March Boquete Health and Hospice Newsletter

[NewsLady]

The government of Panama has implemented measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.  In accordance, Boquete Health and Hospice has cancelled all events and activities.  Please watch for updates on our CPR trainings, "Being Prepared in Boquete for Life and Death" presentation, and our Healthy Living Series talks.  Stay safe and healthy! Table of Contents: •  COVID19 Policy •  Important Letter from our President •  Blood Donor Caravan Success •  Introducing our Mini Training •  Panamanian Outreach •  Our Mission BOQUETE HEALTH AND HOSPICE PROTOCOLS DURING A HEALTH CRISIS Our volunteer's health and safety must come first. 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. View our Complete Policy 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. Please Donate Top Left a group is ready to board the caravan from Boquete to David. Top Right filling out the paperwork at Blood Bank. Bottom left and right some of our Heroes giving blood at the great facility at Regional Hospital BHH Now has Mini Training   When BHH started out, the training offered to new volunteers was a three-day program, designed to teach members about the history of hospice, the new organizations philosophy, basic skills of communication and medical care.  With the growth of the current span of services, volunteers have joined who have no desire to actively work with patients.   These new volunteers desire to be Ambassadors (they are usually the first actual face those who greet people attending our events see, drive people to medical appointments, and perform other tasks around town that promote our organization), or to work to increase our Public Relations, or work on logistics for the meetings, or work to improve our administrative functions.  A three-day training program contains information that these non-patient-care people don’t need, so the BHH Training Team, under the direction of Beverly S, developed a mini-training that covers the vital principles from the longer training program. On February 28, six people experienced this mini-training.  Over the course of two hours, the history of Boquete Health and Hospice was discussed, as well as current initiatives and teams they could work on.  The expectations of all volunteers were covered as well as a very basic review of communication and listening skills.  This mini-training will be offered every six months.  If you are interested in joining BHH, please complete the application on the website – BoqueteHealth.org.  Look for the application under the MORE tab in DOWNLOADS AND FORMS.

Panamanian Outreach continues… . Providing equipment loan and services, CPR training, and donations to the Mayor´s equipment outreach program.  Good Partners = Good Neighbors!

Our Mission Our mission is to provide palliative care for the terminally ill in order that they may experience death with dignity and limited pain; to inform and promote community health; and, to support people with health and wellness needs by providing information, equipment and volunteer services.   To Make a Donation  BHHF functions with donations provided by the community. If you are interested in supporting the work we do, please make a donation. To make a financial contribution by check or cash contact Merl Will-Wallace,our treasurer,at dharma49@icloud.com to arrange a time and place to pick up your donation. You can also click here to make an online Paypal donation. For more information visit our website: http://www.boquetehealth.org We also have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/boqueteheartshandsandhelp/?ref=bookmarks  Please Like our page and share the contents with your family and friends.   Confidentiality All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence. To Contact Us   Hospice/Health:  (507) 6781-9250 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday,  9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday    Please!  Blood Donor Program:  WhatApp (507)-6590-2000 or call (507)-6781-9250 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday,  9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday, Please. Email:  info@boquetehealth.org