The Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Auxiliary met at the HEC building with 38 members and two guests in attendance, on April 26.

The Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Auxiliary met at the HEC building with 38 members and two guests in attendance, on April 26. President Mary Maloney called the meeting to order. President-Elect Linda Stanford led the group in the flag salute and Auxiliary Prayer.

Maloney thanked the hostesses for providing the great food and table décor, they were: Rita Johnson, Judy Ryser, and Jeri Burton. Program Chair Jeri Burton introduced the speakers ; Pamela Cartwright, Director of Community Services at SBAMH and Jodi Hearn, Executive Assistant for SBAMH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Farris. Cartwright began by explaining how the Nurse Navigation program at SBAMH works for patients who have been diagnosed with chronic illnesses.

For example, if a patient is diagnosed with diabetes, they recommend them attending the diabetes class and afterwards the navigation program works with the patient to create a care plan. A care plan could include monitoring the patient’s symptoms, medication needs, checking to see if they can afford their medications, keeping in touch by calling to check on the patient or personally visiting them at home.

Additionally the Nurse Navigators can provide a complete nutritional assessment of the patient’s food availability, suggest healthy recipes substitutions and provide appropriate exercise plans. The overall goal of this department is to help patients achieve the best possible health and reduce ER visits and hospital stays. A short business meeting followed the program. The next meeting will be on May 24 at the HEC.