Palliative Care: Helping Patients Live Their Best Lives

Lynn’s husband Steve was diabetic and diagnosed with end stage renal disease 11 years ago. Without warning, Steve’s condition turned critical three years ago. Desperate for guidance and strength, Lynn was connected to April and the Palliative Care team at Missouri Baptist Medical Center.

Are You Ready for Flu Season?

While seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round in the United States, flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter. The exact timing and duration of flu seasons can vary, but influenza activity often begins to increase in October. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although activity can last as late as May.

With flu season approaching, make sure you understand what the flu is and how to avoid it.

Physician Wellness

Doctors who take care of themselves:

Are better role models for their patients.

Are better role models for their children.

Have higher patient satisfaction and safety scores.

Experience less stress and burnout.

Live longer.

Use this Web site to find what works for you.

Interesting Reads:

A Pandemic Benefit: The Expansion of Telemedicine

Yale's massively popular 'happiness' course is available free online

The Science of Well-Being - Free Online course by Yale University

In this course you will engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits. As preparation for these tasks, Professor Laurie Santos reveals misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change. You will ultimately be prepared to successfully incorporate a specific wellness activity into your life.

THE SCIENCE OF WELL BEING WAS PRODUCED IN PART DUE TO THE GENEROUS FUNDING OF THE DAVID F. SWENSEN FUND FOR INNOVATION IN TEACHING.

Helpful links:

https://www.headspace.com/

Mindfulness for your everyday life

Stress less. Move more. Sleep soundly.

Name	Source & Link
“Coping with Stress”	US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/copingwith-stresstips.html
“Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19”	US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/coping.html
“Taking Care of your Emotional Health”	US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC): https://emergency.cdc.gov/coping/selfcare.asp
“Helping Children Cope with Emergencies”	US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/helping-children-cope.html
RedBook Online COVID-19 Outbreak page	American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): https://redbook.solutions.aap.org/ss/rbo_outbreaks_page_3.aspx
Q&A on coronaviruses	World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses
Coronavirus & Mental Health: Taking Care of Ourselves During Infectious Disease Outbreaks	American Psychiatric Association (APA): https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/apa-blog/2020/02/coronavirus-and-mental-health-taking-care-of-ourselves-during-infectious-disease-outbreaks
Coronavirus & Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks Response	Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS): https://www.cstsonline.org/resources/resource-master-list/coronavirus-and-emerging-infectious-disease-outbreaks-response
Taking Care of your Family during Coronavirus Fact Sheet	Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS): https://www.cstsonline.org/assets/media/documents/CSTS_FS_Corona_Taking_Care_of_Your_Family.pdf.pdf
Research Information: Pandemics	American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/practice/programs/dmhi/research-information/pandemics
Five ways to view coverage of the Coronavirus	American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/pandemics
Speaking of Psychology: Coronavirus Anxiety	American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/research/action/speaking-of-psychology/coronavirus-anxiety
Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with COVID-19	The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/outbreak_factsheet_1.pdf
Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus	National Public Radio: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus
Talking to Teens & Tweens about Coronavirus	The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/well/family/coronavirus-teenagers-anxiety.html

GET HEALTHY

When was the last time you saw a doctor?

Who is your personal physician?
Having a personal physician:

avoids the pitfalls of self-diagnosis and self-treatment

provides support from a person who uniquely understands the pressures of your job.

Are you due for:

Screening labs - lipids, glucose, hemocult, TB
Dental cleaning
Blood pressure check
Mammograms
Osteoporosis screen
Pap test
Sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy