Stand Together Ventures Lab’s Post

DOING THE BEST FOR PATIENTS From cradle to grave, the NHS was intended to be there for all, free of charge at the point of need. We’re grateful for it and the vision and generosity behind it. We’ve stood on our doorsteps and applauded its staff. Many books have been written in tribute. I've enjoyed “Patient” by Ben Watt (of Everything but The Girl), Stuart Maconie’s, “The Nanny State Made Me”, and of course the Covid-19 writings and poetry of Michael Rosen. Now, as CEO of a health charity – one of many that supports the NHS and alleviates pressure on it – I feel we must have a national conversation to ensure it, and its partners, continue to work well for all who need it. I fear many charities providing important care are vulnerable in challenging times. As I understand it, the biggest problem in healthcare, globally and in the UK, is the RISING TIDE OF CHRONIC DISEASE – arthritis and the other long-term, painful conditions that impact MENTAL HEALTH so profoundly. In contrast, the NHS was set up to provide episodic CARE TO THE SICK in hospitals. And that’s still where the majority of its budget goes today. But its founders envisaged the NHS evolving to PREDICT AND PREVENT ILLNESS in response to emerging patterns. IS THERE A NATIONAL PLAN TO MAKE THE WHOLE SYSTEM WORK BETTER FOR PATIENTS? I don’t think so. If there is I can’t find it. I know in England, during Alan Milburn’s time as Health Secretary, the British Medical Association, doctors, nurses, patient groups and the NHS Confederation signed up to the PRINCIPLES of change, at least. Did the same happen in Scotland? Were health charities and social care providers included in the dialogue? Were the different political parties asked to participate? I doubt it. This needs long-term planning. Inclusive leadership, pragmatism and creativity are all required. This is what Teapot Trust will be speaking to MSPs from across the political spectrum about at a series of imminent meetings in Holyrood. It's not about criticising anyone. It’s about working together constructively to achieve the best for patients. Where there’s a will there’s a way. Please support this by liking, sharing and commenting. #NHS #healthcare #hospitals #patientgroups #chronicillness #mentalhealth #prevention #healthcharities #socialcare #scottishparliament #MSPs Ali Reid, Alison Clyde (She/Her), Ailsa Bosworth MBE, Ann Pike, Andy Comley, Beth Davidson, Bill Scott, Cat Thomson, Charlie McMillan, Claire Montgomery, Clair Bryan, Colin Millar FCMI MIoD MIC MCIPP, Debbie Wilson, Deborah Alsina MBE, Emma Hutton, Eona Craig, Eunice Simpson ACCA MAAT MBA, Fiona Doring, Fiona Gillespie, Gary Meek, George Eckton, Graham Martin, Hazel Crombie, Helen Kidd, Isla Campbell Lupton MCIOF(Dip), Katy Sparrow Robins, Kirsten Hogg, Louise Downing, Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, Lynne Woolley, Mariam Tariq, Patricia Osborne FRSA, Professor Tom Steele, Richard Moore, Ruth Girvan, Sammy Ainsworth, Sarah Van Putten, Susan Farmer, Tejesh Mistry

🏥 When Hospitals Become Homes: The Unseen Crisis at the Heart of Our Healthcare 🏥 Recently, I met a remarkable person named Alex (name changed for privacy) who has been living in a hospital for over 15 years. Yes, fifteen. A hospital, intended as a place for temporary medical care, became his home after facing the stark realities of homelessness. This wasn't just an eye-opener for me; it was a heart opener. 🔍 Understanding the Depth of Healthcare Challenges Alex's story goes beyond individual suffering; it reveals deep flaws in our healthcare system. How did a facility meant for acute medical care become the most stable home Alex ever knew? This scenario underscores the pressing need to address not only medical issues but also the profound social disparities that lead to such situations. 👥 Compassion within Hospital Walls Engaging with Alex showed me the resilience and compassion that exists within the walls of our healthcare institutions. Healthcare professionals not only treated his ailments but also provided warmth, meals, and companionship, turning into an unconventional family. However, this is not their role, nor is it a sustainable solution to homelessness and healthcare disparities. 🚨 The Urgency of People-Centered Healthcare Alex’s story highlights the necessity for a healthcare system that reaches beyond traditional boundaries, integrating stable housing, mental health support, and community care. We need proactive, not just reactive solutions that ensure no one is left to live in a hospital due to systemic failures. Read the full post here: ➡️ We are building something great, subscribe to Healthcare Humanized (https://buff.ly/48buHsi) and Echoes in Healthcare (https://buff.ly/4bQlRD3) ♻️ Repost to help others. 👍 Like | 💬 Comment | ↗️ Share #HealthcareReform #SocialJustice #HospitalAsHome #PatientCare #HealthcareCrisis #SystemicChange #AdvocateForHealth #RealStories #CompassionateCare #HealthAndHomelessness

🏥 When Hospitals Become Homes: The Unseen Crisis at the Heart of Our Healthcare 🏥 Recently, I met a remarkable person named Alex (name changed for privacy) who has been living in a hospital for over 15 years. Yes, fifteen. A hospital, intended as a place for temporary medical care, became his home after facing the stark realities of homelessness. This wasn't just an eye-opener for me; it was a heart opener. 🔍 Understanding the Depth of Healthcare Challenges Alex's story goes beyond individual suffering; it reveals deep flaws in our healthcare system. How did a facility meant for acute medical care become the most stable home Alex ever knew? This scenario underscores the pressing need to address not only medical issues but also the profound social disparities that lead to such situations. 👥 Compassion within Hospital Walls Engaging with Alex showed me the resilience and compassion that exists within the walls of our healthcare institutions. Healthcare professionals not only treated his ailments but also provided warmth, meals, and companionship, turning into an unconventional family. However, this is not their role, nor is it a sustainable solution to homelessness and healthcare disparities. 🚨 The Urgency of People-Centered Healthcare Alex’s story highlights the necessity for a healthcare system that reaches beyond traditional boundaries, integrating stable housing, mental health support, and community care. We need proactive, not just reactive solutions that ensure no one is left to live in a hospital due to systemic failures. Read the full post here: ➡️ We are building something great, subscribe to Healthcare Humanized (https://buff.ly/48buHsi) and Echoes in Healthcare (https://buff.ly/4bQlRD3) ♻️ Repost to help others. 👍 Like | 💬 Comment | ↗️ Share #HealthcareReform #SocialJustice #HospitalAsHome #PatientCare #HealthcareCrisis #SystemicChange #AdvocateForHealth #RealStories #CompassionateCare #HealthAndHomelessness

Thank you, Business Times, for covering our Sunflower Gala and looking at palliative care demand and growth. You took note of Mdm Rahayu's speech, and spoke with several of us to get a more well-rounded view. Good summary and I hope that your readership has new data points to consider where to create impact from where they are. Why is palliative care important? The absence of it means an unplanned last chapter which leaves families with no closure from emotional, psychosocial and sometimes financial perspectives. For the one who is departing, it is about putting everything in order and then being able to leave with peace of mind. For the folks doing health or health-related businesses, this is one of the important last milestones of your client's journey, and it is under-served. Especially for the busy individuals who read Business Times, have you paused a moment to think of your own families, and those of all your staff? By the time you reach us, many families say they wish they had given this some thought and planning much earlier on how they would feel and the things they didn't think that they would need to do. This might be a good time.

Hi all, I thought I would share some key messages from the #parliamentarydebate on #hospicefunding for those of you unable to watch last night. Communities rely on hospices but hospices shouldn’t need to depend on communities as much as they do right now. Hospices nationally are facing the worse deficit in 20 years due to cost of living crisis, high utility bills and inconsistent funding from health systems. Hospices are the only core services in UK healthcare which rely on public donations to keep them operational. A service NEEDED by communities, which supports the NHS that has no sustainable source of funding. Would the public be comfortable if maternity units were charitable funded? Why is palliative care any different? A night at the hospice costs less than a night in hospital whilst providing excellent levels of quality….why aren’t we supporting growth of hospices? Increasing state funding for Hospices would provide better value to the NHS and the tax payer. The parliamentary debate isn’t about asking for more money, but rather about finding sustainable solutions to secure a long term future and increased output from Hospices. Hospices are competing with the NHS for staff without equitable funding from the state. The NHS provides staff with a pay rise (well earned) but doesn't support hospices (serving the NHS) to offer the same terms. How do we distinguish between NHS PEOLC and non-NHS PEOLC? Currently very confusing. Points from Helen Whatley (Minister Faversham and Mid-Kent) who has oversight for palliative and end of life care below.... We should be clear that most palliative care is provided by the NHS and Hospices complete wonderful work alongside this. Some MP’s have argued for centralised funding however removing funding from ICB’s reduces the localism ICB’s were intended to provide to health systems. A one size fits all answer from Westminster is rarely the right one. A historic source of variation exists due to how Hospices were created. E.g. not based on geographical need which creates inequality of access. Variation in access has to be considered by ICB's in their funding decisions. Transparency and accountability of ICB’s is imperative to ensure their decisions are the best thing for constituents. NHSE commitment to include PEOLC in set of topics discussed in performance meetings with ICBs. We need to prioritise use of data to indicate performance surrounding access to PEOLC and the quality of PEOLC. Govt has provided additional funding from the pandemic, helping with energy bills and the children’s Hospice grant. Longer term certainty of funding ask is appreciated but future spending is dependent on central spending reviews which cannot be guessed. There are no easy answers, there is no pot of money but minister will continue working with NHSE to ensure PEOLC gets the attention it deserves. Thanks were offered to Hospice UK, Toby Porter and #Hospices throughout the debate Your thoughts?

🫶 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 🫶 𝙇𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙧 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝘼𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩 We were fortunate to be selected as one of the service providers for a grant that Senior Resource Alliance, a local Non-Profit, managed. The purpose of the grant was to help seniors 60 years and older on Medicaid, or in danger of being placed in a nursing home. Here are three lessons learned from the time we spent with these local seniors. 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙂𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 As we were helping them get their primary affairs in order, many struggled to find critical information related to their physical and financial well-being. 𝗧𝗜𝗣: A few easy ways to be better equipped to have the necessary information needed to navigate life’s challenges is to ensure you store all this information in the same area of your home. It can even be as simple as putting the information in a three-ring binder. 𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 While many seniors we helped were living with or near family, for those who are on their own more often, it’s important to work to continue relationships with family and friends. Isolation can be more difficult for a person to handle. 𝗧𝗜𝗣: There are always more people who care about you than you think. Create a routine where you reach out to close family or friends. Don’t let weeks go by without being in touch with them. 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚 As we age it’s easy to get lost in a sea of medical issues, often referred to as co-morbidities. Be as proactive as possible in taking positive actions related to your health. Taking responsibility via good behaviors and being engaged with those involved in your care will only help in the long run. 𝗧𝗜𝗣: Utilize the tools available to you to improve your short-term health and long-term outlook. Our nurse practitioner helped seniors review their medication and supplement intake to ensure they were being taken at the right times of day and at the right frequency. Doing this helps to optimize treatment plans – elevating the level of care for the seniors. Other tools like cognitive tests can help detect issues early. It’s all about being proactive! #seniors #caregivingtips #empoweringcaregivers #healthadvocate

A new Nonprofit Quarterly article affirms the value of Community Health Centers and emphasizes the need for more $$: “Community health centers continue to set national standards in providing equitable and comprehensive care. They accomplish this by understanding their patients’ social and economic needs, providing care in a variety of languages and modalities, and coordinating with community-based organizations." "With more financial support, community health centers can continue to do what they do best: offer healthcare and social support to the people otherwise shut out of America’s healthcare system." Read the full article, citing data from The Commonwealth Fund: https://lnkd.in/eNNRtsEJ #ValueCHCs #Healthcare #HealthCenters

Tackling Delayed Discharges and Avoiding Hospital Admissions with The Health Navigation Network At The Health Navigation Network (HNN), we understand the critical challenges faced by patients and healthcare providers due to delayed discharges and avoidable hospital admissions. The Issue of Delayed Discharges: Delayed discharges occur when patients who are medically fit to leave the hospital remain due to non-medical reasons, such as the unavailability of suitable post-discharge care. This leads to: 🔹 Increased hospital congestion, limiting bed availability for new patients. 🔹 Higher healthcare costs due to prolonged hospital stays. 🔹 Potential decline in patients' health due to an extended hospital environment. 📌 Our Solutions at HNN: We are dedicated to addressing these issues through our comprehensive range of services designed to facilitate timely discharges and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions: 🔹 Discharge Planning: Our expert team works closely with hospitals to ensure that discharge plans are well-coordinated and tailored to each patient's needs. By arranging appropriate post-discharge care, we help patients transition smoothly from hospital to home, reducing the likelihood of readmissions. 🔹 Health and Care Assessments: We conduct thorough assessments to identify patients' needs and coordinate necessary interventions. This proactive approach ensures that potential health issues are addressed early, preventing them from escalating to the point of requiring hospital admission. 🔹 Falls Prevention and Physiotherapy: Falls are a major cause of hospital admissions among older adults. Our specialised falls prevention and physiotherapy services help maintain mobility and reduce the risk of falls, supporting patients in staying safe and independent at home. 🔹 Service Finder: Our comprehensive search engine provides detailed information on local health and care services, enabling patients and their families to find and access the support they need quickly and efficiently. 🔹 Providing Advice and Guidance: We offer numerous fact sheets on financial support, health & care assessments, and more, empowering patients and families with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their care. Improving Patient Outcomes and System Efficiency: By leveraging our services, healthcare providers can: 🔹 Reduce hospital congestion and free up beds for new patients. 🔹 Lower healthcare costs associated with prolonged hospital stays. 🔹 Enhance patient outcomes through timely, coordinated, and appropriate care. At The Health Navigation Network, we are committed to supporting patients, healthcare providers, and communities in navigating the complexities of the health and care system. To learn more about how we can assist you, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/em7PuKPn. #HealthNavigation #PatientCare #DelayedDischarges #HospitalAdmissions #HealthcareSupport #CommunityCare #HealthAndWellbeing #CareServices

I'm excited to share publicly that with the help of a close friend, now co-founder, and a very experienced operations and education team, we've officially launched Azimuth Healthcare. Our mission, "Love your loved one, and we take care of the rest". - We provide health and wellness navigation for families and their loved ones. - We help families navigate different care and senior living options. - We advocate for families when barriers arise. Some have known that this has been in the works for a while; what many may not know is my WHY. What started as a passion project over the past few years, is now officially launching as a company because there are so many that need help. Here's my WHY... This picture of me, my father, Frank, and my sister, Alison, was taken over four years ago on the day we moved my father into a Veterans home. Our father passed away almost two years ago after having a stroke in 2018 which altered his life and our family's trajectory drastically, akin to one of those wild, almost perilous roller coaster rides that leaves you feeling nauseous when it's over. This journey took us from a hospital ICU to a rehab facility, then to home health, and ultimately to a Veterans home in Eastern Kentucky. At each step, over the course of four years, our family was left with an exhaustive list of follow-ups and tasks, and endless questions. Meanwhile, we juggled raising a family and working full-time jobs. The tipping point that spurred me to launch a company came in the final days when we encountered one of the biggest barriers in our healthcare system: a "narrow network." Those with experience in healthcare will understand precisely what I mean. The hospital where my father received end-of-life care dragged out the discharge process because we refused to use their preferred hospice provider; we wanted our father to spend his remaining time with a hospice provider closer to his hometown. Though they didn't explicitly state that we had only one option, I read between the lines and was utterly infuriated by this obstacle during my father's final days. He never made it to hospice. Whew! I've been holding that in for years, and it feels liberating to share it. However, this is merely one of many challenges we faced along our journey. This particular issue had nothing to do with the exceptional clinical staff at the hospital but rather highlighted a larger flaw within our healthcare system. One that can deprive families of precious quality time with their loved ones in their final days, weeks or months. Whether it's a narrow network or merely not having the time to understand how to navigate this complex system, there are so many challenges to navigate during that precious time. I realized that if someone who has spent their entire career in the healthcare industry could experience this much frustration and lost time, there has to be a better way to serve families and caregivers going through this same process. This is my WHY. ❤️

🚫 Do we really need another hospice provider in Florida? 🏥 It's time to address the growing concern of having an excess number of hospice providers in our state. While the intention of providing quality end-of-life care is noble, the current situation is causing more confusion and competition rather than benefiting the population. With numerous hospice providers already in place, the choices for patients and their families have become overwhelming. The lack of clarity and information about each provider's services and specialties only adds to the confusion and makes it difficult for individuals to make informed decisions during such a sensitive time. Furthermore, the competition between these providers has shifted the focus from compassionate care to profit-driven motives. Rather than prioritizing the well-being and comfort of patients, the emphasis has shifted towards gaining market share and maximizing revenue. This unhealthy competition often leads to compromised quality of care and neglects the true needs of the population. Instead of introducing more hospice providers, it is crucial that we redirect our efforts towards improving the existing ones. By fostering collaboration and sharing resources, we can ensure that each provider is equipped with the necessary tools and expertise to deliver exceptional end-of-life care. Let us prioritize the needs of our community and advocate for better coordination and integration among the current hospice providers. Together, we can create a system that focuses on compassionate care, eliminates confusion, and provides the best possible support for those in their final stage of life. #HospiceCare #FloridaHealthcare