IOWA CITY ? The Iowa City VA Health Care System will soon join six other VA Hospitals in a program that interviews veterans about their life stories and makes the transcribed oral histories part of the patients' medical record.

The program, called My Life, My Story, was started by the VA Hospital in Madison, Wis., in 2013 and is expanding to six other VA hospitals around the country beginning in March. The new sites, in addition to Iowa City, are Asheville, N.C.; Bronx, N.Y.; Reno, Nev.; Topeka, Kan.; and White River Junction, Vt.

Madison VA therapist and My Life, My Story coordinator Thor Ringler has been with the project since it began.
"I think it's about people having a voice," Ringler said. "The story is really a way to connect providers with veterans and have them connect over something that's real and meaningful. I think there's something missing in healthcare and this project is just one way to bring the spark back and remind us why we're here - who we're here for."

Marine Corps veteran Michael Gundlach was recently interviewed at the Madison VA.

"Being able to talk about my experience was a morale builder, first of all, for the acknowledgement of [my] service," Gundlach said. "And second of all?and more long-term?it gave me the chance to review my life. The way the interview was conducted felt very stress-free. I think the program is absolutely something that should be expanded."

After conducting an interview, which typically takes about one hour, project staff and volunteers write up a story about the veteran's life. They then review it with the veteran and, with veteran approval, add the story to the veteran's medical record. They also alert the veteran's primary care and inpatient care providers when the story is added.

Polly Boynton is a nurse practitioner at the Madison VA who consults the stories frequently.

"I have taken the time to read each "My Story" I have encountered in my patients' charts and am grateful to have the additional dimension and background," Boynton said. "It is a true pleasure to read these stories; I feel I gain such valuable insight into the humanity of my patients."

Until recently, the Madison VA was the only facility offering this service to veterans. A grant from the VA Office of Patient Centered Care allowed the project to expand to the six new sites.

Gundlach knows that for many veterans, it is not an easy thing to tell your story, but he encourages their participation.

"I would highly recommend this to any veteran who is at a point in his emotional status where he can talk about it," Gundlach said. "If you think that you don't want to talk to people?say your friends and family?this is another way to release and talk about something that is so important. There's absolutely no downside to participating in this."

The program in Wisconsin has interviewed more than 500 veterans and trained more than 25 community and student volunteers to gather their stories since it began in 2013.

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Davenport, IA: Stop Stressing & Start Living: A 6-Week Series will be presented at Lamrim Kadampa Buddhist Center in Davenport, Iowa, on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., beginning March 12th and running through April 16th.

Overtime stress can seriously affect our mental and physical wellbeing.  The wear and tear of our everyday responsibilities can put such a strain on our mind that even when we do get a break we cannot enjoy it because we know the next wave of challenges is coming soon.   Thankfully stress is entirely created from within our mind, not from without.   In this course will examine meditation as a powerful tool we can use to overcome the stress and tension that normally fills our mind.  We can learn to change how we react to our normal daily pressures with a peaceful creative and clear mind all the time. We can even learn to enjoy challenges and responsibilities that previously were the source of great anxiety.

"Many people are looking for a quick fix when it comes to dealing with stress," states Joe Gauthier, Buddhism & Meditation teacher at Lamrim Kadampa Buddhist Center in Davenport, Iowa, "but you have to go to the source of it-our unrealistic ways of looking at our life.  There are many factors that contribute to our daily stress that we are completely unaware of; just by knowing these we can start to protect our mind from the daily strain that robs us of our happiness and wellbeing."

(563)322-1600

info@meditateiniowa.org

Support the American Red Cross and become an everyday hero

PEORIA, Ill. (Feb. 23, 2015) – In honor of Red Cross Month in March, the American Red Cross encourages people to uncover their inner hero and donate blood or platelets, volunteer their time or sign up to organize a blood drive.

Since 1943, every president has designated March as Red Cross Month to recognize how the Red Cross helps people down the street and across the country.

"The everyday heroes are those who donate blood, volunteer, take a lifesaving class, host a blood drive or make a financial contribution to help neighbors here in Illinois and across the nation," said Greg Novinska, CEO of the Heart of America Blood Services Region. "We thank and honor these everyday heroes who support the Red Cross."

People also can become everyday heroes by hosting a SleevesUp virtual blood drive or creating a team via the Blood Donor App. SleevesUp provides an easy way for Red Cross supporters to encourage those in their networks to give blood or platelets to honor someone's life, celebrate a special occasion or simply bring people together to help save lives. Campaigns can be created online at redcrossblood.org/SleevesUp.

The Blood Donor App allows individuals to find a local blood or platelet donation opportunity, schedule appointments and track their donation history. Plus, it lets users create teams and recruit friends and family to roll up a sleeve with them. The Blood Donor App is available for download by texting BLOODAPP to 90999 or by visiting redcrossblood.org/BloodApp.

"It doesn't take superpowers to be a hero for a patient in need - just a little time," added Novinska. Blood donors with all blood types, particularly O negative, A negative and B negative, and platelet donors are encouraged to make an appointment to give.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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DAVENPORT, Iowa - Feb. 23, 2015 -- Westwing Place at Genesis Medical Center, DeWitt, and Illini Restorative Care, Silvis, Ill., have earned 5-star overall quality ratings in the latest Nursing Home Compare ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Genesis Senior Living, Aledo, earned a 4-star rating, the highest rating among Mercer County facilities.

Five stars are the highest rating a nursing home can achieve from Nursing Home Compare. The overall quality rating is based upon health inspections, staffing and quality measures.

Westwing Place earned 5 stars in health inspections and quality measures and 4 stars in staffing to achieve the top overall quality rating. Illini Restorative earned 5 stars in staffing, 4 stars in health inspections and 3 stars in quality measures. Genesis Senior Living, Aledo earned 5 stars for quality measures, 4 stars for health inspections and 1 star for staffing.

The Genesis Senior Living facilities maintained their high quality ratings at the same time nearly one third of the nation's nursing homes received lower scores reflecting revised, tougher standards.

"We are proud of the quality of care provided every day to our residents,'' said Glen Roebuck, executive director of post acute services, Genesis Health System. "We try to care for each resident the way we would care for our own family and loved ones and in fact, in communities where are facilities are located, our residents may be the family or friend of one of our staff.

"It takes a team of providers who truly care about quality to achieve these top ratings. To be able to earn these ratings on a consistent basis is a tribute to their skills and compassion.''

For more information about senior living options at Genesis, go to www.genesishealth.com/seniorliving

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