SHONA BAYLOR, RN Helping People In Healthcare & Wellness Journey
By d-mars.com News Provider
hen we think of nurses, we think of the assistant to a physician who acts as an intercessor between family and patients. We visualize an individual dressed in a pair of scrubs prepared to ask questions, provide a level of service, and more…or do we?
It’s quite possible that we may lack an understanding of their emotional journey and how their commitment to us is undervalued.
Pioneering nurses such as James Derham, Mary Eliza Mahoney, Adah Belle Thoms, and Hazel Johnson-Brown are just a few influential caregivers who aided their community throughout history and are widely celebrated within their profession.
Those women are a part of the reason that Louisiana native Shona Baylor has been able to create new grounds and break barriers as a licensed vocational nurse here in Houston.
As she concludes her master’s in nursing, the veteran medic practitioner gave d-mars. com the exclusive on how rewarding her career is and how her business model, Joseph Dream’s Legacy Ventures, is a cutting-edge service for overall health and wellness.
Baylor gave insight into how nursing can be considered, at times, a thankless job. Moreover, she verbalized how the emotionalism of her career is a true catalyst for community engagement and premium service.
Her upbringing in the Bayou state and early exposure to family catering was just one of the attributes that honed her skills for the love of her future.
With those early years of practice, later came her education, service in the military, and becoming a Hospital Corpsman, providing medical care to those in the Navy. She’s also one of the few early college graduates in her family wearing that accomplishment with pride.
According to a study, over 10,422 hospital
corpsmen are employed throughout the United States, per Zippia. 10.6 percent of HCs are Black with women making up nearly 30 percent.
As for JDL’s model, the healthcare professional has cemented the company’s values and mission guidelines stating,
“JDL Health Solution’s foundation is built on an evidence-based approach while embracing a holistic path to health and wellness. We understand the dynamic needs of our clients and their most valued asset, the employee.”
Baylor added,
“Our multidisciplinary team of trained healthcare professionals will provide a network of support to enhance each client’s success rate. Mental health, community resources, nutrition/wellness support to facilitate therapeutic lifestyle changes specifically individualized is paramount. The goal is always to meet the client where they are and provide realistic attainable health, and wellness goals.”
The nursing profession really isn’t for the faint of heart. To see a family entrust you caring for their loved ones,
that’s where the reward truly is.
—Shona Baylor, RN and Owner of JDL Ventures
Existing Health Discrepancies In Our Country
Baylor echoed the lack of healthcare for minority groups in America and the racial disparities that are constantly at the forefront of controversy in the media.
According to the Commonwealth Fund Organization, African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to be uninsured than their white counterparts.
Contributing factors that remain unchanged include poor job representation that lacks health insurance benefits, and high unemployment rates.
Despite an improvement over the years, Baylor tells us that free exams for the public are still an alternative and JDL supplies those needs with ease.
As she sets sails into the new year completing her course studies, the family health matriarch remains confident that JDL’s legacy isn’t confined to the affluent nor unavailable to those with less.
JDL’s service includes Esteem Concierge Nursing, Ivy Smoothie Hydration and Wellness, and Health Solutions.
Combined, the three entities provide coverage for home healthcare for various patients, toxin removal for optimal internal digestion and corporate well being for employers including mental health.
With any family legacy comes the need to introduce and combine new perspectives with old-school governing. The CEO championed what she now sees as an opportunity to inspire not only her family but create a platform honoring an essential quality of life for patients everywhere.
As for JDL’s model, the healthcare professional has cemented the company’s values and mission guidelines stating, “JDL Health Solution’s foundation is built on an evidence-based approach while embracing a holistic path to health and wellness. We understand the dynamic needs of our clients and their most valued asset, the employee.”
Baylor added, “Our multidisciplinary team of trained healthcare professionals will provide a network of support to enhance each client’s success rate. Mental health, community resources, nutrition/ wellness support to facilitate therapeutic lifestyle changes specifically individualized is paramount. The goal is always to meet the client where they are and provide realistic attainable health wellness goals.”
visit www.esteemconciergenursing.com or www.jdlventuresllc.com
Q&A With Shona Baylor:
DMARS: Motivation runs differently for many. However, for you, what’s your reason for wanting to be a nurse?
SB: I didn’t just choose to be a nurse; I chose a profession that allows me to serve. And for me? That’s all I can see myself doing.
DMARS: What were your earliest memories that led you on the path to nursing? How did the interest originate?
SB: As a young child, I was the caregiver for the elderly people in my family, my grandmother, and my great aunts. And I was kind of watching [them]. The youngest female child would take care of the aging and the elderly.
DMARS: The pandemic led to a lot of unexpected and unforeseen devastation. How did the spread of COVID-19 affect you?
SB: During the pandemic, I had an emotional awakening along with the rest of the world. There were eye-opening moments when I realized that people were dying in undignified ways that were unfair to their families and loved ones. It made me wonder what I could do to turn my love for caring into a business for others.
DMARS: Your business, JDL Ventures LLC, has great significance to you. How does that tie into your company?
SB: JDL Ventures means Joseph’s Dream Legacy. Joseph is my maiden name from Louisiana. And if you were to ask anyone who knows anything about me, I’m big on family.
The entrepreneur added,
I have this sense of urgency to dismantle the inherited dysfunctions that pledge a lot of our families. I want to leave behind a lesson or a legacy for my family. We are much more than our wounds, and brokenness.
DMARS: What does creating that legacy mean for your present?
SB: Being from very humble beginnings, I was determined to change the trajectory of my future. I needed to be that example, continually striving for improvement for myself, my family and my community.
DMARS: Esteem Concierge Nursing, a subsidiary under the JDL umbrella, caters to the elderly. With constant reports of abuse and the ever-growing rise of misconduct between workers and patients, how do you bridge the gap for trust?
SB: I believe people can forget that patient safety and privacy factors are just as real to us as upholding business practices are for any owner. Elderly patients are vulnerable to so much and all types of abuse including sexual. I’m adamant about how I want to train my staff.
Baylor added,
My soul would never sit right with me if I knew something, or someone associated with me performing such dangerous acts.
DMARS: Corporate environments have changed since the pandemic for the sake of employers’ mental health. Since your
company aligns itself with tier-ranking companies, what does JDL want to contribute to for better workflow?
SB: Business models have changed in the workforce. Mental health days, shorter work weeks, and less hours with a salary have helped to really shape the minds of workers. Our services want to continue providing innovative ways that make an employee say, ‘This is why I want to work here.’
DMARS: What does JDL represent in terms of aiding the community?
SB: [JDL] is for the people which is why it was conceived. We need more organizations to look at our society and those without. Otherwise, we are turning a blind eye to ‘healthy-looking’ civilians who are truly in need of a better quality of life. They deserve that, at best.
DMARS: Healthcare insurance is still not affordable for many. Jobs may provide only so much coverage while others who are employed work with no benefits. How does JDL approach patients with limitations?
SB: We understand that health insurance is being advertised for a select group of people to pay out of pocket for their own plans because their jobs either won’t or don’t have the budget to offer them health benefits. And that’s okay because we offer negotiations within our parameters.
DMARS: What’s your approach to the lack of healthcare for minority groups?
SB: I don’t know how to not think about the Black and Brown people who need and desire the basic institution of affordable healthcare and unique options to service specific needs. I need to see what my community and surrounding areas need, or I can’t fulfill what I was put on this earth to do.
5 Ways to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones This Holiday Season
TBy d-mars.com News Provider
he holidays are right around the corner, and experts are already seeing a rise in respiratory illnesses like influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In addition, COVID-19 continues to be a serious health threat in the United States.
As you gather with family and friends this holiday season, remember that one of the most important gifts you can give your loved ones is the gift of health. For a healthier, happier season, the American Lung Association offers these five tips:
1. Get your COVID-19 and flu shots: The single best way to stay healthy and protect others is to be up to date on your recommended COVID-19 vaccinations and make sure all of your loved ones – from those aged 6 months to 100+ years – are also up to date on theirs. This includes the new COVID-19 booster shot, which is expected to provide protection against the most recent variants and subvariants. It’s also time for your annual flu shot. Staying current with all your vaccinations is key to protecting your health.
2. Keep your medications and mask with you: If you are traveling, make sure to keep your regular medications and a mask with you (not in your checked luggage). It is good to have a mask on hand if you are with
someone who is immunocompromised and prefers you to wear one.
3. Consider testing: Before large gatherings, consider doing an at-home COVID-19 test as an added layer of confidence that you are healthy. The average cost of a two-pack self-test at the drugstore is $25 and is covered by most insurance policies.
4. Wash your hands often: Scrub with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you’re unable to wash your hands, using hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is a good alternative. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, as it allows the germs on your hands to reach moist, porous surface tissue where the germs can enter your body and cause infection.
5. Stay home if you’re sick: Stay home when you are feeling ill. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or flu, you should test immediately and contact your healthcare provider if you are at high risk for severe illness to discuss possible treatment options.
With COVID-19, the flu, and other seasonal illnesses spreading nationwide, take steps to protect yourself and those you love to make this a happy and healthy holiday season for all.
For more information, visit Lung.org/ Viruses.
Source: StatePoint
CRNAs Are the Solution To Delayed Surgical Care for Veterans
By d-mars.com News Provider
As we honor veterans, it can be easy to forget about the challenges some continue to face at home: challenges that include undergoing critical medical procedures in a timely manner.
Long wait times
Veterans have to wait too long for surgical care in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. According to a survey by Veterans Need Care Now, a grassroots coalition committed to reducing surgical wait times, 23% of veteran households report delays in securing VA health appointments and surgical procedures.
Access to high-quality, timely care
Veterans deserve access to high-quality care without long wait times. Reports have shown a lack of access to anesthesia services in the VA, which may be a contributing factor to lengthy wait times along with other factors such as staff shortages, limited space, and access to specialists. A national review of staffing shortages at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for the fiscal year 2021 found anesthesiology shortages at numerous VHA facilities, including in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Louisiana, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Washington State, California, and Minnesota.
Two types of medical professionals are able to deliver anesthesia to patients: physician anesthesiologists and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).
The ability of CRNAs to provide high-quality care, even under the most difficult circumstances, has been recognized by every branch of the U.S. military. CRNAs have full practice authority in the Army, Navy, and Air Force and are the predominant provider of anesthesia on forward surgical teams and in combat support hospitals, where 90% of forward surgical teams are staffed by CRNAs. “The high quality of care that CRNAs can be trusted to provide is reflected in our military, where CRNAs are allowed to practice independent of physician referral and supervision,” said AANA President Angela R. Mund, DNP, CRNA.
While CRNAs care for wounded soldiers on battlefields and safely and cost-effectively provide quality anesthesia care to veterans here at home, many VA hospitals only allow CRNAs to provide anesthesia under the supervision of a physician anesthesiologist. Requiring an additional person for the procedure can create a backlog of access to critical procedures as well as added expenses. This federal mandate creates an unnecessary barrier to expanding care and exacerbates any provider shortages.
Finding a solution and shortening wait times
Results of a study by RTI International indicated that
allowing nurse anesthetists to provide anesthesia services without supervision from a physician does not put patients at increased risk. In fact, no significant difference was found in patient outcomes when comparing the three scenarios studied: CRNAs working alone in the operating room without anesthesiologist supervision, anesthesiologists working alone, and the CRNA and anesthesiologist working together on a case. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government suspended the supervision requirement for CRNAs so more patients could have access to the care they needed. And now, 22 states have opted out of the federal Medicare requirement that calls for physician supervision of CRNAs.
A study by the Lewin Group shows that a CRNA practicing without supervision is the most cost-effective method of anesthesia delivery and that increasing the number of CRNAs and permitting them to practice in the most efficient delivery models will be key to containing costs while maintaining quality care. Based on this evidence, CRNA full practice authority within the VA can increase veteran access to care, lower wait times, and decrease costs.
To learn more about the role and duties of CRNAs, visit VeteransNeedCareNow.org.
Source: BPT
