Boquete Health and Hospice
Tree of Life

• During a health crisis there will be no meetings, classes, trainings or other gatherings. 
• For the protocol for delivering meals or equipment and interacting with patients go to the link below for full instructions.
• Dra. Digna Diaz has provided us with important information regarding COVID-19.  See full instructions in the link below.
• Also included in this link there are general instructions on how to protect yourself including complete instructions for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.

Important Letter from Our President

Upcoming Events:
Apr 1 – Council Meeting – (Go To Meeting link)
Apr 9 – General Meeting – (Possibly by Go To Meeting link)
May 6 – Council Meeting – (method of meeting depends on circumstances)
May 14 – General Meeting – (method of meeting depends on circumstances)

Boquete Health and Hospice Operations
In compliance with all directives, BHH has cancelled all events, meetings, classes and training.  When we are able to resume these activities, we will let the community know.  On March 19, 2020, BHH conducted its first video meeting using Go To Meeting.  Seven of our Council members were on the call.  We will hold our next regularly scheduled Council Meeting at 10:00 a.m. on April 1.  Depending on the results of that meeting, we will attempt to hold a video meeting for our membership.  More information to follow.

Boquete Health and Hospice Policies During A Health Crisis
Regardless of anything else, our volunteer’s health and safety must come first.  Under no circumstances will our volunteers be placed in a situation that endangers their welfare.  

We can still delivery meals and music to people’s homes, but:
We will not enter the home.  The meal/music will be left at the gate, and NO physical contact with any person will be made.  Our volunteers will respect the 2-meter distance requirement.
No Hospice or Home Healthcare visits will be made.
Equipment loans will be considered.  Equipment borrowed from our lockers will be sanitized prior to pick up.  Equipment returned to our lockers will be sanitized outside the building prior to being returned to storage.
Respiratory equipment will be set up at the locker, delivered to the home (outside) so all the patient/family has to do is plug it in.  Pick up of respiratory equipment is to be made outside the home, wiped down with bleach before being placed in the volunteer’s vehicle.

We appreciate that these requirements are difficult, but we are attempting to still provide the majority of our services while keeping our volunteers, their families and friends and the community safe.  

BEING PREPARED
The new handbook, “Being Prepared in Boquete for Life and Death”, is in the process of being printed.  We are unsure of when it will be completed.  The information contained in the booklet has been simplified and is easy to read.  
The handbook will cost $10.00.  You can reserve your copy by emailing a request to:
prepared@boquetehealth.org
Boquete Health and Hospice wants everyone to be able to afford a booklet.  If you are so inclined, an additional donation will allow others to receive a copy.  

Boquete Health and Hospice is still here and helping, just in a different way.  

Request for Help/Donations
Boquete Health and Hospice usually raises funds through our events.  However, now and for the foreseeable future, there are no events.  In order to continue providing equipment, meals and music, as well as the Being Prepared information, donations are needed and deeply appreciated.  Please consider a PayPal donation (Click the Button below) to help us over the next few months.  Thank you.

Blood Donor Caravan
March 7

Tuesday, March 31
Boquete Health and Hospice-Presents
The BHH Health Living series 
Being Prepared in Boquete
for Life and Death

Whether you are a resident, snowbird, or visitor, you will want to understand the local services and legal requirements if you find yourself in a health situation: simple or critical and life-threatening.  We expect a full house so please come early. 

 Presenters: Betty Landis and Charlotte Lintz

Falls Prevention and
Awareness Follow Up

Letter from the President

A new year has started at Boquete Health and Hospice!  A new Council has been elected (Lesley Hughes-President, Joanie Feuerstein-Vice President, Merl Will-Wallace-Treasurer and Liz Bolt-Secretary).  

Last year saw BHH work together to accomplish some truly incredible initiatives.  

Accomplished in 2019

• Tuesday Talks (including Panel Discussion)
• CPR training (6 classes, 1 in Spanish)
• The Magic of Music program
• 2 Blood Drives (103 units collected, 75% of donors were Latino)
• Donations increased by $15,000 while expenses increased only $6,000 (we helped and educated more people more efficiently)
• Assisted 6 hospice patients (had 0 in 2018) and 14 health support patients
• Purchased 8 refurbished oxygen concentrators to replace the 8 that stopped working and an additional portable concentrator
• Update of Being Prepared materials started
• Increased marketing presence including videos, new tagline (Healing Hands and Caring Hearts)
• Established a closer relationship with local government and community officials
• Increased members on the translator team

In addition to taking some time to solidify our successes of last year, we have a “few” plans for this coming year:

Initiatives for 2020

• BUILD ON SUCCESSES OF 2019
• Find and train Interim Administrators
• Find and train a Data Administrator
• 2 Blood Drives (June 13 and October) and Blood Donor Caravan (Mar 7)
• Racks to better organize equipment
• Abbreviated training program
• Videos – Produce and integrate with current Marketing/PR materials
• Continue Healthy Living Series/Tuesday Talks
• Update Brochures with new hours (8-5 M-F, 9-1 S-S) and local clinic hours
• Determine feasibility for Caregivers Support Group
• Expand The Magic of Music Program
• Complete update of Being Prepared materials and have quarterly presentations at BCP

BHH is here for YOU! Whether you need care, equipment, someone to talk to or a place to volunteer, we are all working together to help each other and make Boquete a better place to live.

• Jan 16 – CPR Training (filled)
• Jan 20, 22 and 24 –  New Volunteers Training at Handicapped Foundation Building
• Jan 30 – CPR Training – 1:00 Animales Building
• Feb 5 – Council Meeting
• Feb 11 – Healthy Living Series – Falls Prevention Awareness – Tuesday Talks, 10:30 at the BCP (Merl Will-Wallace, Chuck High)
• Feb 13 – General Meeting – discussion of starting a Caregivers Support Group
• Feb 13 – CPR Training – 2:30 Animales Building
• Mar 4 – Council Meeting
• Mar 5 – BHH Fundraiser Dinner at Boulder 54 – details coming (Chris McCall)
• Mar 7 – Blood Donor Caravan to Hospital Regional
• Mar 12 – General Meeting
• Mar 31 – Healthy Living Series - Being Prepared at 10:30 at BCP (Betty Landis and Char Lintz)

Volunteer Appreciation
Christmas Lunch!

• Received 395 calls to our phone line.
• Loaned out 200 pieces of medical equipment – that helped 90 Panamanians, and 110 Expats
• Made 50 home visits
• Provided care for 10 hospice and health care patients.
• Assisted caregivers with 45 meals.
• Took 500 blood pressures at the Tuesday Market.
• Collected 100 pints of blood at our blood drives.
• Which benefited 300 people, potentially saving their lives.
• Trained 80 people since May in CPR, the Heimlich Maneuver and use of an AED defibrillator machine.
• Shared helpful Health Topics to the public through our educational presentations.
• Had successful events because of all the behind the scenes preparations.

Boquete Health and Hospice has a new service called "The Magic of Music"