In addition to the start of spring, March marks several health-related observances including:
- National Professional Social Work Month
- National Doctors’ Day
- American Red Cross Month
- Patient Safety Awareness Week
- Diabetes Alert Day
All of these relate to what we do at Kadan Homecare every day. Here is some information about each of these observances:
National Professional Social Work Month
“Social Work: Forging Solutions Out of Challenges” is the official them of National Professional Social Work Month this year. This month provides us with an opportunity to turn the spotlight on the social work profession and focus on the important contributions social workers, like those that work at Kadan, make to their communities.
There are more than half a million social workers in the U.S. and we are proud to have X number on the Kadan team. Social workers deal with some of most challenging issues facing people, communities and society.
We celebrate the contributions of social workers every day, but take special time in March to recognize and honor them. For more information and for ideas to commemorate National Professional Social Work Month, please visit http://www.socialworkers.org.
National Doctors’ Day
Health professionals can sometimes be under-appreciated, but National Doctors’ Day seeks to combat that. National Doctors’ Day is celebrated every year on March 30th. It’s a day to recognize the contribution of physicians who care for our citizens and is the perfect time to thank your own doctor for what they do.
Interestingly, the first Doctor’s Day was observed here in Georgia in 1933. From there, the appreciation spread and in 1990, Congress officially declared March 30th National Doctors’ Day.
There are several ways you can participate in Doctors’ Day:
- send a thank you to your personal doctor or a doctor that has helped a family member or friend
- thank a doctor you don’t know
- deliver a card and/or flowers to a doctor’s office
- send a fruit basket or a doctor’s favorite food to their office
It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture – it’s the thought that counts.
American Red Cross Month
Red Cross Month, a tradition started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943, is celebrated each March by the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross helps people across the U.S. and around the world by reaching out to people in need. Some of the things the Red Cross does includes:
- Help disaster victims get on the road to recovery
- Give blood to help hospital patients
- Brighten the day of an injured service member
- Offer lifesaving classes to assist someone having a heart attack or who is drowning
Consider helping the Red Cross by creating an emergency preparedness plan for your household or by donation blood. You can also volunteer with the Red Cross and, of course, they always appreciate financial donations that fund their important efforts.
For more information, please visit www.redcross.org.
Patient Safety Awareness Week
Patient safety is a concern of ours at Kadan Homecare 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Each year, health care organizations take part in Patient Safety Awareness Week, which is an annual education and awareness campaign. This year, Patient Safety Awareness Week is March 13-19.
The Center for Patient Safety provides information and guidance to individuals seeking assistance about what to do when a concern about the safety of healthcare delivery occurs. They say that if you have a concern, you should “first and foremost” contact your health care organization or professional. Talk with your provider. As a provider, we know that hearing feedback from our clients, even when it may not be positive, is critical to our success and keeping our clients safe.
As a consumer, you can find ways to take action for patient safety here – http://www.ihi.org/Engage/Initiatives/Patient-Safety-Awareness-Week/Pages/default.aspx.
Diabetes Alert Day
American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day is observed annually on the fourth Tuesday in March. This year it is March 28th. It is a “one-day wake-up call” to inform the public about the seriousness of diabetes, particularly when it is left undiagnosed or untreated.
Diabetes affects more than 29 million Americans. That’s about 9% of the U.S. population. The American Diabetes Association estimates that one in every four persons with diabetes is unaware that they have the disease. If you have a family history of diabetes, you have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Could you have diabetes? Take this diabetes risk assessment developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP).
For more information on diabetes, please visit www.diabetes.org.
