Jane Ochowicz, a recent HouseCalls patient in Oshkosh, remembers the first time a doctor visited her at home in the 1960s.
FALLS PREVENTION While visiting with patients, nurse practitioners (NP) and other providers with HouseCalls take time to share information on important screenings, immunizations and programs. “I’m there to make suggestions and answer questions,” says Tricia Promer, NP. “Providers in the clinic don't know if a patient has the proper railings by the staircase or rugs with rubber backings. These are safety concerns.” According to the Department of Health Services, falls are the leading cause of injury and deaths among older adults in Wisconsin. A program called Stepping On empowers seniors to carry out health behaviors that reduce the risk of falls, improve self-management and increase quality of life. As part of falls prevention, Promer and other HouseCalls providers also discuss bone health when reviewing a patient's list of medications and vitamins. “Our goal is to help decrease that risk,” Promer says. “I want every patient to be in charge of their health.” For information on Stepping On, call 1-800-769-3186. 14 | @Affinity
•
W i n t e r 2 0 1 3
But then, his special request was granted when Dr. Zoch appeared on Steiner’s doorstep a few days after his HouseCalls appointment. Conversing in the living room, surrounded by photos spanning generations, hours passed as Dr. Zoch took the time to answer Steiner’s burning questions about Grace’s diagnosis and care, as well as issues in his own life. “I see the future that way – taking care to folks, and everyone becoming more cognizant of the transitions of care,” Dr. Zoch explains. “Patients are more forgiving and understanding of issues that come up when you’re taking care to them.” As his health exam proved, Steiner is a healthy, storytelling gent. His HouseCalls NP, Tricia Promer, advised him to make an appointment to get vaccinated against shingles – a contagious, viral infection most common to occur in people 50 years of age or older. Promer spent 10 years in public health as a registered nurse and almost two years in occupational health as a board-certified advance practice nurse practitioner prior to joining HouseCalls in 2011. She is passionate about preventive health. “We educate our patients on different cancer and cholesterol screenings, immunizations, visiting the eye doctor – anything that pertains to that stage in their life,” she says. “Then they can take that information to their doctor to discuss.” Steiner plans to do so the next time he sees his physician at the veteran’s assistance clinic. “Chester felt it was important to tell me about his past before he could talk about his present health,” Promer adds. “My favorite part of this job is having the ability to meet people in their home. It's a privilege to hear patients' life experiences.” And Steiner can tell you a thing or two about prevention, or “preventive maintenance” as he calls it. After all, his life’s work revolved around it. Only now he can apply the concept to his outlook on health, too. “HouseCalls put a new light bulb in the socket for me as far as reinstalling my faith in the health care industry,” he says. “Isn’t that darnnear perfect, coming from an electrician?” w w w. a f f i n i t y h e a l t h . o r g / b l o g