Home Services Unlimited was recently surveyed by the State Board of Health and federal agencies as part of routine, yearly evaluations of health care providers. We are proud to announce that we had a perfect survey with absolutely no deficiencies.

In this month's newsletter, we have decided to celebrate the not-too-distant coming of the spring with an article on bringing spring home early. In honor of Valentine's Day, we have some new ideas for our male readers. I keeping with last month's article focusing on Anodyne Therapy, we have included a quick look at "telehealth technology," in this issue. This month the Department of Health and Human Services announced that it will reimburse states for taking up the slack on Medicare in the wake of beauracratic confusion surrounding the new drug benefit. We also have a blurb on the American College of Chest Physicians' new advice on treating coughs.

Scroll through our newsletter or click on a specific article title below to skip ahead:

Respite Care for Valentine's Day

Focus: Telehealth Services

Ushering in the Spring Early

New Valentine's Day Ideas for Men

Medicare Watch: Feds Will Reimburse States for Filling In

Study: Over-the-Counter Cough Medicines Don't Work

Caretakers, Consider Respite Care for Valentine's Day
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Focus: Telehealth Services
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that one of its main goals for 2006 is to increase the use of telehealth technology by home health care providers.  Some people were, no doubt, happy to hear this news, but most are probably wondering, “What is telehealth?”

Essentially, telehealth means using technology to provide health care services at a distance.  In the home health industry, this means helping health care professionals to communicate medical data and monitor a client without conducting a visit.

If this sounds a bit impersonal, keep in mind that the technology in no way replaces actual visits.  Instead, it is an effective method to provide more thorough care.  It can also reduce delays in treatment, eliminate unnecessary travel and streamline communication with the patient’s physician.  The Telemedicine Research Center also believes that telehealth technologies may reduce the costs of providing health care.

Home Services Unlimited can provide telehealth services as part of a patient’s overall plan of care.  We were one of the first and still one of few home health care providers in central Indiana to provide telehealth services.

Ushering in the Spring Early
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February being the last month of winter, many of us are looking excitedly forward to March.  Soon, we hope, warmer rains and a bit of sunshine will bring us the first rainbows of the year to welcome in the spring.  If only our hope could bring the spring to us quicker.

I can’t control the weather, but let me share a few, delicious ways to bring spring into your home a bit early:

• Fill a small basket with lemons, limes and persimmons and dot it with pieces of candied ginger.  The citrus fruit, readily available in the winter, will add some color and nice scents to your home.  The ginger is a wonderful snack and has been shown to promote circulation, providing a feeling of warmth.
• On the chilliest of evenings, turn your heat up and snack on sliced Jonagold and golden delicious apples with smoked farmhouse cheddar.  This unlikely combination will amaze you.
• So what if nothing’s blooming outside yet?  Place a vase of chrysanthemums or nasturtium blossoms on your kitchen table, night stand or dining room table.
• For a particularly warming treat, spread almonds on a baking dish and roast them for 10 minutes in a pre-heated, 350° F.  Hold a bowl of warm almonds close to you while you snack and your small effort quickly pays off.
• Enjoy raw tomatoes, but they just don’t taste right in the winter?  In February, let your eyes do the picking.  Get the ones that look best – nothing too pink.  Let them ripen outside of the refrigerator for a day or two and make sure to slice them a couple hours before serving.  During this time, marinate them in olive oil with a grinding of black pepper, a dash of salt and a pinch of sugar.  Enjoy the taste of springtime!

 

New Valentine's Day Ideas for Men
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            On Valentine’s Day, all of us men tend to go with the safe gifts: chocolate, jewelry, perfumes, roses and trips to the spa.  These are fine gifts, but the way to a woman’s heart is not, contrary to what some say, through your pocket book.  A little effort goes a long way to show your wife or girlfriend how much you love her.

            Breakfast in bed is always a good start to Valentine’s Day.  No culinary skills?  Don’t worry about it, try something easy, but unconventional.  Homemade oatmeal may not be the most romantic-sounding breakfast, but if you put in a bit of butter, a pinch of salt, a sprinkle of cinnamon and some dried strawberries and maple syrup for color and sweetness, you’ve got a good start.  Serve this with the freshest raspberries and half a grapefruit on the side and you just put together a sweet, pink and red breakfast in bed to remember.  Make sure that when your love does get out of bed, her warmest socks are waiting for her.

            Give her a call, send her a text message or send her an e-mail, in the middle of the day, to let her know you’re thinking about her.  When you order roses, ask that the florist also include one pink, one red and one white rosebud.  Arrange them in a vase, preferably crystal or silver, to greet her when she comes in, but save the dozen roses for later.  After dinner, whether at home or a restaurant, lightly broil sliced bananas with maple syrup for a dessert that warms the heart and the body.  While she enjoys this dessert, place your dozen roses on her pillow to wait for her before she goes to sleep.

            Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

Medicare Watch: Feds Will Reimburse States for Filling In
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The new Medicare drug benefit seems to have left many recipients high and dry.  Many found that their names were not in computers, or that they were being over-charged.  Some states decided to continue paying for medicines for those who were left uncovered.  The Department of Health and Human Services has announced that it will reimburse those states that maintained such a safety net for patients who fell through the cracks of the new benefit’s bureaucracy. 

 

Study: Over-the-Counter Medicines Don't Work
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Over-the-counter cough medicines do nothing for the underlying causes of coughs, according to the American College of Chest Physicians.  Instead, they suggest that people with coughs take antihistamines and/or decongestants, like Benadryl  or Sudafed.  They also recommend the new whooping cough vaccine, which has fewer side effects than the old vaccine, for people under the age of 65.  The ACCP has also issued revised guidelines to physicians on diagnosing and treating coughs.

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