On Giving Tuesday, WHY PULSE CENTER FOR PATIENT SAFETY EDUCATION?

As we approach Giving Tuesday, which is December 3, 2019, I am supposed t

suggest why Pulse Center for Patient Safety Education & Advocacy is
an important place to make what may be your final donation this year.
Giving Tuesday is a day of charitable giving at the beginning of the
holiday season. It is my job to share information; I hope that when you
understand what we do, you will want to be part of this work and support
it with a donation $10 or $100 (or more).

Many people have said that they are not sure how Pulse Center for Patient
Safety Education & Advocacy works. They are not sure exactly what
we do. There are many things we do for patients and their families but
it is always related to the patient receiving safe, quality medical
care. Or, if they didn’t, what should they do next?

Here is a simple explanation:

Advocacy:
Pulse CPSEA is an organization that focuses on patient advocacy as it
relates to patient safety and promoting positive patient outcomes. We
support and assist the friends and family who act as advocates, and
support patients by helping them with tips on communication; on how
errors can happen and how to be part of avoiding them; and on navigating
the complex healthcare system at a time when stress and vulnerability
may be at their maximum.

Education:
At Pulse CPSEA our programs have been developed with input from
healthcare professionals as well as from patients and family members’
experiences, to help people from pre-teens to adults learn what it means
to be a patient. This knowledge is offered in workshops, community
presentations, through our Facebook page and newsletter.

Support:
If you are a survivor of a medical injury which affected you or a loved
one directly and want to talk it through, we are here to support you.
If you need continued medical care, we understand how difficult that may
be because many of us have also experienced this. Knowing how complex
the healthcare system can be, we will also support friends and family
who are caregivers.

Often, the people who best understand this are the people who have already
lost a loved one due to their medical care, or who have had a less than
positive experience in their care or the care of a loved one.

At Pulse, whether as patient safety advocates or community support
workers, we do not offer medical advice. We usually do what can be
called as “brainstorming” to help you find what you need — what is right
for you. We have advisors we can ask for information, which can be
helpful in knowing what questions to ask and where the answers to your
questions may be found.

Here are just two stories that might help you understand more:

A call comes from a woman who is discharged from the hospital and feels
she is in need of more care at home. She is alone, can’t walk well and
doesn’t drive. She wants to hire someone to help but has no money.
Through a series of phone calls, our volunteer helps her understand some
next steps and who to call. A neighbor who brought over some food and
checked on her, with the support of our volunteer, is now her
helper and advocate. Together, with the volunteer's support and a few
repeated phone calls, the woman realizes she was not alone and has
support, thanks to Pulse.

A woman reports that her mother in a nursing home just cries and says she
wants to die. The daughter explains that she doesn’t know why this
change has occurred in her mother. A representative from Pulse meets
with the daughter and the nurse manager and together they request a list
of the mother’s medications. A review by an independent pharmacist
suggests that the daughter ask about a combination of certain
medications that can cause this behavior. A change in medication
restores the mother to her old self and she returns to live with her
daughter.

At Pulse, we do not give medical advice. Instead we support patients and
their families in asking questions and getting the information needed to
make informed decisions that may change the outcome of the care.

We hope this helps to explain what we do, and hope you will consider
supporting this work so we can be here for those who need us.

Please check our Highlights to see what we have been doing and see what people are saying!

Ilene Corina BCPA, President, Pulse Center for Patient Safety Education & Advocacy.

Make a Donation Here Today!