Texas EMS Magazine, Volume 17, Number 3, May/June 1996 Page: 49
66 p. : col. ill.View a full description of this periodical.
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Officer Michael Ramsey says his "heart
went out to Mrs. jamar-something had to
5e done to help her." Officer Ramsey has
been with the Austin Pohce Department for
seven years and has a brother who is alsc a
police officer.
transport for a patient who needs care but
is adamantly refusing? Ms. Jamar
represented the type of patient that we will
be seeing more of in the fubre: ron-
emergent but still in need cf our services.
Although we didn't consider a Code 3
response necessary, and a Code 3
transport wasn't even considered, Ms.
Jamar needed EMS. In the looming world
of managed care, managed cost and ever-
growing reduction of services, patients like
Ms. Jamar will be the easiest to allow t9
siip through the cracks. It's up to all of us
to see `hat this doesn't happen. -JEFF
RUBIN, AusTIN EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVIcES, Ausmj, TEXAS.
D orothy Jamar lived 12 days after
Austin EMS transported her to
the hospital. Randy Robbins visited
her every day while she was there and
says, "I ho-pe I did the right thing. I
always respected Dcrothy's wishes,
but getting Dorothy medical help
seemed very important and the only
right thing to do at the time." -DAge-related health problems
The Washington, D.C.-based Nutrition
Screening Initiative has come up with
an acronym-DETERMINE-to help
providers remember older patients' nutri-
tional risks.
Disease Any disease, illness, or chronic
condition that changes the way a patients
eats.
Eating poorly Eating poorly, both in
quantity and quality.
Tooth loss/mouth pain Missing, loose
or rotten teeth-as well as dentures that
fit poorly or cause mouth sores-make
it hard to eat.
Economic hardship As many as 40
percent of older Americans have in-
comes of less than $6,000 per year.
Reduced social contact One-third of
all older people live alone. Being with
people daily has a positive effect on
well-being, morale and eating.
Multiple medications The more medi-
cines taken, the greater the chance for
side effects like increased or decreased
appetite, change in taste, constipation,
weakness, drowsiness, diarrhea and
nausea.
Involuntary weight loss/gain Losing or
gaining weight without a conscious
attempt to do so.
Needs assistance in self-care Although
most older people are able to eat, one
in five has trouble walking, shopping,
buying and cooking food.
Elder years above 80 As age increases,
the risk of frailty and health problems
increases.
-Nutrition Screening Initiative, 2626
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Ste. 301,
Washington, DC, 20037.Texas EMS Magazine May/June 1996
49
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Texas. Department of State Health Services. Texas EMS Magazine, Volume 17, Number 3, May/June 1996, periodical, May 1996; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1507922/m1/49/: accessed June 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.