Outreach Referral Programs: MicroCheck Program

'MicroCheck' stands for Monitoring of Individuals in the Community and Reporting Observations CHECK.

The “MICRO-CHECK” Program is a preventative health maintenance program, designed & implemented by the Mount Newton Centre in 1979 to provide a “safety net” for independent seniors wishing to remain at home.

The Program consists of “on-going” and/or tailor made flexible services and supportive visits to the homes of seniors by the Centre’s Registered Nurses. It is a loosely structured program, designed to “fill the gaps” in service delivery on a space available basis, and is responsive to the many and varied needs of the individual not offered by Home Support Services, or procedures as offered by the Long Term Care Home Nursing Care Program.

Each individual visit is documented in a written progress report. “MICRO CHECKS” are provided with NO FEE, being funded by Mount Newton Centre fundraising initiatives, donations and the United Way.

HOURS OF OPERATION

The Program operates Sunday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 12:30p.m.

On Saturdays, medication reminder calls are made by phone, not in person.

TARGET POPULATION

This program is particularly beneficial for “at risk” individuals experiencing:

• History of non-compliance of medication
• Memory impairment
• Depression
• Poor Vision
• Loss of dexterity
• Loneliness
• Confusion with changes of, and numbers of, caregivers
• Mobility problems
• Problems understanding and/or accepting the Long Term Care Process
• Temporary loss of support system (i.e. family on holiday)
• Difficulties because of residency ineligibility for BC Programs

SERVICES PROVIDED DURING VISITS

During short visits by Mount Newton Centre’s Registered Nurses, they check on:

• Oral medication compliance
• Occasional injections (e.g. B12, Calcimar)
• Measuring blood pressures, blood sugars, and weight
• Client well being and safety
• Nutritional status (e.g. availability & consumption of appropriate foods)
• Assistance reading or sending mail
• Daily Oral Medication Administration Service
• At the request of the physician, Long Term Care, Elderly Outreach Service, family etc.
• Comprehensive on-going 6 day a week service
• Daily administration and/or set up of dosette by R.N.
• Provision of daily or weekly dosettes, if needed
• Re-ordering, picking up and the setting up of ongoing medication
• Once daily medications are preferred for compliance assurance, however, a daily check on the consumption of evening medication can be arranged if required
• Regular liaison with participant’s physician
• Regular liaison with participant’s pharmacist
• Saturday and Statuary Holiday medications left with phone reminder

In addtion, the Centre's Registered Nurses assist with medical appointments including:

• Initiating appointments
• Transportation – set up with Home Support Worker, Volunteer Driver, or family. Local drive by nurse if necessary
• Liaison with physician following appointment (e.g. medication changes)
• On-going monitoring

REFERRALS:

Referrals are accepted from:

• Family, neighbours, friends
• Physicians
• Community Health Care Professionals such as Home Nursing Care, Elderly Outreach Service, Veterans Affairs, and community rehabilitation
• Acute Care Hospitals
• Vancouver Island Health Authority Programs, including Long term Care Home support agencies including private agencies, and Adult Day Centres