Advocating for Your Hospitalized Loved One During COVID-19 - St. Paul's PACE

Sitting bedside and visiting with a loved one while they are hospitalized or in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) has been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many patients are having to navigate the healthcare continuum without the comfort of a loved one or family member physically with them. This lack of real-time patient support, comfort, and advocacy is raising concern and may be resulting in negative health outcomes. Here are two important ways you can remain in touch and stay informed of your loved one’s plan of care during COVID-19: Phone calls are vital – Make sure to call at least daily and more than once a day, based on your loved one’s health condition and situation. If your loved one is unable to communicate (e.g. because of a stroke, coma, respirator), ask for the case manager or social worker assigned to their case. Video chats when and where possible – FaceTime on iPhones, Google Chat, Skype, Zoom video chats, and even Marco Polo (which allows you to send and receive video clips) allows you to see and hear your loved one. If the patient does not have the technology necessary or the ability to work the technology, ask the social worker/case manager if they can provide it and assist your loved one. Here is information you will want to gather if your loved goes into the hospital or SNF: Who is the attending physician? What room number and/or bed is your loved one currently in? What is the direct phone number for your loved one’s room (or bed, if more than one patient to a room)? Who is the case manager, social worker, or discharge/transition planner assigned to your loved one’s case? If this person changes daily (which happens in some healthcare systems), ask for the main phone number for the Social Work/Case Management department so you can speak directly to a person when calling. Appoint one person to be the “point person” for the hospital or skilled nursing facility to contact. Multiple calls to the healthcare facility by numerous family members or friends will only confuse the situation and potentially create a “he said/she said” environment. Read more: https://www.stpaulspace.org/pace-blog/advocating-for-your-hospitalized-loved-one-during-covid-19/

Tags: SNF

source https://www.stpaulspace.org/pace-blog/advocating-for-your-hospitalized-loved-one-during-covid-19/