Starting a Parish Health Panel:

Health promotion and disease and injury prevention has been a role of Anglican parishes since their inception.  I am volunteering to organize a panel of health care providers willing to be a part of a parish health panel that also serves our school.  No activities would be too lengthy; no one would be over committed.  Instead, we would all work together to improve parish health across our age groups, using our current skill sets. If you don’t know me yet, I am a chalicer, chair of the Green Team. and retired Germanna nursing professor.  I have an MSN in nursing, an active RN license, current BLS certification, current practice liability insurance, and will have a CPR instructor certification this spring.  Prior to that, I worked as a step-down nurse then staff educator at Fauquier Health.  Warrenton is my hometown.

My vision for a parish health ministry at St. James' church and school:  

·      Weekly newsletter entry, one paragraph in length, that works through topics of interest.

·      Those confusing blood pressure number… confusing blood fat numbers…confusing nutrition guidelines

·      Preventing falls

·      Making sense of research to prevent Alzheimer’s, stroke, and heart disease

·      Making sense of a drug monograph and how to read a prescription label

·      Groupings of prevention topics of interest to age groups: children, adolescents, young adults, young parents, middle adults, seniors, aging in place.

·      Monthly newsletter article of a few paragraphs that says what the panel has done and plans to do.  

·      Regular CPR, AED, and First AID courses on adults, children, and infants.  

·      Babysitting course for youth groups with CPR certification.

·      Hands on course on the use of assistive devices—canes, walkers, and wheelchairs.

·      Hands on course on how to transfer your loved one with restricted mobility.

Although everyone is busy, if each of us can provide a small task, together we will have a parish health ministry.  Please let me know your interest, even if limited, at ruth.fugee@gmail.com.  We can set up a phone call discussion if you wish.  Ruth Fugee, RN, MSN

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