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Quality Assurance Updates

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Support, Inc. utilizes continuous quality improvement as an ongoing effort to evaluate our services, systems, and processes to identify problem areas and opportunities for improvement.  One of the ways we employ continuous quality improvement is through regular auditing completed by the Quality Assurance Department. These audits allow us to review service delivery and quality of care to the waiver participants we serve. Recently we redesigned our file review tool to bring all Support, Inc. services and departments into quality auditing practices. We are calling our new tool the mock audit. The mock audit is designed to mimic a CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) licensing visit. CDPHE is required to survey every service agency in Colorado every 3 years.

Utilizing our own mock audit allows us to assess areas that need improvement while also identifying areas we are exceeding. The mock audit will also allow the Quality Assurance department time to prepare our internal teams and our providers for a CDPHE visit. As part of the mock audit the Quality Assurance Department, in conjunction with the Residential Program Coordinator will complete a site visit to the residential settings represented in the sample.

The site visit will cover a review of the key areas CDPHE assesses when they do their visits. This includes review of medications, review areas of health and safety of the participant, and ensuring the provider understands the support needs outlined in the service plan of the participant(s) they serve.

In addition, if the participant attends the Support, Inc. day program the Quality Assurance team will do a site visit. The day program site visit will review medications, areas of health and safety of the participant, compliance with regulation required inspections and ensuring the staff understand the support needs outlined in the service plan of the participant(s) they serve.  It is the mission of the Quality Assurance Department to engage all Support, Inc. employees and contractors in the planning and implementing of ongoing improvements while utilizing data to improve the quality of care for the individuals we serve. We look forward to starting mock audits in June; if you have any questions, please do to hesitate to reach out to Laura Viers at Laura.Viers@supportinc.com

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Host Home Provider of the Month

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Please join us in congratulating our most recent recipient for Host Home Provider of the Month! Kathy Scheer has been nominated by the Denver Metro 2 Team. Read ahead for the write-up on behalf of her coordinator, Paulyn-

I would like to nominate Kathy Scheer for June HHP of the Month. I have been working with Kathy since January of this year and she has been nothing short of amazing. Kathy takes care of two individuals in services with us at Support, Inc but refers to them as her “peeps”. You can tell they absolutely adore Kathy as Tina will always ask me at every visit, “so when is Kathy going to get her provider of the Month award?”

My favorite thing about Kathy is that she doesn’t expect anything from her peeps that she won’t do herself. Roy has been struggling with a stiff back and refuses to do the stretching exercises. But when Kathy offers to join him, he will give in from time to time and join.

Kathy listens and understands her peeps so well that she was able to help Tina achieve her goal of losing 100 pounds, to be able to stand and mobilize more on her own. One day Tina went to Day Program and came home telling Kathy, “I got myself a job” with a big smile on her face. This accomplishment was achieved with the immense help and support from her HHP that fueled Tina’s drive to want to help others as well. Tina is now involved in a work study program 4 days a week, doing different tasks, in hopes of getting a paying job to earn some money to play at Black Hawk and go shopping.

Thanks again, Kathy, for being a shining example of a wonderful Host Home Provider!

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Support, Inc. Welcomes New Medical Coordinator

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Please join us in welcoming Robyn Richardson as our newest Medical Coordinator!

My name is Robyn Richardson, and I am a native to this beautiful state of Colorado. I have spent most of my time since 2012 working in veterinary medicine. I did general practice, some ER service, in home hospice and end of life care, and spent some time working with a traveling board-certified veterinary surgeon. I got to assist in amputations, TPLO (knee) surgeries, cardiac surgeries, and A LOT of puppy fractures. After deciding that I wanted to quit the physical veterinary technician duties, I tried to stay in the field by working as support staff and receptionist positions. COVID directed my passion towards helping people instead of their pets which has led me here, to Support, Inc. I am very excited to be a part of this team and I am thrilled to dive into the world of human services.

In my spare time, I spend time together with my husband Skyler, our 6-year-old son Caden, our two cats and husky. We like to enjoy what this state has to offer and hike, camp, and explore the outdoors. Or you can find us watching movies together, volunteering with our local church, or spending time we family. We are expecting another little boy to our family in October 2022. I am excited to work with all of you! (I am the woman on the far left of the attached picture, the other is my lovely mom).

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Happy Birthday Leslie!

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We have another birthday to celebrate this month- please join us in wishing Leslie a Very Happy Birthday! Leslie’s provider, Henry, relayed the following details to his team-

We celebrated her birthday a few days ago. After Nelke showered Leslie, we immediately decorated her room with birthday wishes. Here is Leslie with the surprise for her after the shower. For her special dinner, we arranged to have her dine at any of her favorite restaurants of her choice.

Unfortunately, she chose to dine in her room. She understood we could not crowd together due to COVID. I believe she was happy with the day. Here are some pictures of the surprise for her.

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Support, Inc. to Host Summer BBQ

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The STAR Committee, on behalf of Support, Inc., will host a summer BBQ in July! Consumers and their families, employees, providers and vendors are more than welcome to attend. Please see the flyer below for more details. We look forward to providing food and playing games. We will also have a raffles with prizes! This event will be a great opportunity for everyone to come together, as we haven’t had a large agency event like this in over two and a half years.

To volunteer and/or RSVP, please contact Nick at Nicholas.Manning@supportinc.com by July 14th.

We will not be able to accommodate special diets such as pureed or thickened liquids at this event. Should the individual in your care require something specific, please make your own arrangements prior to the event.

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Support, Inc. Welcomes New Clinician

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Please join us in welcoming our newest clinician, Claire Burke!

Hello everyone! My name is Claire Burke. I recently joined Support, Inc. as a new Clinician the first week of May. I am originally from Chicago but have moved around to other states such as Michigan, Tennessee, and now recently new to Colorado. I got my Bachelors degree in Social Work from Grand Valley State University and my Masters in Social Work from University of South Florida. In these programs I held internships in both an outpatient clinical setting at Hope Network as well as a crisis care specialist through Centerstone Crisis. Through these opportunities I was able to learn and develop skills in advocacy and assisting others in reaching goals they have in the areas of behavioral and mental health.

I enjoy spending time with my dogs and try to be outside as much as possible. My family and friends are a huge part of my life and I use any free time I have to spend time with them. I am extremely excited to be a part of such a dedicated and supportive team!

Looking forward to working with you all 😊

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Support, Inc. Welcomes New Medical Coordinator

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Please join us in welcoming Hannah Ivey as our newest Medical Coordinator!

My name is Hannah Ivey. I’m from Austin, TX and moved and have only been in Colorado since May 17th. I received my bachelor’s degree in Clinical Exercise Science with a minor in Healthcare Administration and hope to utilize that degree to bridge the gap in healthcare services to many populations. I have previously worked in vet medicine, cardiac rehabilitation, and optometry which has given me insight into various medical fields and driven me towards community health.

I hope to become an avid hiker, camper, climber, and be involved in snow sports in Colorado, but my tolerance to the altitude is not the best just yet! I look forward to learning from everyone and feel very fortunate to have found a team so aligned with my own goals.

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Abe is Living His Best Life Thanks to Agnes

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Moving from your family home to a new setting can be stressful and unfamiliar. But when Abe was matched to Agnes, his team felt confident this could be a great match.

Agnes came to us as a very strong and confident provider and also a breast cancer survivor. Danielle (Abe’s Residential Program Coordinator) relays that Agnes is always very humble, polite and respectful to talk with. We couldn’t think of anymore more deserving to win this recent Host Home Provider of the Month nomination!

Danielle submitted these details on Abe’s behalf- Agnes has been a great fit for Abe with his medical needs. Not only is Agnes a nurse with many years’ experience, she also understands the social and emotional needs of Abe. Abe had a great time visiting Glenwood Springs thanks to Agnes bringing him on a small weekend trip. Between joining Support, Inc.’s Day Program and living with Agnes, Abe has been happy as pie. One of his favorite things to do is listen to Garth Brooks with his provider!

Agnes knows another couple at Support, Inc. and they are Host Home Providers, as well. When Abe recently celebrated his birthday at the bowling alley, he had a great time hanging out with the other individuals in services. He loves outings to the bowling alley, so this was a real treat. In addition, Agnes has a young daughter, and Abe greatly enjoys spending time with her. His face lights up when he sees her, and he loved socializing with everyone in attendance. All in all, it was a wonderful day for Abe and his providers!

We cannot brag enough on Agnes’ behalf- Agnes, along with his guardian, make sure to take Abe to all of his doctor’s appointments in a timely manner. They ultimately ensure his needs are being met, and Abe has flourished in his new setting in the last several months. Agnes understands the importance of documentation and always keeps her team in the loop on recent updates. She knows how to manage his G-tube and provides the excellent medical care he deserves. The quality of life she relays remains top notch. We thank Agnes for being such a great provider and for going above and beyond on Abe’s behalf!

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month

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Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. During May, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) joins the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. For 2022’s Mental Health Awareness Month, NAMI will amplify the message of “Together for Mental Health.” We will use this time to bring our voices together to advocate for mental health and access to care through NAMI’s blog, personal stories, videos, digital toolkits, social media engagements and national events.

One in five adults experiences a mental health condition each year. This means mental illness stigma affects a significant chunk of the American population, including people in offices and worksites across the nation.  These numbers rose through the pandemic as people struggled with grief, isolation, economic hardships, and anxiety related to COVID-19. Because mental illness is so prevalent, conversations about mental illness are more important than ever but, that doesn’t mean these conversations are easy. Breaking the stigma and common misconceptions surrounding mental illness allows us all to live healthier and happier lives. Stigma is when someone, even yourself, views a person in a negative way just because they have a mental health condition. Learning how to avoid and address stigma are important for all of us, especially when you realize stigma’s effects:

  • People experiencing mental health conditions often face rejection, bullying and discrimination. This can make their journey to recovery longer and more difficult.
  • Mental health conditions are the leading cause of disability across the United States.
  • Even though most people can be successfully treated, less than half of the adults in the U.S. who need services and treatment get the help they need.
  • The average delay between the onset of symptoms and intervention is 8-10 years.
  • Suicide is the second leading cause of death of youth ages 15-24 and the tenth leading cause of death for all Americans.

Many people living with mental health conditions often don’t feel comfortable talking to friends and family. Even worse, individuals living with mental illness often internalize the stigma that exists in our culture, damaging hopes for recovery. Being aware of the language we use can be a good first step to reducing stigma.

You can read a message from the HCPF Executive Director regarding mental health awareness month in Colorado through this link.

You can also read the White House’ A Proclamation on National Mental Health Awareness Month, 2022 thought this link.

To learn more about NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and Mental health Awareness month, you can visit NAMI’s website through this link.

Every day brings new hope. Every day, we have an opportunity to help create broader understanding of mental health, overcome stereotypes and break down barriers. We can all do a little bit more each day to eliminate stigma and replace it with help and hope.