wedding and of course I cried. Now imagine planning a wedding for 200 guests that is predominantly gluten-free. What's gluten- free you ask?
Three years ago our daughter was diagnosed with an invisible illness called Celiac Disease. One year later another 4 of us were also diagnosed. Today there are 7 of us in our family that have Celiac Disease. This plunged all of us into an unkown world of new foods and diets. We got a crash course in all things gluten-free.
Celiac is an auto-immune illness that prevents the absorption of wheat, rye, barley and sometimes oats. I had no idea that these offending grains could have such an impact and that they were in just about everything!
Imagine having to giving up your favourite bread, pasta, cookies, pastries, processed meats, salad dressings, ice-cream cones, cereal, soy sauce - well you get the point.
I used to wonder why people stood and read labels at the grocery store. Just buy it already was the thought that popped into my head. Well... guess what - I'm now a label reader myself. Who knew that even bacon could have hidden glutens or soup in a can or even salad dressings of all things. But it's true - we all read labels now.
Some people in our family get sicker than others if they've accidently ingested gluten. Take for instance my oldest daughter, she gets violently sick for days. My brother on the other hand doesn't really experience any symptoms so it's much harder for him to stick to a regimented diet. Me, I just really gassy, bloated and the odd time have diarrhea - kind of like a flu.
So back to the wedding, what did we serve? We managed to have an amazing stuffed chicken dinner complete with gravy and steamed veggies. The buns of course were not gluten-free but we managed to score some really great pavlova for dessert for our gluten-free members. Once the dance began we brought out a huge 32" tower of fruit, some gluten-free and regular desserts. For a really cool alternative to serving all you can drink alcohol we served all you can drink espresso's, latte's and cappuccino's.
It's not easy eating gluten-free, especially when you travel. I have to bring a suit-case full of my own food just so I can be sure I have something to eat when we get to our destination. Airports can also be tricky. But like I have told my kids who are all celiac's you can either manage your disease or let the disease manage you.
MEETING WITH THE HEALTHY LIVING MINISTER
Imagine my excitement at being invited to meet with Manitoba's Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross on September 2, 2008!
All along I have believed that the Personal Healthcare Journal could benefit many people. Our own family has experienced the benefits and now others are experiencing the benefits of using this simple, easy-to-use tool.
Here's a quote from an Atikokan Healthcare Team member in Atikokan, Ontario: “The possibilities for how this book can be used to help not only seniors but anyone with multiple medical needs is astounding. It is simple and easy to read with lots of space for every aspect of a patient’s health needs. What most people don’t expect when they get this book is that there is also information on how to speak with your doctor as well as information on advanced directives. I can’t tell you how important the information on advanced directives is to both patients and families. The Atikokan Family Health Team is excited about the possibilities of this book and the many uses we will have for it. We are hoping that every senior in Atikokan will have one as well as all those other people who would benefit from this book.”
Our healthcare system is changing. We need to value the work our doctors and nurses do. They are pressed from all sides: family, work, patients, other healthcare professionals and even government.
If we can help them out by staying on top of our own health, their jobs will become easier and we will all benefit.
I'll let you know how the meeting goes.
All along I have believed that the Personal Healthcare Journal could benefit many people. Our own family has experienced the benefits and now others are experiencing the benefits of using this simple, easy-to-use tool.
Here's a quote from an Atikokan Healthcare Team member in Atikokan, Ontario: “The possibilities for how this book can be used to help not only seniors but anyone with multiple medical needs is astounding. It is simple and easy to read with lots of space for every aspect of a patient’s health needs. What most people don’t expect when they get this book is that there is also information on how to speak with your doctor as well as information on advanced directives. I can’t tell you how important the information on advanced directives is to both patients and families. The Atikokan Family Health Team is excited about the possibilities of this book and the many uses we will have for it. We are hoping that every senior in Atikokan will have one as well as all those other people who would benefit from this book.”
Our healthcare system is changing. We need to value the work our doctors and nurses do. They are pressed from all sides: family, work, patients, other healthcare professionals and even government.
If we can help them out by staying on top of our own health, their jobs will become easier and we will all benefit.
I'll let you know how the meeting goes.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
POSTER CAMPAIGN
Advertising can get expensive - so how do you get the message out that the Personal Healthcare Journal exists? A Poster Campaign.
It's beginning. Doctor's offices, hospital emergency rooms, the Wellness Centre, Great West Life in Winnipeg, message boards at Victoria Beach and in healthcare centres in Kenora.
If you or a friend would be willing to hang a poster with little tear offs that tell people where they can pick up a copy of the Personal Healthcare Journal email me at betsy@mycarenecessities.com
It's beginning. Doctor's offices, hospital emergency rooms, the Wellness Centre, Great West Life in Winnipeg, message boards at Victoria Beach and in healthcare centres in Kenora.
If you or a friend would be willing to hang a poster with little tear offs that tell people where they can pick up a copy of the Personal Healthcare Journal email me at betsy@mycarenecessities.com
Monday, July 21, 2008
MedTrade Here We Come!
Georgia World Congress Center
Atlanta, Georgia - October 28-30
Booth # 3979
Yes you read that right. There are over 725 exhibitors with over 240,000 square feet of show space - WOW!
Having been a part of many trade shows before the scope and magnitude of this particular show is extremely exciting to be a part of.
We'll gather together with a host of other companies eager to show their wares to thousands of attendees looking for the latest and greatest in healthcare products.
MedTrade has become the largest international show. Exhibitors and attendees from all over the world converge to discuss and learn about all things medical. Everything from sleep labs, mobility devices, breast surgery, ulcer care, oxygen therapy and much much more.
Making this the perfect place to showcase the Personal Healthcare Journal.
I'll keep you posted as the date draws closer.
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