HEALTH ALLIANCE NORTHWEST 316 Fifth Street Wenatchee, WA 98801
Health and wellness or prevention information
The Health Alliance Star Volume 10
WASHINGTON
FALL 2018
Keep Yourself from Returning Too Soon Your Care Transitions Intervention Team is Ready to Help
FAST FACT:
Working closely with a care transitions intervention team can drop your risk of going back to the hospital by 20–50 percent.
Your medical team at the hospital just made rounds, and you’re told: You’re ready to go home. For some, it’s the news you’ve been waiting to hear. For others, it’s scary and troubling. This could mean returning to the home you know, or you may be headed to a new home, like an assisted living facility or inpatient rehabilitation center. No matter where you’re headed or how you feel about this change, you’ll face risks and challenges along the road to recovery. Without help and planning, healing after leaving the hospital (especially the first 30 days) can be a dangerous thing.
A Team of Support Your CTI team can support you and make sure your needs are met at home. Your team can go over your discharge notes with you and a caregiver, review your meds list, refer you to a pharmacist for more help with meds and plan your next steps.
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that up to 20 percent of Medicare patients sent home from the hospital are readmitted within the first 30 days. And many times, it’s with bigger health problems.
Time and time again, research shows working closely with a CTI team drops a person’s risk of going back to the hospital within a six-month period by 20–50 percent. That’s incredible, and it’s one more reason to stay in touch with your CTI team.
Why? From person to person, problems look different—and sometimes there’s more than one issue—but research shows two major reasons are: 1. Not following discharge directions 2. Misunderstanding medicine doses
Look for a phone call from one of our CTI team members after you get settled in back home. You can also ask for one prior to leaving the hospital. And if you have questions before that, call the Member Services number on the back of your ID card.
The good news is that you’re not alone in your hospital-to-home move. You have a care transitions intervention (CTI) team ready to help.
Want help navigating the healthcare system?
Going from hospital to home doesn’t have to feel lonely, scary or overwhelming. Asking questions, getting answers and seeking help is important through this change—and you have a team ready to walk your road to recovery with you!
Wellness Rewards Checklist Overview Annual primary care provider (PCP) visit (must complete to receive $50 gift card) = 30 points Blood pressure reading from your most recent PCP visit = 5 points Body mass index from your most recent PCP visit = 5 points Breast cancer screening (based on recommended timelines) = 10 points Colorectal cancer screening (based on recommended timelines) = 20 points
Care coordinators and health coaches are here for you.
Eye exam = 10 points
Call 1-800-851-3379, ext. 28947, to get started or find out more.
Health risk assessment = 5 points
Flu shot = 5 points YourHealthAlliance.org account = 5 points (Call Member Services if you don’t have access to a computer.) Social activity = 5 point For info about what each item means, review the entire checklist at HealthAllianceMedicare.org/Perks or call the Member Services number on the back of your ID card.
The Health alliance star
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Volume 10
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FALL 2018
A Shot of Reality: Aging & Immunizations
When it comes to germs, getting older has advantages and disadvantages.
Advantage: Your body’s immune system builds defenses against germs you’ve faced before. Disadvantages: Your immune system isn’t as fast to fight, you heal more slowly and your body’s ability to find problem cells also drops.
This means you’re more likely to get sick with things like the flu, pneumonia and shingles. And sometimes, what starts as just a cold turns into something much bigger. Staying up to date on your immunizations is proven to be one of the easiest and safest things you can do for your health. If you have an ongoing health condition—such as diabetes or heart disease—staying on top of your shots is especially important.
ADULT VACCINES
DETAILS
Flu influenza
You need a flu shot once a year, preferably in the fall.
Tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (or pertussis) – Td/Tdap
You need a booster shot every 10 years.
Zoster (shingles)
Shingrix, the new and preferred shingles vaccine, is given in two doses, two to six months apart. This vaccine is recommended no matter your history of herpes zoster or chickenpox. If you got the Zostavax vaccine in the past, you should get Shingrix.
Hepatitis A and B
Talk to your doctor.
Varicella (chicken pox)
If you were born before 1980, you are usually considered immune. Sometimes healthcare workers (even in volunteer roles) need to show proof of their immunity.
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
If you were born before 1957, you are usually considered immune. Sometimes healthcare workers (even in volunteer roles) need to show proof of their immunity.
Pneumococcal conjugate (pneumonia)
If you’re over 65, you should receive one dose of Prevnar 13. One year later, you need a dose of Pneumovax 23.
Note: These vaccines are recommended unless your doctor says you don’t need them or shouldn’t get them. Always follow your doctor’s advice about needed vaccines. For coverage questions, call the Member Services number on the back of your ID card.
Mammograms Matter—Early Action Saves Lives Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. You might remember when the guideline on mammograms said that starting at age 40, all women need a yearly screen for breast cancer. Guidelines have shifted with research, but one thing is certain: Mammography is still the most effective breast cancer screening tool used today. The U.S. Preventive Task Force (USPTF), a trusted panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine, says the following about screenings for women.
YOUR AGE
GUIDELINE
49 years and under 50–74 years old
Talk with your doctor. Screen every 2 years, but your medical history may affect this. Talk with your doctor.
75 years and older
The reality is that every woman is at risk for breast cancer. Over time, this risk increases. Finding warning signs early is key to treatment. If you haven’t talked to your doctor already about a screening, now is the time.
Health Alliance Northwest is a Medicare Advantage Organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Health Alliance Northwest depends on contract renewal. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. ATTENTION: If you speak Spanish, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-877-750-3350 (TTY: 711). ATENCIÓN : Si habla Español, servicios de asistencia lingüística, de forma gratuita, están disponibles para usted. Llame 1-877-750-3350 (TTY: 711).
Mark Your Calendar
Toll-free 1-877-750-3350, TTY 711 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays HealthAllianceMedicare.org
2018 Fall Senior Expo October 18 10 a.m.–3 p.m. | Red Lion Hotel Yakima Center | Yakima Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage Educational Lunch and Learn October 18 12:15–12:45 p.m. | Harman Senior Center | Yakima Health Alliance at the Wenatchee Wild Hockey Game October 20 6 –10 p.m. | Town Toyota Center | Wenatchee
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City of Yakima’s Annual Wellness Fair November 7 7 a.m.–3 p.m. | Harman Senior Center | Yakima