Author Archives: Pyxiscare Management

PyxisCare Launches Strategic Health Plan Management

Corporate Advising Service Improves Access to Healthcare Services

and Reduces Costs with Custom Solutions

DALLAS/FORT WORTH, Texas, July 31, 2020 – PyxisCare Management, a leader in personalized care coordination for mid-sized companies, individuals and families with complex care needs, announced today the launch of Strategic Health Plan Management, a new offering for corporate clients.

Strategic Health Plan Management (SHPM) is a natural extension of the growth of PyxisCare’s services for corporate and organizational clients. The SHPM solution uses data and years of care management experience to empower companies to take better care of their employees by:

1) improving access to and satisfaction with health and wellness providers and services

2) stabilizing and reducing skyrocketing healthcare services and benefits costs over time, and

3) helping ensure business continuity with custom solutions to address disruptive and potentially devastating health challenges, like COVID-19.

“Today’s market demands innovative approaches to health plan management for companies of all sizes, and specifically small and mid-sized companies. They often bear huge benefits costs without the resources to take full advantage of the coverage they have invested in,” said Mindy Jones, founder and Chief Executive Officer of PyxisCare Management.

“Healthcare providers and services can be difficult to navigate and negotiate. Our nurses and our administration have for years been advising clients on how to maximize healthcare benefit usage, reduce costs, and most importantly, improve health. Now, we’re pairing strategic leadership advising with the work of our talented and compassionate nurses as on-site partners to our corporate clients.”

PyxisCare has long differentiated its services from other care coordination companies by ensuring that every care team is led by a Registered Nurse (RN). These care teams may also include care coordinators, staff support and a business partner. The SHPM model established Personal Health Nurses, who are fully dedicated on-site nurses providing care coordination and real-time support for employees requiring assistance with benefits utilization.

Compassion is at the heart of PyxisCare’s operations, but data drives the strategy and ability to make substantial change, in partnership with clients. In collaboration with Dallas-based Saville, Dodgen & Company PLLC, experts in accounting, tax, estate planning and audit, benefits experts examine utilization trends and leverage insights to enable strategic changes to improve your business.

“We want to transform the way your company utilizes healthcare services and benefits, the employee experience and ultimately, improve both corporate and individual wellness, while saving the company and the employee significant expense,” said John Winslow, Chairman of PyxisCare Management’s Board of Directors. “Strategic Health Plan Management is a natural extension of PyxisCare’s intelligent approach to working with people and with complex situations. This is the right response to market demand for change.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Mindy Jones at advocacy@staging.pyxis.flywheelsites.com or 888.877.5874.

About PyxisCare Management

PyxisCare Management is a highly personalized and confidential healthcare navigation and care coordination service that ensures individual, fiduciary and corporate clients have peace of mind and are prepared for the future in matters of health, wellness and acute care intervention. The corporate concept was developed in 2010, and the care coordination company was established as in 2013. Based in the Dallas/Fort Worth region, PyxisCare has offices throughout Texas and clients in several states. The company is privately owned and operated under the guidance of a Board of Directors. For more information, visit us at www.staging.pyxis.flywheelsites.com.

Meet the Team, Alexandria H.

“I care deeply and work hard to understand each situation a PyxisCare family faces. My gift of empathy allows me to find solutions as if our clients are my own family.”

 –Alexandria H., Client Service Coordinator

Alexandria Hall’s love and devotion to her grandmother inspires the heart of her role in serving PyxisCare clients. Hall, the new client service coordinator for the Houston area, grew up watching her family lovingly care for her grandmother, who suffered with diabetes complications. She brings this same attention and commitment to serving PyxisCare Management’s clients.

Tell us about your background.

I have a bachelor’s degree in health administration, and I started my career as a Certified Nurse Assistant. I quickly learned that I have a passion for working with people struggling with mental health disorders. I worked in a home setting taking care of patients who could not care for themselves because of a neurological or psychiatric diagnosis. One patient, for example, had the mindset of a two-year-old due to a traumatic brain injury. Other patients could not get out of bed or feed themselves. In another position I worked with people who struggled with mental illness and functioning successfully in the world. Many of our clients were homeless. One patient lived in the woods, and we worked to help him in many ways.

As a child I regularly visited my grandmother in her nursing home. Once a charismatic matriarch of the family, her legs had been amputated, and she couldn’t talk or see well. Her kids would come to the nursing home, brush her hair, and make sure she was getting the care she deserved. This experience gave me my love for serving and caring for others.

Tell us about your position at PyxisCare.

As a client service coordinator, I work with our clients and Nurse Client Advocates (NCAs) to find out what services are needed, and I do the research and legwork to get it done. The nurses on our team help organize clinical care, and I support them with everything from finding temporary housing for a family seeking medical care in another state, to researching home caregiver options.

How does your position work with other staff members at PyxisCare?

My position provides resources and support to nurses so they can focus on clinical coordination and wholistic health. In our unique roles, we work as a team to serve our families. It’s important that we communicate well with each other, and our leader Mindy encourages a culture of openness and transparency. I appreciate that other team members have been open and receptive to my questions and feedback.

What unique skills do you bring to PyxisCare?

I care deeply and work hard to understand each situation a PyxisCare family faces. My gift of empathy allows me to find solutions as if our clients are my own family. I also bring experience working with people facing mental health challenges. Mental and physical health are deeply connected. If you’re struggling with your physical health, it affects your mental health, and if your mental health is down, it’s hard to take care of your physical health. They need to be balanced. At PyxisCare I strive care for and find resources that support our clients physically and emotionally. Working with others helps my mental health too. I find joy in helping people and making sure their everyday lives are better.

INVESTING IN PEOPLE

Demand for individual and corporate care coordination services is on the rise in response to escalating health care costs.  This shouldn’t come as a surprise – we have all felt inflation and rising healthcare costs hit our wallets. Our clients and our companies depend on PyxisCare for competent, caring and often cost-saving healthcare navigation and care coordination.

The way we do this is through people – experts in their fields who care about your health, your budget and your well-being. I am very pleased to announce that we’ve expanded again and have hired even more extraordinary nurse client advocates (NCA), personal health nurses (PHN), relationship managers and client service coordinators (CSC) to serve clients.

MEET THE TEAM

Saadia J., a nurse client advocate, will expand PyxisCare’s existing service in the San Antonio/Austin area. Alex H., a client service coordinator and Yolanda R., a nurse client advocate will add to the team serving the Houston area. Additionally, Kristina W., a relationship manager, will focus on building relationships with and educating key partners on the value PyxisCare’s unique client services; Kristina will serve clients across the region.

Each of these team members brings trusted clinical experience and integrated care coordination expertise to help clients find the best health and wellness solutions. These professionals illustrate the values that make PyxisCare special; we are a people company first and foremost. Unlike other companies who hire non-clinical staff, we hire NURSES who understand the full spectrum of clinical complexity and support our clients with caring and experienced coordinators who consider medical, emotional, financial, legal and environmental factors with every interaction.

 Escalating Healthcare Costs and Industry Complexity

I speak with CEOs and COO’s of small and mid-sized businesses almost daily – wondering how they can care for their workforce AND stabilize skyrocketing insurance costs. There is a way to achieve both. Expanding our team means more families and businesses will benefit from PyxisCare’s solutions.

The complexity of healthcare delivery and healthcare costs in the United States have been increasing at an alarming rate. Costs have been rising steadily since the 1960’s, when the average spending was $147 per person for healthcare. By 2019, healthcare expenditure per person averaged $11,582. (Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Health Expenditures Data, March 2020)

While US health care costs continue to rise and the US spends more on healthcare costs per person than other wealthy countries, our health outcomes do not reflect this. In fact, the US performs worse on health indicators such as life expectancy, infant mortality, and unmanaged diabetes compared to other developed countries.  Individuals and families are requiring increased support to navigate basic services, chronic conditions and emergent issues management.

This may all sound grim, but I promise you it’s not. There are solutions for your unique situation.  And now we have even more amazing PyxisCare people to help you find them.   

Mindy

You’re Surrounded: Why Your Environment Matters

It’s true – your environment has you surrounded, in every way.  When I think about my environment – or a client’s – I think about it in concentric circles. A person’s immediate surroundings may seem to have the most impact. Is the air you breathe safe? Does the climate suit you? Do you have access to healthy foods?

How about your desk at work, or the ventilation system in your building? During the height of the pandemic did you wonder if going into the office was going to land you in the hospital? Obviously, a pandemic will make you think differently about everything, especially your immediate surroundings.

For Some, the Most Important Aspect

For these reasons and more, Environment is one of the most important aspects of a person’s holistic health. When I established PyxisCare more than 12 years ago, as a woman-owned business, I knew Environment played a large part in our health.  The years have taught me and my team of nurses that Environment is even more important than we originally thought. We have retrofitted dozens of homes to accommodate a range of disabilities from sight impairments to mobility challenges.   We have removed trip hazards and other impediments to help clients age in place.

As we’ve expanded into onboarding more corporate and business clients, this is a key tenet of how they support employees, manage insurance costs and protect business continuity by keeping team members both happy and healthy. As employers compete in a new economy, they must make their environments not just acceptable, but desirable.

Make it Yours

There is a softer side of environmental safety – environmental comfort. Have you thought of the things that will make you happy in your environment? Safety is the minimum requirement, but comfort is part of the aspect that you can’t afford to overlook.   A recent client wanted a yoga and meditation area for herself as the caregiver.  With all of the significant alterations made to her home for her husband’s health challenges, she also deserved a nook just for her mental health.

Physical and mental challenges can be difficult to overcome alone. Sometimes healing starts with just looking at your surroundings and beginning your journey. Right. There.

Mindy

Environmental Safety: Jessica’s Story

 

 

“The PyxisCare team understands that my husband’s journey with Huntington’s disease is a progressive one and his physical needs will continue to evolve. They worked with insurance to ensure he can remain independent for as long as possible.”

–Jessica (Wife of client; mother; teammate; caregiver)

He started showing psychiatric symptoms first. But I knew it was not a mental health issue. I married my husband Nathan in 1996 knowing that he had a 50% chance of inheriting the genetic disease that took his mom years earlier.  Huntington’s disease, or HD, is a rare terminal brain disease that is like having ALS, Parkinson’s and dementia at once.  As my husband developed severe OCD and started behaving irrationally, I knew it was time to see a neurologist. A neurologist visit, an MRI, and a genetic test later, the diagnose was confirmed.

 

Because Huntington’s is multi-faceted disease, his care requires a variety of medical practitioners. He sees a neurologist, gastroenterologist, psychiatrist, physical therapist and speech therapist.  But his need for care goes beyond these outside providers. We also had to make accommodations inside our home. This is where PyxisCare came in.

 

I met Mindy through our children’s high school.  We started chatting while volunteering for a school event. After she explained what her company does, I knew her team could help make our home safe for Nathan.

 

When I first met our care coordinator, I felt immediately at ease. I knew I could trust her to find the resources so that my husband could remain safe and independent in our home for as long as possible.  Through her research, she found an occupational therapist who came to our house. She took time to understand Nathan’s illness, and then walked through our entire home making recommendations for making our house safe.  Our care coordinator worked with Medicaid and our long-term care insurance to make the accommodations.

 

In no time at all, our home was fitted with a chairlift so Nathan could get up and down the stairs safely, grab bars for the shower, a bedrail, and a ramp for our front porch.  Because of his cognitive decline, they suggested adding white boards on our walls to write out a schedule and daily reminders. In one final check, the PyxisCare team made sure that rugs were secured with non-slip grips, our lighting was sufficient, I knew how to use the fire extinguisher in the kitchen, and the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors were in working condition.

 

I felt comfortable knowing that Nathan could move safely around our home with these accommodations. Because PyxisCare offers a holistic family focused approach, our care coordinator helped our entire family. She understood how my role as a caregiver can feel overwhelming, and she suggested that I improve our home environment by creating a special place for myself. She asked me about my interests and with her guidance I created a meditation/journaling space in the corner of my office with a yoga mat, candles and spiritual books.  I use this place for self-care and when I need to regroup. With more peace and balance in my life, I am a better caregiver to my husband. Without the guidance of PyxisCare, I never would have thought of this.

 

The PyxisCare team understands that HD is a progressive disease and his needs will continue to change. But I know the team will be by my side for the journey.

 

An Ounce of Prevention

 

We’ve spent an inordinate amount of time over the past two years trying to avoid a deadly virus.  Pandemic avoidance has been a full-time job – and for some of us, a distraction from the routine… regular… even boring… job of preventative care.

Medical advances have changed our world for the better – but sometimes the things that really hurt us tend to be sneaky, silent. February is American Heart Health Month, and a good reminder that heart disease is still the #1 killer in the US annually, claiming more than 650,000 each year. More than covid, more than cancer.

I don’t know about you – but I am trying to minimize surprises in my life – especially bad ones. The more I know, the better.  The more I prevent, the better.

First, a small confession.  

I’m a little behind my preventative health maintenance schedule as well. And the more I ask friends, the more I see that “covid-time” has set most of us behind on the little things like annual or age-based cancer screenings, well-checks and even the dreaded weigh-ins.

One friend said it had been so long since she went to her gynecologist, she was too embarrassed to go back, and was just going to change doctors. That’s extreme – but shows how routine maintenance has fallen off the screen for some of us. Another found that the ages for suggesting cancer screens had changed since she had been to her primary care doctor, and she was way overdue to screen for some hereditary conditions.

I work in the healthcare and services field and have published papers on the topic of lack of preventative care and how it negatively affects care costs and overall health outcomes. The U.S. spends the most on care, but we are still one of the sickest first-world countries.  I think we can change that. Our nurses at PyxisCare are helping to change that for our clients every day. Even when we begin with clients as a result of trauma (stroke, heart attack, injury, accident, etc.) our goal is to get them into a proactive stance on their healthcare, if possible.

Take Your Doctor a Valentine – They Miss You

So, if you read this header and got a little nervous – don’t be overwhelmed.  Get out  your calendar and systematically call each of your doctors and confirm the last time you saw them – and make a new appointment. You won’t be sorry. If you’re like me, your physician, PA or nurse practitioner may be missing you. And take them a Valentine, because they’re taking care of your heart.  And all the other parts, too.

Mindy

MEET THE TEAM, BEATRIZ S.

 

“As a client service coordinator, I work with our nurses to ensure we deliver on our wholistic care plans. Whether it’s house maintenance, deciphering medical benefits, helping translate for Spanish-language preferred clients, or finding a doctor with a certain specialty, I meet clients where they are.”

–Beatriz S., Client Service Coordinator

Welcome to our new bilingual client services coordinator, Beatriz S. She comes from a strong background of serving others and will be working closely with the PyxisCare team to meet the needs of our clients and families.

Tell us about your position at PyxisCare.  I am a client service coordinator.  Through a relationship with our clients, I help them determine what services they need, and I do the research and get the services in motion.  The nurses on our team support clinical care and medical planning, and my role is assisting with the execution of the wholistic plan. Whether it’s related to house maintenance, deciphering medical benefits, helping translate for Spanish-language preferred clients, or finding a doctor with a certain specialty, I meet clients where they are.

A recent client needed help finding services covered by Medicaid. We looked at options available to allow her to stay home. Could she get transportation? How many hours could home health care come to her house? Was she eligible for physical therapy, occupational therapy or other medical treatments?  I outlined and confirmed all the options available to her.

How does your position partner with the other team members at PyxisCare?  The nurses at PyxisCare consult with the family first, and then I work directly with the clients on non-clinical issues. I work with families all over Texas and I meet clients in person or on Zoom if that’s a safer option for them.  The nurses and I collaborate to provide our clients the highest level of service and expertise.  The PyxisCare staff goes above and beyond for their clients and I am excited to be part of this team.

Tell us about your experience that brought you to PyxisCare. My life-long passion for helping others has led me to a variety of service-oriented roles as an adult. My career includes serving in the Navy, raising children while studying criminal justice in college, and working for an immigration law firm as a translator. I’ve also worked in our family insurance business, and prior to joining PyxisCare, I helped families as an employee with Child Protective Services.

At CPS I worked as an eligibility specialist and investigator.  As an eligibility specialist, I processed applications to determine what services were available to our clients, which was excellent preparation for doing quick research to find creative solutions for people in need.

What unique skills do you bring to PyxisCare?  Persistence, perseverance and grit are qualities I’ve acquired throughout my career, in every position I’ve held. I bring these skills and much more to our PyxisCare clients.

When I meet a new family, I approach them with an open mind, compassion and curiosity. I love learning their stories and it doesn’t matter what their background is or where they come from; I treat everyone the same. I dig deep to meet our clients’ needs – I will find a solution to make their lives better.  And if can’t find the answer right away, I will keep working until I find the answer.

I also speak and write Spanish and I have provided translation services in most of my jobs.  Growing up, my mom instilled the value of serving others.  I was often asked to translate for family members. Serving others comes easily to me – it’s part of my DNA.  I am excited to serve alongside the PyxisCare team.

 

 

 

MEET THE TEAM, LAUREN C.

“The nurses at PyxisCare collaborate and support each other to find the best care for our clients. We look at the big picture, not just a medical diagnosis, to help our families.”

–Lauren C., Nurse Client Advocate, RN

Please join us in welcoming registered nurse (RN) and nurse client advocate (NCA) Lauren C. to the PyxisCare team. We sat down with Lauren to talk about her role with PyxisCare.

Tell us how you chose nursing as your professional calling?  Nursing is my second career. I studied public relations in college, and my first job out of college was in the sports industry but I knew there was another career for me. My mom was a nurse and this field always intrigued me, so I went back to college.  I’ve been practicing for more than a decade and I enjoy every aspect of this field.  I am especially interested in the analytical side of nursing, understanding how the body works and analyzing data.

What is your role at PyxisCare? As a nurse client advocate, I use a holistic approach to help clients manage complicated health care situations. When I first meet a family, I begin with an assessment and formulate a plan. I examine all aspects of their situation including medical, psycho-social, environmental and financial factors.

Recently, we engaged a client who suddenly developed a serious, permanent medical condition. She was living in an assisted living facility but needed a higher level of care.  We looked at all aspects of her situation: With her new condition, what type of help would she need? What was her financial situation? Did a family member have Power of Attorney? What is the best fit for her:  at home with a caregiver or in a nursing home? I worked closely with her and her family to honor and meet her needs as an individual, not just someone defined by her medical condition. We value the whole person at PyxisCare and these are some of the things we consider when we meet a new client.

 What unique skills will you bring to PyxisCare?  My prior experience includes navigating complex cases in a variety of roles. Prior to joining PyxisCare, I worked in the Quality Compliance and Risk department at a hospital.  I was part of a team that analyzed data to enhance the patient experience. How can we decrease infections?  Is the hospital meeting state and federal guidelines?  Are we turning patients frequently so they are not getting ulcers?  Navigating complex medical situations transfers well to my role at PyxisCare. I adapt quickly to unique situations to ensure our clients are getting the best possible care.

I enjoy working with all clients, but I have a heart for the disabled and those with mental health issues. In an earlier role, I cared for disabled children with conditions such as cerebral palsy and rare neurological diseases. Many of these children are here for only a short time, but they have a huge impact. One client was nonverbal, but she could communicate what scared her, and what made her happy.  She lived in her own world, and I felt so grateful to be a part of increasing her quality of life.  I also enjoy working with people with serious mental illness. As a nurse, I’m devoted to supporting vulnerable populations.

 Why did you choose PyxisCare? The objective of the organization is brilliant. We work as a team to advocate for individuals or families facing life challenges by providing expertise and management to improve their quality of life. Our approach is holistic; we look at the big picture, not just the disease or diagnosis. The nurses collaborate and support each other to find the best care for our clients. There is a lot of collaboration between the staff. For example, if I’m not finding the best solution for a client, I can call another nurse on the team for assistance. I am excited to be part of the PyxisCare team.

NEW for 2022: FREE Holistic Wellness Apps

Going into our third consecutive year of the pandemic means we need all the support we can get.  Our mental health is just as important as our physical health, so enjoy this curated list of completely free resources that could make a huge difference in your emotional and mental well-being this year.

Scroll through the unique ways one could choose to destress – from workouts, to coloring, to reading. Some days I get frustrated with technology, but apps and remote personal services have come a long way. At $0.00, try them all, and Happy New Year!

  1. Tara Brach Meditation – It Works!

While there are lots of resources for meditation, Tara Brach is one of the best. Her website contains completely free guided meditations in multiple categories including basic, heart, and open awareness meditations. My favorite one so far, posted in January of this year is titled “What Matters to your Heart?” If meditation is your relaxation technique of choice, this option is for you.

  1. The Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout App

Meditation too calm?  Need something a bit more… active? The Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout App is a circuit training workout app that lets you squeeze exercise into your day at an intensity level that’s right for you. All you need is a chair and about seven minutes. The app has other options beyond the classic seven-minute routine, such as First Timer, Intermediate 16 Minute, and Core Workout. You can also create custom workouts by combining exercises right for you. Swipe the screen one direction, and you can pull in music from your phone. Swipe the other direction, and you see a running timer. This simple app is suitable for nearly anyone at any ability level at no cost.

3. Charity Miles: Start a Healthy Addiction

If running, walking, or bicycling are more your speed, we recommend Charity Miles. Use Charity Miles to log miles and they will donate to a non-profit, thanks to the generosity of corporate sponsors who agree to donate a few cents for every mile you complete. In exchange, you see their logos. You can also use the app to run pledge drives. Charity Miles supports a variety of nonprofit organizations, such as ASPCA, Habitat for Humanity, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, UNICEF, Save the Children, and the Wounded Warrior Project. Knowing that your activity supports charitable causes might just motivate you to move every day.

4. Yoga with Adriene: Find What Feels Good

Yoga with Adriene is a free Youtube Channel offering high quality videos for all levels, all bodies, all genders, and all souls. Adriene urges her viewers and subscribers to “Make time for you. Go deeper, have fun. Connect. Reconnect. Do your best, be authentic and “FIND WHAT FEELS GOOD” So if yoga is your go-to way to fight stress, this Youtube channel is for you.

5. A Crafty Way to Heal: DIY Bath Salts

The relaxation benefits of a warm bath and crafting are divine. Imagine combining them to create a project that will leave you feeling accomplished and relaxed. The link below includes 31 Homemade Bath Salt recipes that you can make with things you already have in your pantry! With salt, baking soda, oils, herbs, and fragrances of your choice, you can create the ultimate relaxation experience at little cost. https://www.sunrisespecialty.com/diy-bath-salts

6. Atmosphere

The undisputed champion of relaxation is sleep. A free favorite resource is Atmosphere, which customizes your sleeping environment though sound. Sounds include waves, rain, animals, traffic, music, fans and even their special binaural and isochronic sounds which can reduce anxiety, relax breathing, and even aid in healing. You can pick and choose different sounds from different scenes to create the perfect customized sleep atmosphere for you at absolutely no cost. Happy napping!

7. Free Playlists: From Pandora to Spotify

Many of us turn to music to process and destress from a hard day. Only you know what music brings you calm and healing. No matter where you find your music, you can find a specially curated playlist designed to aid in destressing. Try Pandora’s Relaxation station. Spotify offers several playlists geared toward relaxing. Youtube has a channel titled Soothing Relaxation. FREE, FREE and FREE.

8. Coloring Book for Adults: A Free App

The benefits of coloring for the mind are unquestionable. I’ve done the research and this app has MORE free options than other coloring apps. Coloring Book for Adults offers 168 colors – and all are free! You get 8 free drawings in the Relaxation category, plus several other categories. If you DO become addicted, you can buy a subscription and expand your choices. This coloring app is available on both iOS and Android.

9. The Libby App: Free & Easy Reading

Reading is relaxing and for the ultimate in convenience – the Libby app connects with the library closest to you through your library card and allows you to check out Kindle and other audiobooks.  Download Libby if you want the ability to escape into a fantasy romance, thrilling mystery, or historical biography with absolute ease.

10. Private Journaling? Yes, please, with Penzu

Penzu is a free online journal where you can type to your heart’s content. No one is going to steal a look at your innermost thoughts, because your secrets are password protected. Penzu also offers an app so you can. write or access an entry on the go. You can choose to purchase Penzu Pro which unlocks some design options, but all of the basic features are free, AND free of the annoying “buy now” reminders. While there are newer online journaling options, Penzu continues to have the best features available under the free option.

11. Crackle: Sometimes, TV is the answer

It’s a stretch to call TV “wholistic wellness” but really, we all use TV to zone out sometimes.  And that might be just what you need. Crackle is a free streaming option created by Sony with popular titles from the past such as Abbott and Costello, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Bonanza, The Greatest American Hero and many more. With a quick sign up, you get access to all of the shows and movies on their platform at no cost. So, if a little old fashioned feel-good TV is your destressing method of choice, Crackle is definitely the way to go.

As we move into a new year, we hope you find your way to better mental and physical health. I hope the resources above give you the break you deserve.

Mindy

A Fresh Start for 2022…or is it 2020, too?

Each January, we have a chance to begin anew.  Like most humans, I’m an optimist and always look for ways to improve myself, my family, my business and my team. I’ve found good advice, top trends, new knowledge, new technology and fresh tips so I can continue to do a little better, year after year. And I’ll share a few, below.

There are some realities we cannot escape.

For instance, the fact that we have just entered into the third calendar year of the COVID-19 pandemic. As much as we’d like to move on, it’s not exactly a bad habit we can shake. I have resolved to be more tolerant of the many phases an individual goes through as they navigate this long and exhausting multi-year health crisis.

This time last year, vaccines were becoming more widely available, which gave us all hope for a better year.  And now, anti-virals and other treatments are making their way into the marketplace.  But I’m also seeing schools consider going online again and countries shutting their borders for travel.

At this point, I’d say it’s more of a not-so-merry-go-round instead of a roller coaster.

How We’ll Do 2022

This year’s top trends echo last year’s most important areas of focus. And the first of those just happens to be one of PyxisCare’s aspects:

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: Health & Wellness Everywhere

Environment has always been a key aspect of how we evaluate our clients’ safety and wholistic wellness. In some ways, environment is THE determining factor (besides genetics) for how a person is able to manage and improve their health.

Safe environments for PyxisCare clients often mean environmental adjustments for elderly clients or use of advanced technology resources for disabled clients.

Wellbeing in the workplace is largely predicated on the work environment.  Those who have the ability to work from home or remotely can control risk factors like the spread of illness, air and light quality, noise and other controllable issues. However, much of the workforce transacts in person in retail or food establishments, meaning they have little control over what happens during work hours.

Employers are taking note and making their environments more appealing and safer with upgraded air filtration systems, open air spaces, and other small adjustments that they hope will help recruit and retain teams. These “perks” may even convert to real savings on premiums as insurance companies take note of workplace improvements. It’s been gratifying to help businesses large and small negotiate for better rates and build plans that allow for flexibility and better health for employees.

ALL EYES ON MENTAL HEALTH: 

If you haven’t noticed, mental health is on everyone’s minds. Another by-product of the pandemic, people are seeking outlets for their frustration, fear and exhaustion. As evidenced by PyxisCare’s clients, employers are taking more notice of not only the environmental conditions under which they work – as described above – but also the mental wellness of their workforce.

With nearly 40 million leaving the workforce in 2021, it was the year of “The Great Resignation” with many just saying that the wage did not justify the emotional toll the position.  As we have discussed, healthcare workers – especially nurses -are among the industries suffering the most.

Virtual care visits have become the norm as technology caught up with our needs. Even online appointments for mental health can be difficult to come by, as providers are overrun and in need of their own mental health vacation.

Mental health awareness (also known as psychosocial in PyxisCare’s priorities) isn’t new and it’s not going away, but personally I’m glad that more people are talking about it than ever.

KINDNESS & SINCERITY:

Ok well, I made this one up.  But there’s no harm in making a New Year’s wish – is there? In actuality, it IS a trend as people try to stem the tide of frustration, political division and health concerns, and learning to live in uncertain times. Humanity is craving togetherness after months of social distance and isolation.  Really – wouldn’t we all like a little Ted Lasso or British Baking Show in our lives? If this isn’t a trend, I say it’s a great beginning for 2022.

Happy New Year – I expect great things from 2022, and I wish you health and happiness.  

Mindy