Why Hire a Certified Health Care Life Coach?

Posted on August 4, 2021 by Joseph Gerard

By: Tara Tonsetic, CHC

Have you ever started a fitness program, but didn’t see it through to completion? Or, on the flip side, change your way of eating but it just didn’t feel right to you? Maintaining good overall wellness is super important to our everyday lives. Partnering with a Health Care Life Coach might just be the perfect solution to finding what works best for YOU!

Having good insight on your own personal wellness journey is invaluable. There are so many areas to consider, not just what you eat and how you exercise, but your mindset, attitude, how you live, and so much more. Consider hiring a Health Care Life Coach to help guide you through this process. A Coach can help to define your goals, make you conscious of your highs and lows, and most importantly help you to make a plan and hold you accountable to work that plan. A Health Coach is going to help to connect together all the areas of your life for the better.

When hiring a Health Care Life Coach, you want to build a trusting relationship where there is open and honest communication. Your coach will want you to be successful in whatever you define as your success and will help you get there through one-on-one sessions, hands-on exercises, and take away reading homework, to name a few. You may also look to hire someone who can assist with a specific focus that needs attention such as weight loss, stress management, increasing your energy levels, and addiction. There are many coaches out there that specialize in these various areas and more. Define what you would like to accomplish overall and research to find the best person out there to help you do YOU!

Remember to keep these few tips in mind when choosing the best coach for You:

A Health Care Life Coach should provide one-on-one support and take a genuine interest in helping you achieve your goals. A Health Care Life Coach will help you define the life YOU want to live and help you to make a plan to get there.

MOST IMPORTANT: Remember, YOU are always in total control of your actions and goals. The process of working with a coach will allow you to become more self-aware so that you can make the best decisions in any situation that may pop up. You will know what success means to you and you will become your own expert overtime. Happy coaching!

If you are Health Care Professional and are interested in becoming a Professional Life Care Coach, the American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc. offers a full curriculum of Continuing Education Courses that leads to a national Certification in Health Care Life Coaching. You may access information on our program by visiting this page.

Additional Readings:

What is a Health Coach and Should you Hire One? Access here ( https://bit.ly/3xSTZd5 )

Health Coaching for Patients with Chronic Illness Access here (https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2010/0900/p24.html )

Why Health Care Needs Health Coaches Access here (https://www.physicianspractice.com/view/why-healthcare-needs-health-coaches )

Tara Tonsetci, CHC, is a Certified Health Coach. She may be reached at: tara.tonsetic@gmail.com

5 Best Stress Management Techniques for Students

Posted on July 7, 2021 by Joseph Gerard

Smiling woman with laptop giving thumb up

By Shristi Patni

Students today experience a significant amount of stress that takes a toll on their grades, health and happiness.

A study conducted by the American Psychological Association found that teenagers have similar stress results as adults.

This means teenagers experience chronic stress and have little means to cope effectively. They feel sad, depressed or overwhelmed and don’t know how to reduce stress.

Stress also affects health-related behaviors such as exercise, diet and sleep patterns which when combined, takes a larger toll.

Causes of Students Stress

Another study was conducted to find the most common causes of stress among students. It was found that most of the stress is caused by school and their activities.

Chronic stress, if untreated, can persist into college years leading to mental health issues and academic disengagement.

The most common causes of stress among students include:

Work
Relationships
Transitions (living independently, moving out, graduating)
Social challenges
Extracurricular activities
Homework
School

High school students are the worst hit amongst all the students. They have to take up challenging courses, face intense competition, participate in extracurriculars, study, ace placement tests and plan for their future.

College is another place that causes a lot of stress amongst students. Once a student is accepted, the stress continues. The need to make new friends, fit in, handle the challenging workloads and live independently. Romantic relationships cause an extra layer of stress.

Students don’t understand how they can manage stress and navigate their life better.

With a full schedule of lectures, activities and assignments it’s difficult to dissipate stress.

This is why we bring you the 5 Best Stress Management Techniques for Students.

Tired Black Girl Waking Up In Bed With Sleep Mask

#1. Get Proper Sleep

The number one mistake you make as a student is compromise on your sleep.

And it’s okay to stay up a night or two when you’re having fun but maintaining a proper sleep schedule is crucial to keep stress at bay.

When you deprive your body of sleep, you reduce your productivity. You feel sluggish and disoriented throughout the day.

This hinders your learning abilities and causes additional stress of missing out on your studies.

Have a strict sleep schedule. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Don’t shy away from taking naps either.

Beautiful sunset run

#2. Exercise

The easiest (and cheapest) way to blow off some steam is to start exercising.

You can easily incorporate a small exercise routine into your daily schedule.

Walk or bike to school or college or do Yoga in the morning.

Exercising as little as 15 minutes a day will have a major impact on your overall health and well being.

#3. Start Visualizing

You can use guided imagery to reduce stress. It’s effective, easy and doesn’t require a lot of time.

Visualizations help you calm down, detach from everything and relax.

It’s also an excellent way to prepare yourself for the things that causing you the most stress.

For instance, if you’re nervous about giving a speech, sit down, light your favorite scented candle and visualize yourself giving the speech.

You’ll feel less stressed when you see yourself performing just like the way you wanted to and will by being able to prepare early on.

Woman relaxing on a sofa listening to music

#4. Listen to Your Favorite Music

Research suggests that listening to music can help reduce stress.

It helps you calm your mind and stimulate it as the situation demands.

Relax with your favorite melodies, “wake up” mentally by listening to upbeat music and play classical music when studying.

#5. Get Organized young man start up working on desk

Clutter can cause immense stress, decrease your productivity and can also cost you money.

Most students are guilty of living in cluttered spaces which often leads to negative effects on their grades.

One of the best dress management techniques is to stay organized.

Ensure that your study area is a soothing, minimalist space that’s devoid of clutter and distractions.

This helps reduce stress and saves time in finding lost items and keep you positive.

A clean and tidy space will encourage you to study more and get better grades.

It’s actually worth the effort.

The Takeaway

Stress is a part of human life and the sooner you understand how to deal with it, the better it is.

The best stress management techniques still pretty much remain the same: eat well, exercise regularly, get proper sleep and do things that make you happy.

Other than that, self-talk and use affirmations to help you stay happy and stress-free.

Which stress management techniques work for you? Do you have any other techniques that help combat stress? Tell us in the comments section below.

Author Bio: Shristi Patni

Picture of Shristi Patni

Shristi is a content writer and owner of F and B Recipes. She enjoys creating a list of “Things That Make Happy” or coming up with creative Food Blog Names. Formerly the Chief Content Officer at Raletta, she is currently working on her second cookbook.

Facebook: F and B Recipes

Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consultant Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals.

Case Management Considerations: When Should You Consider Hospice Care?

Posted on July 2, 2021July 2, 2021 by Joseph Gerard

Terminally ill father By: Dominick L. Flarey, Ph.D, RN-BC, MBA, ANP-BC, FACHE

Executive Director
The American Academy of Case Management

Case Managers today are on the front lines of palliative care and hospice care. Such models of care are complex and require the management of patients with very holistic health care needs including physical, emotional and spiritual. Patients and families often find that making choices about entering a hospice care program are very difficult and often times very frightening. They realize that the patient’s prognosis is poor and that they are entering the final stages of life. Patients and families are generally entering a time of Anticipatory grieving. So many questions regarding hospice exist especially related to the type of care and support services that will be provided to both the patient and the family. Case Managers are in an excellent position to be solid advocates and managers for facilitating this entire process and support high quality and cost effective outcomes in hospice care.

Very often, the first step in the process for patients’ and families is determining when hospice care should be considered. Good hospice care programs focus on relieving, rather than curing, a terminal patient’s physical symptoms. Hospice also provides support for patients as they cope with the emotional and social facets of dying. There are several situations in which patients and families may contemplate using hospice care. It is important that case managers educate patients and families on the total array of services that hospice care provides. Many have the misconception that hospice care is for pain control only. This is the farthest from the truth, of course. Here the case manager may play a critically important role providing more detail as to the many services and benefits that are available such as coordination of physician services and communications, RN home visits and pain control, the availability of nursing assistants in the home, grief counseling services, coordination of clergy visits and spiritual counseling, as well as insurance benefits consulting.

Often, your health care provider will refer you or your family member to a hospice program. He or she will typically make the suggestion when the patient has a life expectancy of fewer than six months. Hospice care frequently takes place in the terminal patient’s home, but in appropriate circumstances can also be offered at hospitals, nursing homes, and dedicated hospice centers. Here case manager’s work closely with insurance companies and government payers to insure that the patient meets the necessary criteria for hospice care and that the care will be covered appropriately under the patients plan. Case managers having education and expertise in managed care can also help insure that he patient is getting all of the available resources provided in their insurance plans.

If your health care provider does not mention hospice or if you initially refuse the option, you may find yourself considering it at a later stage. For example, terminal patients whose families are caring for them at home may worry that they have become burdens. At the same time, family members may experience “compassion fatigue” and need some respite in order to recharge their own batteries. Hospice volunteers can provide this respite in the patient’s home or in another care setting.

Respite care is a wonderful hospice benefit and case managers can be real advocates for families when respite care is critically needed for the family. Case managers by their education and training are able to assess the family’s status for the need for respite care or make arrangements for such assessments with behavioral health professionals.

In addition to offering palliative physical care, professional hospice workers act as an emotional support base for the dying person. Death does not have to be a traumatic experience, but the process usually brings up strong feelings, desires, and concerns. Hospice care helps terminal patients experience their emotions with honesty and courage. It also helps them face tough spiritual questions that may arise as the end of life nears.

Hospice also provides social support for patients with a limited life span. Loneliness, anxiety, and anger are all natural parts of the dying process. It helps to have experienced professionals who can provide a listening ear and practical advice for day-to-day coping. It also helps to connect with other terminal patients in support groups, counseling sessions, or recreational activities. Families often find that the hospice model of care was just as supportive and therapeutic for them as it was for the dying patient. Over many years I have personally been told by countless families of the wonderful support and experiences and “blessings” that hospice provided to them and their dying family member during their time of crisis and the patients passing. It is not uncommon to learn that a hospice nurse, a social work, a case manager, or several from the hospice team will attend the calling hours or funeral when the patient dies. Bonds are formed between the team, the patient and the families when working together in such a highly emotional environment and situation. This is just the nature of the hospice model of care.

Another incredible benefit of the hospice model of care is the on-going support to the families after the passing of the patient. Most hospice models of care provide for follow-up contact with the families on some type of on-going schedule and can provide them, as needed, referral services for grief counseling or other needed support services. Many hospices also provide an annual sponsored memorial service in which they invite families of their patients to come and join in a special service to memorialize all of their patients over the past year. As such, case managers can emphasize to families and the patients that there is continued support beyond the immediate care of the patient.

Hospice care may or may not be the right choice for you and your family. Most people find that at least some aspects of hospice care are greatly beneficial to helping manage the dying process. Before making a decision, discuss your options with your care provider and family members. Case managers play a critical role in hospice models of care today. They are educators, coordinators of care, and advocates for the patient and their families and can be very influential in assisting patients and families in better understanding the hospice model of care so that sound decisions about care in the final stage of life can be better made.

Interested Health Care Professionals who would like more information on our Case Management Continuing Education program, leading to Certification and Fellowship, may access information by clicking here.

Additional Resources

American Academy of Palliative and Hospice Medicine: Click Here

Creating an Effective Hospice Plan of Care: Click here

Is Hospice a Place Where One Goes to Die?: Click here

What is Hospice Care by The American Cancer Society: click here

3 Ways To Tackle Relationship Stress As A Busy Healthcare Professional

Posted on April 21, 2021 by Joseph Gerard

Doctor Touching the bridge of his nose By Lucy Peters

Approximately 93 percent of healthcare workers reported higher than normal stress levels last year, according to Mental Health America. Life for healthcare workers these days is more strenuous than ever. If you are a health professional, the last thing you would want is for relationship stress to pile on to the work stress you already have. So if you ever find yourself facing relationship stress, keep these 3 techniques in mind. If you pair them with effective de-stressing strategies, you will be able to weather the tide of modern healthcare challenges and create a more reliable balance between work and your personal life.

Practice Empathy And Emotional Control

As much as you want your significant other to be understanding of your situation, you must also be understanding of theirs. You might be trying to shore up an understaffed hospital, but they might also be coming home from a bad day at work to an empty home. Empathy is a key component to reducing the stress your significant other makes you feel. And as your agitation goes down, you will then be able to interface with them in such a way that doesn’t add to their own stress. A 2004 study by Eisenberg et al. shows this by exhibiting the positive relationship between regulating one’s emotions and being better at relating to others. Empathy and emotional control allow you to consider your partner’s experiences without having them pile onto your own feelings and overwhelming you. With this level of clarity, you are able to think of compromises that adequately address both of your concerns.

Get Creative With Conflict Resolutions

It cannot be emphasized enough how important conflict resolution is to eliminate relationship stress. A study by psychologists Julie Petersen and Benjamin Le for Modern Psychological Studies found that productive problem-solving was the only way to work through conflict without creating stress. The three other resolution tactics, namely conflict engagement, compliance, and withdrawal, all lead to some form of stress when employed. The first step in resolving any conflict is taking time to talk about it. However, your profession makes you short on time. So, you are going to have to improvise a way to make every opportunity to fix issues count. Arrange activities that you can pull away from easily should you get suddenly called in for an emergency. Or you can communicate through little gestures sprinkled throughout the day. Your resolution strategies will depend largely on your significant other’s personality. Try to appeal to their interests and talk things out over an activity they love. But remember to tell them about wanting to have a dialogue about your issues beforehand. Also, it helps a lot if you smooth things along with a peace offering, like thoughtful treats and gifts.

Maximize Your Quality Time Together

With rotating shifts and other scheduling hurdles, this task seems downright monumental. Still, with a little clever planning, you can squeeze as much quality time as you can possibly get out of your busy schedule. This usually entails building a separate schedule for spending time together as a couple. If your shift changes usually fall along with certain time slots, create alternate schedules that you can jump to, to eliminate the need to improvise. However, if shift assignments fall all over the clock, try to anticipate when they come and detect patterns in them.

Healthcare professionals face a veritable deluge of obstacles in today’s landscape. Now that our service is needed more than ever, we simply cannot allow stress to get to us, whether it be from work or from home. Hence, it is important to keep sources of stress in check with the most effective means you can muster.

How Poor Eating Habits Are Affecting Health Employees

Posted on March 29, 2021May 7, 2021 by Joseph Gerard

Potato free and ketchup food on the wooden table. Georgian cuisine.

By Lucy Peters

It may be one of the great ironies in our modern workforce that the diet of health employees is not as healthy as it should be. Given the demands of many health professionals, especially nurses and other frontliners, having the time to prepare meals, go out to a healthy lunch, or even stop to have a healthy snack can be challenging. Fortunately, a variety of initiatives are being implemented to make sure that healthcare workers stay healthy.

The root of the problem

Being a healthcare worker can be exceptionally demanding, and it can limit one’s ability to enjoy a healthy diet. Although many professionals, such as nurses, work as few as three days a week, the demands of the day can be incredibly taxing and prevent access to or time for a balanced diet: limited time for an actual lunch break, little time to leave the healthcare facility, and shifts that extend into overtime contribute to the problem. When you factor in swing shifts, increased demands because of health emergencies and the demands of taking care of a family, healthcare professions can be incredibly draining and compel employees to seek energy boosts in the form of caffeine, sugar and fast food. Making matters worse is the fact that many cafeterias and hospital dining facilities offer minimal healthy food options, or offer an abundance of fast food. For employees who are pressed for time and who prefer convenience, and therefore choose to eat in the hospital canteen, it’s no surprise that many healthcare workers succumb to poor eating habits.

Strategies to address the issue

Fortunately, a variety of strategies are being implemented to improve the dining options for healthcare workers. One approach involves educating and informing cafeteria patrons about the health benefits and risks of various food options with a color-coded information system. This system can also incorporate text messaging to update patrons on their cafeteria spending habits. Another option being sought is to improve the options being offered in the cafeteria, whether by limiting fast food options or making healthier options more presentable and appealing.

Given the rise of meal delivery services, there are a variety of companies offering healthy meal plans for delivery. These delivery providers, including Blue Apron, Home Chef and Green Chef, provide meal options that can accommodate a variety of dietary preferences, including keto, vegan and organic meals, while providing the same convenience as in-hospital dining. A rising number, including Green Chef, Purple Carrot and Sunbasket, are also working to make the meal delivery industry more sustainable. In many ways, enjoying healthy eating as a healthcare worker is much easier than before.

Health care workers aren’t always the beacons of health that we would assume based on their profession, but that doesn’t need to be the case. With a variety of changes in hospital dining options, improved presentation, and accessibility, healthcare workers will hopefully have much greater access to enjoying quality, nutritious and delicious meals during their hectic schedule. Likewise, with the prominence of various healthy meal plans for delivery, healthcare workers can expand their options and enjoy the convenience of a customized meal plan for delivery. These are just some of the measures available to ensure that healthcare workers stay healthy. If there’s anything we now appreciate, it’s that staying healthy, and keeping healthcare workers healthy, is critically important.

Please also review AIHCP’s Holistic-Integrative Health Care Specialist Certification Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals.

Tips for Healthcare Workers Wishing to Hone their Fitness

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Joseph Gerard

woman exercising By Lucy Peters

Compared to other professions, staff in some healthcare professions (for instance, nurses) have a six times higher prevalence of back pain. Tasks such as transferring patients and operating in awkward postures can cause lumbar tissue damage and back pain, but this is only one of many health risks associated with the health profession. Employees working in healthcare can also face high rates of stress and tiredness owing to factors such as long working hours, shift work, and working in times of risk (as is the case during the global health crisis). How can physical activity help quell stress and pain and reduce injury and how can healthcare workers ensure they get the recommended number of minutes of exercise per week?

Exercise Reduces Pain and Stress

As stated in a study by Ann-Kathrin Otto and colleagues, published in the journal BMJ, the efficiency of ergonomic training and exercise when it comes to reducing pain, is well-documented. Previous studies have shown that moderate exercises (including cardiovascular and stretching exercises) reduce musculoskeletal problems, boost muscular strength, and enhance cardiovascular fitness among nursing staff. Research published by the Mayo Clinic shows that employees in medical centers report high levels of stress. Of the many natural modes of quelling this stress, just a few found to be particularly effective include general physical activity, mindfulness-based activities such as yoga, and time spent in nature.

Exercise and the Immunity

A 2020 study by researchers at the University of Bath found that regular, daily exercise benefits one’s immunity, even during tough times. It helps the immune system “find and deal with pathogens, slowing down changes that happen to the immune system with aging.” Equally important is diet. Certain foods strengthen the immune system. These include healthy Omega-3 fats, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, and probiotic and fermented foods. When you eat is equally important; the gut has a memory and when it is expecting food, it ramps up the activity of immune cells to attack incoming ‘bad bacteria’. Sticking to regular meal times ensures these cells are able to exercise their function.

Exercise at Work

Over 50% of employees report that they have little time to exercise because of their busy work and home lives. As stated in a recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, one solution is to include more activity at work. In one study, ‘treadmill workstations’ – in which employees were made to work while walking, significantly increased fitness levels and BMI measurements. Another study assigned participants a mandatory activity of middle-to-high intensity workouts for around 2.5 hours a week during work hours. These incentives clearly need to be offered and organized by work organizations, but what can you do if your place of work does not adopt programs that boost employee fitness?

Individual Efforts

The key to making the most of the little time you may have is to do as much as you can. Did you know that running for just 15 minutes a day can reduce the risk of major depression by 26%? Official recommended guidelines stipulate that all individuals should complete at least half an hour of moderate intensity exercise every day. The good news is that these 30 minutes do not need to be continuous. That is, you can complete 10 minutes on your way to work, 10 minutes at lunchtime, and 10 minutes at the end of the day. You can also embrace activity in small but significant ways – including taking the stairs instead of the lift when you can. For extra health benefits, engage in vigorous activity (think cycling, jogging, or interval training) for half an hour at least three times a week. Vigorous exercise is particularly effective because it improves the efficiency of your heart and lungs, and more oxygen is delivered to your muscles.

Even if you are very inactive, becoming slightly more active can help you reap big benefits in terms of fitness and pain reduction. At the very least, aiming for around 30 minutes of moderate activity per day can help strengthen your cardiovascular system. So, too, can finding practical ways to be more active – including walking while working when possible, stretching throughout the day, and taking advantage of work breaks to be more active instead of taking a sedentary pause.

Why Is Creating An Identifiable, Diverse Brand Key For Healthcare Professionals?

Posted on December 17, 2020December 17, 2020 by Joseph Gerard

Written By Lucy Peters

A sound branding strategy is key for businesses in any industry, with statistics compiled by Oberlo showing that around 86% of consumers value authenticity, and 81% feel they need to trust a brand before they support it. When it comes to healthcare branding, these values are of the essence, as is a respect for diversity. Demographic trends show that the US is experiencing a major transformation – so much so that non-Hispanic whites no longer dominate the census. By the year 2045, this group will represent less than 50% of the population, and by 2060, this number will shrink to 43%. Savvy marketers should be in tune to these changes if they wish to survive and thrive in an ever-changing world.

Key Components Of Successful Healthcare Branding

Branding strategies for the healthcare sector should contain various targets – including showing a brand’s value; building a good relationship with suppliers, peers and patients; providing patients with personalized, speedy and effective treatment; attracting top professionals to join one’s team; and boosting brand awareness. Your brand logo, website, social media channels, blogs, and other forms of media should focus on your target clients’ needs, with a view to building authentic connections based on shared values. Simplicity, emotion and continuity are additional values that should be expressed in your logo and communications. Branding in healthcare comprises everything from selecting colors for your logo or website that express trust and experience, to providing patients with feedback and good customer service, so that public reviews of your business are mainly positive.

Diversity Is Not Optional

The increasingly diverse nature of patients in America means that healthcare companies wishing to stay at the top of their game need to ensure that racial, ethnic, and other minorities are listened to. The Pew Research Center found that over 52% of American adults feel that brands should address concerns such as racism in society, and that they should actively find ways to be inclusive and avoid unconscious racism and exclusion of minorities in branding, product promotion, and all areas of business. Digital communications catering to diverse audiences should be prioritized, with areas such as language, imagery and topics being chosen in line with the needs of diverse audiences. Current advertising is increasingly representing people from various genders and cultures, as well as those with diverse body types. Authentic diversity should be more than tokenism: in order to truly work, it should arise from diverse teams that understand the needs and wishes of minority and diverse groups.

Total Market Infusion

David Maricich, President of Maricich Health in California, recently published an article on the importance of “looking at diverse communities for what they have in common, then fine-tuning the messaging by tailoring to their respective nuances.” This approach is known as ‘total market infusion’. It takes into account that various ethnic groups and other minorities have different ideas about healthcare, disparate abilities to access food, and different attitudes towards health itself. Marketing messages sent to different groups must contain essential truth, without skimping on “additional educational and grassroots awareness efforts” aimed at specific populations.

Building a reputation for trust, authenticity and continuity is vital in any sector, but arguably more so in the healthcare sector – since life and wellness depend on healthcare services in many cases. Marketing within this sector should be patient-based as well as diverse, bearing in mind the rapidly changing demographics of the nation. In order to authentically speak to various minority and diverse groups, marketing teams should themselves be diverse in order to build the additional awareness that is necessary for effective communication.

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Manager Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a Healthcare Manager Program

Pushing The Limits Of Visual Impairment: How Professionals Are Building A Career In The Medical Field

Posted on December 8, 2020December 17, 2020 by Joseph Gerard

Written by Lucy Peters

Up until the 1950s, living with a disability was considered incompatible with continued medical practice. Yet nearly 50% of Americans with visual impairments are still not in the labor force today, according to the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness. But with major advancements in medical technology, patient care has reached a point where physicians can now consult a patient and prescribe medications online, without the need for physical interaction. As a result, this helps professionals gain the advantage of erasing the stigma of individuals with visual disabilities and build their careers.

Physicians With Visual Impairment

There have been cases of doctors having a visual impairment and still managing to achieve their dreams of becoming certified physicians. One example is David Hartman, who was diagnosed with retinal detachment and glaucoma in childhood. Through perseverance, he graduated from medical school and became a board-certified psychiatrist. His work on the addiction recovery field was rewarded in 2019 at the National Conference on Addiction Disorders. Although he faced numerous difficulties in building his career, he developed certain programs for patients as the chief of adult outpatient psychiatry in Carillon Clinic in Virginia. His work has inspired movies and literature that proves that blindness and other disabilities cannot stop someone from building a promising career.

Different Paths In The Medical Field

There are numerous programs and specializations that can be accessed by individuals with visual impairment. If one decides to pursue a career in medicine, specializations in psychiatry and psychology are the most suitable due to a reliance on speech and understanding rather than a keen eye for physical symptoms and immediate action in emergencies. This is heavily advantageous for the physician, as the patient is not made aware of the disabilities they may have, prompting them to return and not be worried to seek counsel.

Understanding The Potential Risks

These are trying times for those with blindness or visual impairment who have frequently relied on the sense of touch. With the recent coronavirus compromising the sense of mobility and independence for many, those living with blindness are at a higher risk of infection. Healthcare employees must follow extra safety measures to protect against diseases, such as keeping your body and daily eye care items sanitized at all times.

Perseverance Is Key

Each step will be difficult when it comes to achieving your goals and dealing with visual impairment. But this shouldn’t discourage anyone from building a promising medical career. Having a stable support system and a workplace that is strictly against discrimination is also important in defining one’s career, as there will always be challenges for those living with a disability.

Vision loss can be extremely frustrating to come to terms with, but it does not make a person incapable of doing the same things as their non-visually impaired peers. Having a successful medical career while living with a visual impairment is always possible when you have the proper mindset to overcome any obstacles along the way.

Please also review AIHCP’s Health Care Life Coaching Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a Health Care Life Coaching Program

Putting A Stop To High Diabetes Rates Among Health Care Workers

Posted on December 1, 2020December 17, 2020 by Joseph Gerard

Written by Lucy Peters

There is a significantly high risk of diabetes among health care workers, with numerous studies postulating three main reasons why: unhealthy lifestyles, obesity, and physical inactivity. Current times are indicative of the importance of maintaining optimal health in this sector, since diabetes can pose a risk for worse outcomes in viral and other infections. Doctors, nurses, and other professionals often face high levels of psychosocial strain, and can be called upon to complete long work shifts – all of which can also contribute to the adoption of unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as the consumption of an unhealthy diet and sedentarism. As stated in a study by M Belingheri and colleagues, the problem is exacerbated when health care workers have other conditions such as hypertension, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease, all of which can worsen outcomes for various diseases and conditions.

Diabetes And Work Performance

Embracing a healthy lifestyle and receiving early diagnosis for conditions like hypertension is vital for health care workers. Not only does diabetes post a risk of worse outcomes, but it also carries symptoms that can make work in a healthcare setting difficult. For instance, people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can have a type of nerve damage called diabetic neuropathy. The legs and feet are mostly affected, with symptoms including pain and numbness. Diabetic neuropathy actually affects up to 50% of people with diabetes, and when it is severe, it can interfere greatly with one’s ability to work and complete daily tasks.

Fighting Type 2 Diabetes Through A Healthy Diet

A study by O A Busari and colleagues shows that health care workers can have a significantly higher chance of developing Type 2 diabetes. In order to fight this tendency, a proactive approach that embraces a preventive lifestyle needs to be adopted. This should begin with the adoption of a Mediterranean-type diet, which comprises lean proteins, grains, healthy Omega-3 fats, and plenty of fiber from fruits and vegetables. Specific foods can help health workers achieve their goals. A study undertaken at the Chalmers Institute of Technology, for instance, has found that whole grains (be they rye, oats or wheat) have a vital role in preventing Type 2 diabetes. The researchers recommended switching white flour foods for wholegrain foods, and avoiding foods like red meat and coffee. Women should aim to consume around 70g of wholegrain foods, and men around 90g. These can be sourced from foods such as rye bread, oatmeal porridge, and crispbread.

Embracing An Active Lifestyle

A 2018 study undertaken at the University of Birmingham has shown that regular physical activity reduces the risk of diabetes. Walking, jogging and running are all linked to lower diabetes rates, but any cardiovascular workout can be equally beneficial. “About one fifth of the observed diabetes cases which developed could have been avoided if inactive individuals had engaged in World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended levels of exercise,” said researchers. Despite this fact, research by H Blake and colleagues (Predictors of physical activity and barriers to exercise in nursing and medical students, Journal of Advanced Nursing), shows that health care professionals on the whole have low levels of physical activity, with barriers including a lack of time and inconvenient schedules. Health organizations should take this matter seriously, making key changes to schedules and encouraging involvement in fitness programs by workers.

Health care workers often fail to meet exercise requirements and consume a healthy diet, which ups their risk for diabetes. Conditions such as cardiovascular disease and hypertension can worsen outcomes for workers with diabetes. A preventive stance should be taken to remove the main barriers to healthier lifestyles. These are simply a lack of time, and schedules that are unconducive to regular exercise.

Please also review AIHCP’s Holistic and Integrative Health Care Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals.

7 reasons why healthcare professionals should achieve certification

Posted on September 14, 2020January 22, 2021 by Joseph Gerard

Written By Miranda Booher

Hypnosis. Legal case management. Grief counseling. Stress management. Meditation. Spiritual counseling. There are many different areas of specialization when it comes to the vast realms of the healthcare industry.

Some allied health professional jobs require specific certification and others do not. However, if you happen to work in one of those positions that do not require specialized certification, do you really need it?

You are the only one who can make that decision for your career, but we are going to present you seven reasons why healthcare clinicians should achieve certification.

1. Gain advanced knowledge and skills in a healthcare sub-specialty

Physicians, nurses, and other allied healthcare professionals often get into the field because they have a passion or interest in a certain field of healthcare. Perhaps you are a nurse who has always been interested in the area of spirituality. Even if you are not currently practicing as a nurse in this field, you can increase your knowledge and skills to learn more just for curiosity’s sake, or to set yourself up for an opportunity to work in that specialty in the future.

2. Healthcare employers require certification more frequently

Healthcare facilities’, hospitals’, and other companies’ policies about continuing education requirements are constantly evolving. Some employers who never required a certification for their employees in the past have changed their practices and now make certification mandatory for a variety of reasons. Furthermore, there can also be laws made at the state level meant to keep the public safe that require allied health professionals to obtain and hold certain credentials.

3. Advance or expand your healthcare practice

Maybe you are a physician who wants to expand your current general practice roster of patients. Perhaps you want to offer specialized services to a certain segment of the population. Certification opens up doors as a healthcare provider to expand your practice and services to meet a wider range of patients and treat specific conditions and ailments.

4. Gain a competitive edge and increase your marketability

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons healthcare professionals obtain a certification is to increase their employability and gain a competitive edge in the industry. Having the certification itself does not guarantee job placement, however it can definitely give you an advantage when you apply for a job in the medical industry. Even if the particular job you are applying for does not require certification, having one related to the healthcare sub-specialty, i.e. intensive care unit (ICU), geriatrics, etc., shows your dedication and demonstrates your level of expertise.

5. Be viewed as a credentialed expert in your practice specialty

Certification in a certain area exerts yourself as an expert in the field. When you are nationally-recognized for the attainment of knowledge and skills by meeting specific predetermined criteria, it demonstrates your competency as an allied healthcare professional. This recognition may help you personally or professionally, it just depends on whether it means something to you to be viewed as an expert, or if you plan on taking that position to advance your healthcare career. It can also be a combination of both. You might also use this recognition to become a part of a professional group or network with other certified healthcare specialists that practice in your specialty.

6. Show employers you stay up-to-date

By its intrinsic nature, the medical field is an industry that is constantly changing. In fact, all of the changes that have been ushered in since the beginning of this pandemic are testament to this very fact. In order to stay on your toes, it’s important to keep up with all the changes the best you possibly can. Healthcare certification is the perfect way to do just that. Most certifications not only require the base of knowledge and skills to obtain the credential, but they also include a certain number of continuing education hours annually in order to renew it. This demonstrates to employers that you are a healthcare professional who cares about continuing education and keeping up with the best practices in the industry. If you were the employer, would you not prefer to hire someone who has proven expertise in the field?

7. It speaks to who you are as a clinician

Certification in healthcare is so much more than a piece of paper. It demonstrates who you are as a person and an allied healthcare professional. It shows that you are committed to the practice, your career, and to providing the very best patient care possible. Employers look for those qualities when they are considering hiring anyone in the healthcare industry.

Want to learn more about healthcare certification?

The American Institute of Healthcare Professionals is committed to providing opportunities for clinicians to expand their skills and knowledge base to advance their career in healthcare. You can learn more about each of the different types of certifications they provide by clicking on one of the links below.