Edition 1
Today, Tomorrow, & Beyond
cares
Curious about Livio’s spiritual services? Flip to page 2 to meet our chaplain.
Planning for Your Future pg. 2
Spiritual Services
pg. 3
Advance Care Planning
pg. 6
Complex Conversation Guide
Welcome to Our Newsletter We’re excited to share with you our first Livio Cares newsletter. Livio’s approach to care remains simple – we believe you should be at the center of your treatment plan, not your diagnosis. We want this newsletter to be full of articles and information that help you and those who support you focus on what matters most. After you read this first edition, we’d like to hear from you. Please feel free to email hello@liviohealth.com or talk to your Livio Health care team about topics you’d like to see in later editions.
Thank you for trusting us to care for you,
Bennett Clark Bennett Clark, M.D. Chief Medical Officer
Try a Video Visit Video visits are easy to set up and use when it is time for your appointment. Having a video visit can help you feel more connected to your Livio care team and makes it easy to include someone else, like a friend or family member, into the conversation. If you are interested in trying a video visit, please call us at 612-398-7001 or let us know when scheduling your next appointment.
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Livio Spiritual Services Traditional health care is often rushed. There isn’t always time to address a patient’s broader needs—from the physical to the spiritual. In order to address those broader needs, Livio’s services include an interfaith chaplain for spiritual support.
Spiritual Support
Our interfaith chaplain serves alongside nurse practitioners, medical social workers, and nurse care coordinators. Access to an interfaith chaplain gives you a wide variety of spiritual support options. Chaplains can administer and assess spiritual needs, act as a supportive presence, and offer counseling to you and your family. Our chaplain is trained across different spiritual identities and traditions and can provide emotional, religious, and ethical care for any faith or non-faith background.
“
Livio has a holistic approach to
health that is often lacking in most
care settings. Our multi-disciplinary team is equipped to support our
patients in all aspects of their life— not just their medical needs.” -Jessie Wuollet
Meet Our Chaplain: Jessie Wuollet
Outside of work, you can find Jessie outdoors biking, camping, and exploring places off the beaten path. As Livio’s chaplain, Jessie enjoys connecting with our patients and finding out what’s most important. She can support you through your diagnosis and on your personal spiritual journey—whatever that looks like for you—and can also help you navigate challenges through spiritual guidance.
If you’d like to read more about Jessie and Livio’s spiritual services head to liviohealth.com/read/spiritual-services 2
Planning for Your Future
Advance Care Planning & Health Care Directives Care should be centered around you and your values. Livio’s care teams focus on listening and understanding what values are central to your life. We work with you to not only solve for today’s needs but also think about the future as your condition changes over time – which includes helping you plan for unexpected medical events. When it comes to advance care planning, it can be difficult to know where to start. As your trusted partner, Livio care teams are completely present in helping you and your support system understand your options, so you feel empowered to make decisions that are right for you.
What is advance care planning?
Advance care planning involves having conversations about your values, beliefs, and goals for your future. These conversations help you learn about different care options and consider what decisions align with
DID YOU KNOW?
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All Livio clinicians are certified by Respecting Choices® - an internationally recognized training program focused on honoring individual goals & values.
your personal preferences. We then work with you to document decisions regarding what treatment you would or would not want in the case of a condition change or unexpected medical event. Advance care planning conversations help align you, your support system, and your health care providers around the same goals. You can also designate a health care agent to make decisions if you are unable to speak for yourself. When you clearly communicate your preferences, it equips everyone with the knowledge and assurance that you will get the care you want, not what others want for you. You can start these conversations at any point in your health journey. Sharing and documenting your preferences on a regular basis ensures you will continue to receive the care you want, even as your condition or values change over time.
What are the benefits of a health care directive?
Establishing your specific health care preferences helps others understand what is important to you. When you create a legal document outlining your wishes, it ensures you will
receive the care you want, even if you are unable to speak for yourself. It also limits confusion for your health care agents and providers, leaving everyone more prepared for the future.
What should be included in my health care directive?
How Livio Care Teams Can Help:
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Your preferences about health care Your designated health care agent - who you select to make decisions based on your wishes if you are unable to communicate The types of medical treatment you would (or would not) want Guidance for health care agents on how to make decisions
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Where you want to receive care Post-death decisions like organ donations or funeral arrangements You may be as specific or as general as you wish. If your preferences change or you want to update something on your directive, you can do so at any time.
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Facilitate family conversations and provide support if any questions or concerns arise.
Fill out your health directive, appoint an agent, and legalize your documents.
Communicate with other medical providers involved in your care and make sure they have your most recent preferences on file.
Revisit documents as your preferences or condition changes and serve as an ongoing resource. 4
A Guide to Complex Conversations Talking about topics like mental health, finances, family changes, and end-of-life can be difficult to navigate. People often delay having sensitive conversations for fear of uncomfortable discussions, hurt feelings, or not knowing where to start. Our social workers are here to make the experience less intimidating. They are trained to facilitate open conversations and can help guide individuals toward the right resources. Here are just a few tips that can help you approach complex conversations—whether you’re a caregiver, family member, or friend.
Start small
If the thought of initiating a formal conversation seems too overwhelming, tackle the subject little by little. Casually check in, ask soft questions, and test the waters to see where others might stand.
Set transparent expectations
Does this individual want your help or input? Understanding your role and establishing the ultimate goal of your conversation should be done before diving into decision-making discussions.
Focus on listening
Be intentional about listening without interrupting. Let others share their thoughts and try to understand how their values, goals, and feelings affect their point of view.
Provide open options
Don’t focus on arguing your perfect solution. Take the time to explore different outcomes together. Reflect on your concerns beforehand and research potential options to bring some suggestions to the table. Read the full guide at liviohealth.com/read/conversation-guide 5
You’ve Asked, We’ve Answered Livio clinicians are experts in their field and can be a great resource to ask questions or reach out to for support. Our care teams are here to guide you on your health journey and answer questions that might be on your mind.
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Can Livio provide me 24/7 support during the ongoing pandemic?” Yes! You can call Livio 24/7 and a Nurse Practitioner will provide support based on your needs. We can answer questions, address urgent medical needs, and provide guidance based on your values, health history, and circumstances. We want to make sure you feel safe, supported, and receive care aligned to what’s important to you. We’re always just a phone call away! Call us 24/7 at 612-398-7001. -Answered by Lisa Renard-Paule, Nurse Practitioner
“I want to remain independent in my home for as long as possible, how I can do this safely? As you think about how to keep yourself safe in your home, here are a few helpful tips I recommend for my patients: • Prevent falls. Remove possible tripping hazards, like rugs, and add grab bars into your bathroom. • Stay physically active. This could be through an online exercise class, gardening, or walking around the block. • Engage your mind. Play cards, try puzzles, or watch a TV game show. If remaining at home is important to you, talk to your Livio care team. We can answer your questions and work with you to create a tailored plan.
Have a question you’d like to ask? Email hello@liviohealth.com and your question could get featured in the next issue! 6
401 Harding St NE Suite #100 Minneapolis, MN 55413
We want to keep caring for you Keep in mind that our services are available to you at no additional cost* as part of your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota health plan. To continue receiving care from Livio in 2021, you will need to keep your current Blue Cross health plan. With your Blue Cross health plan, Livio will be able to continue providing you: • • • •
24/7 access to Livio Advance care planning Emotional support Pain and symptom management
Livio is always here for you. Remember you can call us 24/7 for urgent needs or to ask general health questions. *The cost is included in your health plan. Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® of Minnesota and Blue Plus® are nonprofit independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Livio Health is an independent company providing supportive care services. Y0138_100820FF06_C