The Celtic e-Pulse on Healthcare

Celtic Healthcare is honored to be listed as #2 in the Large Company Category in the 2008 “Best Places to Work in Western Pennsylvania.” We give the credit right back to our employees – they make it the best place to work because of their bright and positive personalities, and the deep knowledge and diverse talents that they bring to the table.

Golf Team Photo On Monday, October 6th, Celtic Charities held its 3rd Annual Golf Classic to benefit the PA Vent Camp. Celtic Charities is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to serving those in need and giving back. The classic was held at Butler Country Club in Butler, PA. Over 100 golfers participated in the classic, with many of Celtic’s employees either golfing or volunteering their time with the day’s events. With the perfect golfer’s weather – sunny with a cool touch – golfers were eager to stay outdoors and participate in the abundance of extra activities, such as the putting contest, the pro’s drive, and playing chances to win over 90 wonderful gifts generously donated by vendor partners and Celtic employees. Surprise guest Amanda Brewster, The Lady Piper, of Prospect, PA played a medley of Irish songs on her bagpipe.

All golfers received a continental breakfast, lunch, and hors d’oeuvres in the Grand Ball Room. The event concluded with Celtic Healthcare CEO Arnie Burchianti presenting the awards.
Located in Hershey, PA, PA Vent Camp is one of only a few camps in the United States for ventilator dependent children. The primary significance of the camp is that it provides the campers a highly anticipated and enjoyable "independent" living experience away from home and parents and the hospital. Camp objectives include encouraging and facilitating new friendships, enhancing outdoor recreational activities, and maximizing each camper’s abilities, while minimizing their disabilities.
Thank you to all who donated their time, efforts, and monetary resources to raise funds and awareness for PA Vent Camp!
(Pictured: Tom Swartout, Arnie, Mike Sulkoske and Joe Corrado)

NEO and dog This past Saturday, October 11th, Celtic Healthcare’s Northeast Ohio team participated in their first Celtic’s Great Share event at the Howland Fireman’s Fair.

Enjoying the beautiful, warm weather, attendees were grateful for the bottles of water that Celtic employees shared with them. The event was very well attended, as many people were eager to spend the day outdoors.

“I can’t even tell you how many people attended – probably nearly the entire community. It was a very family-oriented and interactive event, so many children came with their parents and grandparents,” says Donna Whittaker of Celtic Healthcare.

In addition to sharing free bottles of water with the public, Celtic Healthcare also held a table where attendees could pick up more Celtic goodies and learn more about the services we provide. This event enabled us to introduce Celtic Healthcare to an abundance of new faces.

NEO Team ”We are looking forward to continuing the Great Share in Northeast Ohio. The participants (especially their children!) are very excited for future events,” says Whittaker.

(Pictured: Mary Keffer, RN with Celtic Healthcare with the American Red Cross dog; the entire NE Ohio Great Share Team)

Don’t let fall trip ‘em up!

Trip Image Falls affect everyone, especially those who are a bit older, in many ways. When an elderly person falls and is injured, their ability to live independently decreases. Even a fall that does not cause an injury can limit confidence and the ability to be comfortable living independently.
We fall due to both environmental and physical reasons. In our environment, lighting, clutter, extension cords, lack of handrails, uneven walking surfaces, pets, scatter rugs, and even Mother Nature can make us, oops, slip and fall.
Physically, there are changes in our bodies that can increase the likelihood of falling, such as vision, strength, flexibility, changes in sleep patterns, chronic health conditions, and both prescription and over-the-counter medications.
There are ways to prevent falls. Here are some pointers that you may want to recommend to your patients and/or residents:

Indoor Lighting - Make sure stairways and hallways are brightly lit. Use night lights for the walkway between the bedroom and the bathroom.
Clutter - Simply having things out of place can cause falls. Always try to keep things in their correct places.
Extension Cords – Arrange furniture so that extension cords are always out of the way.
Lack of Handrails – Install proper handrails in showers, tubs, and near stairs.
Scatter rugs - Make sure that all throw rugs have a non-skid backing.
Pets - Be aware of where your pet is and be careful when visiting others who have pets, too.
Phones – Keep a portable phone by you or let an answering machine catch the calls. Do not hurry to answer the phone.
Mother Nature – When driving, park where it is clear of snow and ice. Keep your driving to daylight hours and always use the buddy system. Let someone know where you are at all times – and even bring a friend when running errands or traveling. Also, arrange for snow and ice removal up to the door of your residence.
Outdoor Lighting – This is just as important as indoor lighting. Install sensor lights wherever possible.
Changes in Body – Have an eye examination every year and wear glasses as prescribed. Exercise regularly to keep muscle strength and improve balance.
Chronic Health Conditions – Get up from laying down slowing if you have heart problems or high blood pressure.
Medications – Talk to your pharmacist about any side effects that you can expect from your medication.

Fun Fact & Quirky Question: If your patient or resident does fall, remember that it’s important to obtain the proper home-based rehabilitation to regain any muscle strength lost during the period of healing and inactivity. By receiving this essential physical and/or occupational therapy after a fall, there is a drastic reduction in the chance of another fall occurring soon after. By preventing and treating falls, independent living can be achieved much longer. And after all, isn’t that the ultimate goal? (Ok, we know, this is just a rhetorical question this month!)