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Glossary:
Pulse
The rhythmic beat of the arteries caused by the contractions of the heart.
Physical Therapist (PT)
Physical therapists help restore strength, flexibility, coordination and general function of patients who have been disabled by an accident or illness.
Personal Care Workers
Personal care workers (called home attendants in New York City) are specially certified under New York State law. The scope of their services is essentially limited to providing assistance with ADL’s and IADL’s and they cannot perform the health-related functions carried out by a home health aide (such as taking a patient's temperature). For people who simply need general (rather than medical) assistance, home attendants perform a valuable service.
Plan of Care
VNSNY nurses and rehabilitation therapists follow a plan of care, which is a comprehensive description of a patient's health care problems and/or needs, established by the patient's doctor. VNSNY clinical staff update the doctor if there are any changes to the patient's condition so that the plan of care can be revised.
Patient Review Instrument (PRI)
Before a senior can be placed in a skilled nursing facility, it is mandated by law that a patient review instrument, or PRI, be performed by a registered nurse. Partners in Care, the private care affiliate of VNSNY, provides PRI assessments. PRI’s are valid for 30 days and are used to determine the level of care and the type of facility required. It includes medical condition, treatments and medications needed, special diets or therapies needed, physical and mental abilities and limitations, ability to perform acts of daily living such as eating moving and toileting, behaviors such as aggressiveness and disruptiveness.
Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is a chronic, progressive disorder of the nervous system and continues for long periods of time, usually many years. Parkinson's disease affects a person's muscular coordination. Symptoms include tremor (shaking), stiffness in some muscles, slow movements, and problems with keeping normal posture. The disease is caused by the death of cells in one of the movement control centers of the brain. These nerve cells control body movement.