February is American Heart Month.
Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in America. Do you know the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack? And, are you prepared?
A heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is being blocked, causing severe symptoms that can potentially lead to cardiac arrest. If you believe a resident is experiencing a heart attack, call 911.
Cardiac arrest is when a person's heart stops beating suddenly. Do you know what to do if a resident were to go into cardiac arrest? Do they have a DNR (do not resuscitate) order, and if so, do you have it on file? The State provides no official DNR order form; however, in Oregon, the POLST Program (Portable Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) permits patients to use a similar form to specify the treatments they desire during medical emergencies.
If a resident experiences a cardiac arrest, call 911. Notify the 911 operator if there is a DNR order on file for the resident. If the resident is on hospice, follow the directions given to you in advance by the hospice agency.
In last week's newsletter we talked about the importance of having current and accurate paperwork for residents. Life-sustaining treatments are a personal choice, and having the correct and updated paperwork for each resident's wishes cannot be overlooked.
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