February Blog:

This month felt a bit empty for me between my hours for mentorship and independent component 2. I was only able to go to mentorship once during this month because the pharmacists I have recently met was going to resign himself out of the pharmacy the week after. It was very disappointed because I have only met him for one day and this pharmacist, Sam Basta, had a long time experience in the field of pharmacy, but I am happy that I did met him. For my independent component 2, it was usually the similar routine I had to do every time I go to the nursing home with Bingo and beverages serving. But this month, I did not feel as empty handed as I should be for my Senior Project. I did found ideas for my Answer 1 and 2. I have decided for my ANSWER 1 is Patient Portal which a online website to keep health care providers connected with patients and their medical information. Answer 2 is evidenced-based practice which is monitoring the patient through any physical information and records they have gathered to gain proof of any compliant they might ask for their medications. So for now, I got to keep researching in order to gain the proper information for my answers. Hopefully next month, I am able to find a new mentor and finally finish all hours before April. *crosses fingers, wish me luck my friends!!!

Blog 16: Answer 2

Title:  Answer 2
Label: Presentation
Due Date:  Thursday, 2/19 by 8AM

1.  What is your EQ?

What is the key way pharmacists can enforce patient compliance to prevent noncompliant health
problems?

2.  What is your first answer? (In complete thesis statement format)

There is no simple solution to end the issue of patient compliance, but there is a possible way to help decrease and to slow the rate of noncompliant health problems by supporting Good Pharmacy Practice to pharmacists.

3.  What is your second answer? (In complete thesis statement format)

Technology has formed out the medical industry to be more efficient through machinery and medical records; even some patients connects with their health care providers online known as Patient Portal.

4.  List three reasons your answer is true with a real-world application for each.

• In 2009, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) passed by the Obama administration, includes a section called the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act promotes adoption of "electronic health records" (EHRs) to improve efficiency and lower healthcare costs. Anticipating that the widespread adoption of electronic health records would increase privacy and security risks under The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which is known as Patient Portal throughout the public. (Protected by HIPPA and HITECH "hack free")
• The purpose of this document is to help healthcare providers to understand how patient portals help achieve HIPAA compliance and to comply with HIPAA and HITECH. Complying with these ACTs (HIPPA + HITECH) requires an investment in the adoption of HIPAA Compliance Plans, training of staff and attention to the particular details of the ACTs. This benefits healthcare providers to keep organization of patients profiles and simply access patients medical records easily. 
• In the US alone, 36% of US citizens uses Patient Portal and the other 64% doesn't. But within 57% of the 64% are interested to have their own personal Patient Portal. In the generation of advance technology, people gain a better communication through the source of social media through many virtual emails. Patient Portal is a healthcare related online applications that allow patients to interact and communicate with their healthcare providers. The functionality of patient portals varies significantly through the secure access to patient's demographic information, appointment scheduling, payments, bidirectional messaging and access to clinical data if the portal is being provided by the EHR provider.

5.  What printed source best supports your answer?

Etherly, Andre. ʺUsing Patient Portals to Achieve HIPAA Compliance and Drive Patient Satisfaction.ʺ
Http://ezinearticles.com/?Using-Patient-Portals-to-Achieve-HIPAA-Compliance-and-Drive-Patient-Satisfaction&id=7002481.
15 Apr. 2012. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.

6.  What other source supports your answer?

Crane, Kristine. "How Patient Portals Are Changing Health Care."
Http://health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2014/06/30/how-patient-portals-are-changing-health-care.
N.p., 30 June 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.


7.  Tie this together with a concluding thought.

Between Good Pharmacy Practice and Patient Portal, they both have one method in common to bring a low rate of noncompliant problems, of medication, to occur throughout the US. It is communication of health care providers, the pharmacists, and their consumers, the patient. There is a language barrier between the pharmacist and the patient which causes communication to be less use. The patient cannot gain a full understanding of every bit of information the pharmacist had explain about their medication. Communication must be fixed between the two, it is like a French men talking to a Chinese woman.

On Friday, 2/20 for Advisory #2, you will be presenting what you have from this blog.  The presentation is more like a share-out and should not last longer than 2 minutes. You don't need a visual, and you should not read what you have written.  

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval

Title: Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval
Label: Independent Component
Due Date:  Thursday, 2/12 by 8AM

Content:

Please review the component contract on page 12 of the senior project packet.   The Independent Component 2 is an opportunity for you to add a dimension of creativity and/or an additional outlet for research.  The goal of the component is for you to explore your answers in more depth.  On Friday, April 24, 2014, you will be turning in the following to your blog to prove completion of this component:

·       Log of hours on an digital spreadsheet (with total number of hours included)
·       Evidence of the 30 hours of work (e.g. transcript, essays, tests, art work,    

        photographs) as digital artifacts
·       LIA

The senior team expects that your log will be on the right hand side of your blog in the Senior Project Hours link.   In addition to this,  we expect that you will be able to prove the total 30 hours of work by submitting evidence to the blog by the due date.  For this blog post and approval, please answer the following questions.

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

I planned to continue my Independent Component 2 at Glendora Grand Nursing Home as a volunteer worker in the activity program. Yes, I did the same work for my Independent Component 1 ,but plan to spend my volunteering time in a more different style. The activity program has a variety of events to attend to such as crafting, movie night, dancing, Zumba, yoga, nail styling, and of course, Bingo. Usually when I go to the Nursing Home, I often attend at the Bingo event, so I am planning to mix my schedule up. I plan to attend at the program for at least twice a week. I am aiming to attend at the program on weekend (Saturday or Sunday) morning at 9am because they start off with other activities (Except bingo). But if there will be any OFF-weekdays from school, then I will attend at the events at 9 am as well. Either way I am looking for a opportunity to attend at the facility on different days because each day they have different activities to offer. The same skills are required for this volunteer work: listening, social skills, persuasion (suggesting or being concern), and friendly services. There will be moments I need to run around everywhere to help one patient to another for their simple request in the Activity Center in the activities I attend to. But the one work I must always prepare for is Snack duty for Bingo and Hot Beverages duty for dinner. Another services there is to offer is going up to patients who do no attend the activity program and that is the kind of service I want to join in. I want to be able to experience an up-close interaction with a patient and suggesting the many activities I have come to offer he or she in their room.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

My evidence of my 30 hours work for my Independent Component 2 will be visual context. I will ask my advisor for permission to take photos of patients I have been working with in the activities and who recognizes me in my daily visits. I want to take pictures for every activity I have attended in such as crafting, dancing, nail polishing, and much to be part of. I say capturing a still-life picture can tell so much about how the patients enjoy these activities and I want to share that visual evidence with others. A representation of what I experience every time I go to that program.

3.  Explain how this component will help you explore your topic in more depth.

I have always done Bingo at the program, it is always stamp paper, help patient look for the number, repeat number, clean up, and repeat. Then I asked myself, there are more activities than Bingo, why don't I join any of them? I can't always compare my services towards Bingo, I need to explore the many services I can provide to the patients. For my topic patient compliance, it is an issue caused by patients who are not being provided with the type of services they requested for such as having a talk with the pharmacists, being trained to keep medication organized, setting up appointments or reminders, and much more. There are many types of services Pharmacists must provide which is to LISTEN, TEACH, UNDERSTAND, AND ADVISE the patients. For me, I want to explore the many events I can learn and improve myself on how I can manage to be in better services in a variety of ways. Especially the opportunity to bring the excitement of activities to patients who do not attend the program, I want to experience how I am able to advise the patient to take a break of watching TV and play checkers with me.
4.  Post a log in your Senior Project Hours link and label it "Independent Component 2" log.

Independent Component 2

Your answers to the questions should be supported with details and examples for the senior team to understand what you plan to do.   Once we review your Blog Post 15, your house teacher will discuss with you the approval of your plan.  If it is approved, please start working on it.  If it is not approved, your house teacher will explain why.  It is your job to address the concerns so you can get your component approved. 

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

Title:  Independent Component 1

Label:  Independent Component

Due Date:  Friday 2/6 at 8AM

Content:  

• LITERAL

(a) Write:

• “I,  Adrienne Alba, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”

(b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component.

• Chen, Pauline W. ʺThe Choices Patients Make.ʺ The New York Times. The New York Times, 09 Oct. 2008. Web. 05 Nov. 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/health/10chen.html?pagewanted=print
• This article had inspired me to volunteer at a medical facility that allows me to interact with patients. I wanted to gain an experience as the person who provides the simple services to patients and what responses will these patients give towards  to my assistance. 

(c) Update your hours in your Senior Project Hours link. Make sure it is clearly labeled with hours for individual sessions as well as total hours.

• Independent Component

(d) Explain what you completed.

I have gained a month experience of patients interactions in the activity program at Glendora Grand Nursing Home. What I meant by interaction is by assisting patients in every need at the Activity Center such as requests for a beverage, snacks, games, nail polish, or activities that would keep themselves amuse. My role is to provide these patients with any request they asked within the activity program.

INTERPRETIVE

Defend your work and explain its significance to your project and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.   Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work.  

Every Friday, (sometimes weekends or off-weekdays), I volunteer at Glendora Grand Nursing Home as part of the Activity Program. My typical routine is Bingo Round 1, snack duty, Bingo Round 2, and Dinner: beverage duty. For bingo, there are patients who wants to participate in Bingo, but they cannot either move their arms as much, speak out loud, or recognize some of the numbers. It was my responsibility to assist 2-3 patients during Bingo by pointing the numbers, repeating what was said, or stamping their papers. During Bingo, I would set up the beverages and snacks and serve them to all the patients participating in the game. After the end of the game, I help clean up Bingo and prepare for dinner time. I'm in charge of providing hot beverages of chocolate coco and coffee to all the patients. From bingo stamping to coffee making, these may seems like normal job, but it is multitasking throughout the process. I work with 20-25 patients at the Activity Center and it is my part to make sure all patients are provided with the necessary requests they have asked, so I may be in service to fulfill their satisfaction.

APPLIED

• How did the component help you understand the foundation of your topic better?  Please include specific examples to illustrate this.

In my Independent Component, I wanted to understand the basic strategies of how to keep patients compliant by general health related services. I volunteered at Glendora Grand Nursing Home's activity program to gain an experience on how to be of assistance for these patients in the Activity Center. This includes to gain a personal view of why patients tend to act as the way they are. When I mean assistance, it is referring to services that I can provide them such as board games, cards, nail polish, drinks, snacks, craft works, and mostly entertainment supplies. The reason why patient compliance is becoming a major issue in the medical field is the lack of communication between the patient and their healthcare provider. At first, I thought the solution to communicate with patients is to have a proper, friendly attitude, but “All patients are different," a very common quote I been hearing through my mentorship, research, and independent component.

In Glendora Grand Nursing Home, the Activity Director, Wen, told me a lot of the other employees (nurses, care-workers, etc) in the facility sees the activity program as a simple job, but Wen disagrees with that statement. She told me that the activity program’s role is to follow through all medical records, statements, and regulations for each patient who participate in their activities. All employees of the program needs to know every patient’s medical condition such as basic diets, illness, and their capabilities in physical attention. However, some of these patients do not have the motivation to get out of their room due to their own personal health condition or just don’t feel like participating in these minor events. It is the program’s position to bring amusement to these people by keeping them company either with a random, friendly conversations or playing small board games and more.

I learned in my Independent Component that the activity program's role is to bring enjoyment for their patients, to keep them occupied from boredom and motivate them to get out of their rooms once in awhile. This is an act to keep their patients compliant for their own physical and mental health needs. By keeping their body in motion and give them a positive vibe of what is there to offer in Glendora Grand. The activity program delivers compliance through good services of well nurious meals and likable activities. If it wasn't without the activity program, what will be patients be doing? In my own thoughts, possible, patients would still be in their rooms all day and complain to the nurses that they want to leave the facility or see a negative viewpoint in the home and their caregivers. I see these employees are motivating their patients that there is more excitement in this facility than watching TV. A happy patient is equal to a healthy living.

A patient behavior is an important experience I received during component which is affected by the services that is given. I found out the way the activity program serves food is very similar to a pharmacist providing medication, these employees make sure the patients are getting the required meals that relates to their certain diet and can help with their health conditions. If a patient asks for something that can harm their illness, the employees tries to suggest the patient to pick a more healthier choice and brings out a basic information on how their choice is unhealthy. But if the patient still refuse, then the employee must follow through the patient's request. Similar to patient compliance in the pharmacy, it is by law that the patient has a choice whether or not to follow through their basic health rules that has been suggested or provided.

This Independent Component taught me that even persuading patients to take on a more healthier act isn’t enough to become more compliant, even if you gave them all the warning outcomes. For instance, an elderly man asked me to get him some hot chocolate and I told my supervisor about the man's request. She told me that he cannot have any sugary beverages or meals due to his diabetes condition. I told the man that we do not serve hot chocolate at this hour and I suggested him juice or water. Then instead he asked for coffee, of course, I told him that any drink that contains sugar will affect his diabetes. The man got mad at me and told me that his doctor allowed him to drink what ever he requested. He told me that I had a bad attitude and went in the kitchen to get the hot chocolate himself.

At the end, I felt a bit scolded by that man and that experience got me caught in a moment. This is what pharmacists have to go through everyday to prevent the patients from becoming noncompliant with their medications which is very similar as activity employees with serving food or snacks to the patients. After 30 hours of volunteer work in that facility, I can understand the struggle pharmacists and all other employees have to go through everyday. My Independent Component taught me the difficulty to enforce compliance towards patients. These people should know it isnot a wise decision to drink hot chocolate when they have diabetes. On the other hand, healthcare workers and volunteers need to bare that frustration and remember what is their role for these patients.

 

Grading Criteria

• Updated log in Senior Project Hours Link
• Evidence of 30 hours of work
• LIA submitted to blog

 

January Blog:

Starting next month of February, I will be meeting my new mentor at Del's Pharmacy 1. His name is Sam (unknown last name), the reason why I couldn't meet with him during January because he is new in the facility and needs to get use to his work area. On the other hand I been working on my Independent Component (IC) during this month and earning 25 hours so far, very close to 30 hours.

What do I do for my IC?

Well I volunteer at a Nursing Home part of the Activity Program. An what does this volunteer work has to do with Patient Compliance and Pharmacy? If you notice, a lot of retail pharmacy do not hire high school students to volunteer because some feel uncomfortable for minor to be close to these drug products and would only have professions of this field to work (pharmacist tech., consultant). So that has became a problem, until realized what is Patient Compliance without patients? Then that is when I join in the Activity Program in the Nursing home, to help me experience patient interaction. I found out that the issue patient compliance does run around this program.

Patient Compliance is an issue that patients aren't follow through their medical advices to gain a healthy life style. To prevent patient compliance issue from happening is to assist the patients with the necessary services to reach their satisfaction.

The Activity Program does support their patients to be compliance. What this program does is to provide patients with the goods they request: beverages, snack, games, crafting, movie. Ideas to keep the patients happy and enjoying themselves in this Nursing home. Where patient compliance falls into is not enjoying themselves in this facility. Consider all the activities as the medication, without them patients will not be receiving the satisfaction they need to gain a healthy living and it will cause some of them to fall into depression due to there is no "FUN" in this so-called home. Noncompliance will rise, soon some be willing to get out by running away or complaining their problems. To be able to bring compliance to these residents, the Activity program must follow through their request of what they need to bring an enjoyment during their stay in this home. This IC taught me to assist patients with any necessary needs and to serve them with a friendly service, even if they give you a sour look.

Blog 13: Lesson 2 Reflection

Title: Lesson 2 Reflection

Label: Presentation
Due Date: The day after your lesson presentation by 8:00 A.M.

Content:

1.What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?

In this presentation, I felt very proud that explained everything I wanted to say in my presentation. I talked about all the necessary information that I found important to share with the audience and was able to gain the audience's interest of my topic. Since this presentation had a longer time limit, I did not get nervous as much and was able to take my time in a steady pace when I was speaking.

In the last Lesson Plan for 10 minutes, I did made a lot of mistakes when I was speaking. I didn't grab the audience's attention/interest in my presentation. Within my speech, many of the ideas I planned to say had been mixed around, forgotten (such as MLA sources), and some I didn't have time to say them. This Lesson 2 Plan was a second chance to improve myself and to correct my mistakes from Lesson 1.

2. 
A.)     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?

       AE       P-          AP       CR       NC

B.)     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.

I would give myself a P- in this presentation. In the Lesson 2 presentation, I showed how my topic is relatable to everyone and how it effects the society. I explained what is my topic, how is my EQ a issue in society, and what answer I thought best to solve this problem. Through my own words, I presented everything by the basic knowledge of what I have learned in my research. But I did spoke fast on some certain parts of my presentation which some audience members weren't able to keep track of what I was talking about. Then in my activity, I did not gain a full success of what I wanted my audience to learn from my answer because I didn't clarify it properly which had made this activity a bit confusing for some of them.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?

What actually helped me a lot in the Lesson 2 is the Power Point. The use of electronic devices actually helps with memorizing on what to say during my presentation. I consider this as a distracting view for the audience to stare at other than me upstage because I do get nervous when people stare at me for a long period of time and I find it helpful if patient have a visual presentation of what my project is a about. With the help of the Power Point, I had a moment to practice add a limited amount of text and small notes that would be an assistance in my presentation
(EX: MLA sources: to remind myself to include it in this certain slide)
 
4. What didn't work? If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?

I found a least success through my speaking skills. Even though it was a 25 minute long presentation, I end up speaking fast through certain parts of my Lesson 2. If I had the chance, I would improved my speaking skills by practicing my presentation in front of a couple people (friends, family, etc). By this I am able to indicate my errors through my small audience's views and do my best to improve my presentation. Another less success is my activity and that can be help in my practice presentation. By this I can test my activity if it makes logical sense to my test audience and what I can improve upon it.

5. What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?

I think my possible Answer #2 might be Patient Portal. This answer is a more moderate idea or solution to help slow down the rate of noncompliance in our generation. Patient Portal is a secure online website that gives patients convenient 24-hour access to personal health information from anywhere with an Internet connection. This helps patients get personal assistance from their medical official (doctor, pharmacist, etc) through their own phone.

Blog 12: Mentorship 10 Hours

Blog 12: Mentorship 10 Hours

Title:  Blog 12: Mentorship 10 hours check

Label:  Mentorship
Due Date:  Friday January 9, 2014 by 8AM.

Make sure that your mentor calls your house teacher by this Friday at 8AM to verify your 10 hours!

Content:

1.   Where are you doing your mentorship?

For this semester, I have been working with two mentors, they are both pharmacists that work in the same company. But I did not work with them both at the same time, only separately. Both mentors didn't last long as I expected because they both moved onto a higher succeed My first mentor, Andrew Kest, I have worked with him since summer until November. Then my second mentor, Mina Wassef, I have worked with him for mid-November and first two weeks of December. I am grateful that I was able to learn a lot from both of them, even though our time was short.

I still work at the same mentor ship at Del's Pharmacy 1, Ontario. It is a close-pharmacy, which means these employees and my mentors doesn't work with any patients, only take calls from doctors, nurses, or any medical officials. 

2.   Who is your contact?

My mother would usually contact my mentors first to not indicate myself as a bother depending if their schedule was tight on certain days. I do have my mentors' the cellphone numbers, but I do not call or text them as much, only for emergency situation when their contact is needed for my project. At times I do give them calls or short texts about any questions I have about my topic and I would always call in to let him know that I am heading to the pharmacy on mentorship days. 

3.   How many total hours have you done (total hours should be reflected in your mentorship log located on the right hand side of your blog like your WB)?

For this entire semester, I have completed about 19 hours and 26 minutes, which doesn't include summer hours. For the first 8 hours and 10 minutes I have completed with my first mentor, Andrew Kest. Then the rest of the hours, 11 hours and16 minutes, I have done with my second mentor, Mina Wassef. 

4.   Summarize the 10 hours of service you did.

For my hours I have done at the pharmacy, I was shadowing under the each of my mentors. I would ask questions about their line of work: simple curious questions of their daily routine, the difficulties, the advantages, and what to gain from their experience in this career field. Then I have taken my time to talk about my project to each of them. I found ideas and facts that can be in use for my research within my topic and I have been taught a lot about the life of a pharmacist.


5.   Email your house teacher the name of your contact and their phone number confirming who they should call to verify it.

Andrew Kest
Cellphone: (626)-502-2957

Mina Wassef:
Cellphone: 1 (717)-715-5363
*You need 50 hours plus the original 10 in the summer by May.   The original 10 from the summer do not count toward the 50.  By the end of the year, you will have 60 hours counting that original 10.