エピソード

  • How to Get More Help From Your Clinic: A New Caregiver’s Guide with guest Viki Droegkamp RN

    How to Get More Help From Your Clinic: A New Caregiver’s Guide with guest Viki Droegkamp RN
    2026/02/09

    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos interview RN Viki Droegkamp to help new family caregivers get more support from their primary care clinic. Viki explains that your clinic should act as the “hub” for coordinating care, and not just be a place for annual checkups, noting that caregivers shouldn’t have to manage everything alone. She outlines who to contact first, when to call directly versus messaging, and how clinics can help with care coordination, triage advice, transitional care management (TCM) after a hospital stay, and referrals for specialists, imaging, therapy, home health, oxygen, and other services.


    Pam and Linda also discuss with Viki the practical ways caregivers can reduce stress using MyChart (including proxy access), such as requesting medication refills, tracking lab results, reviewing provider notes, and staying on top of appointments and referral status. Viki shares key caregiver tips: keep MyChart messages short and clear with a direct question, avoid sending duplicate refill requests, and don’t rely on “Dr. Google.” She explains the common clinic supports that many families overlook, including help with prior authorizations, insurance coverage issues, preventive care reminders, forms, and driving safety concerns. The three outline clear next steps for caregivers: call your primary care clinic, ask what caregiver support services are available, and set up MyChart/proxy access to stay organized and informed.


    Key Moments:

    00:00 Primary Care Clinics: Your Caregiving Command Center

    02:00 Who to Call First at Your Clinic

    04:00 Call vs MyChart: How to Get Faster Answers

    05:00 Medication Refills and Controlled Drugs Explained

    06:30 Prior Authorizations and High-Cost Medications

    08:00 Clinic vs Urgent Care vs ER: What to Do When

    09:00 Post-Hospital Follow-Ups and Transitional Care

    10:00 Referrals, Home Health, and Insurance Navigation

    17:30 Managing Chronic Conditions Through Primary Care

    22:00 Vaccines, Preventive Care, and Medicare Visits

    25:00 Forms, FMLA, and Driving Safety Decisions

    29:30 MyChart Tips: Proxy Access and Messaging Mistakes

    __

    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

    • Prep Guide for Doctor's Visits

    —


    Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:

    • Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.com
    • Facebook: @Your RNAdvocate
    • Pinterest: @YourNurseAdvocate
    • Instagram: @YourRNAdvocate
    • Linkedin: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    • YouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    続きを読む 一部表示
    58 分
  • New Caregiver: First 30 Days

    New Caregiver: First 30 Days
    2026/01/26

    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos introduce a practical “new caregiver roadmap” designed to guide adult children, spouses, and long-distance family members through the first 30 days of stepping into caregiving. Perhaps a loved one has had a fall, a new diagnosis, or a recent hospital stay. Whatever the situation, Pam and Linda’s goal is simple: help new caregivers feel less overwhelmed by offering a calm, step-by-step plan that prioritizes stabilizing immediate risks, building basic organization systems, and creating sustainable support without trying to solve everything at once.


    Pam and Linda break the roadmap into three phases. Days 1–3 focus on stabilizing, starting with immediate safety risks and identifying which issue is most likely to trigger an ER visit if ignored. Days 4–14 shift into organizing, including building a care team contact list, setting one consistent communication method, and establishing one place to track everything from appointments to medications. Days 15–30 are about supporting and sustaining, clarifying what “better” looks like for the loved one, confirming legal essentials, and identifying gaps like transportation, meals, bathing safety, supervision needs, and respite options. Pam and Linda discuss common early mistakes that can snowball into crises, and also stress that caregiving works best when roles match people’s strengths. The episode offers valuable insight with practical tools such as a one-page “who to call” sheet, medication list, and a downloadable caregiver starter kit to give anyone new to caregiving the confidence needed to take the first steps.

    __


    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

    • “The First 10 Things to Do When You Become a New Caregiver” blog post
    • New Caregiver Starter Kit
    • Your Nurse Advocate Now Monthly Program
    • The First 10 Cheat Sheet (download link)
    • Medication List (download link)

    —


    Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:

    • Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.com
    • Facebook: @Your RNAdvocate
    • Pinterest: @YourNurseAdvocate
    • Instagram: @YourRNAdvocate
    • Linkedin: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    • YouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    続きを読む 一部表示
    42 分
  • Cannabis & Care: The Truth About CBD, THC & Aging Well with Susan Marks, N.P. “The Cannabis Nurse”.

    Cannabis & Care: The Truth About CBD, THC & Aging Well with Susan Marks, N.P. “The Cannabis Nurse”.
    2026/01/12
    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos welcome Susan Marks, the Cannabis Nurse, to the show to unpack the myths, misinformation, and mystery surrounding medical cannabis use. Susan is a board-certified family medical practitioner with clinical experience in adult surgical practice, pediatric oncology, hematology, home care, case management, disease management, and risk management. She also uses cannabis medically to manage the symptoms of her progressive neurological movement disorder, Essential Tremor. Susan explains cannabinoids, how they interact with the body and brain, the differences between THC and CBD, and the pain and symptom relief she’s seen patients achieve through medical cannabis use.Susan first debunks the idea that cannabis is a scary thing, a gateway drug to heroin use, something to steer clear of. She says that couldn’t be farther from the truth and, in fact, cannabis is now being used to help get people off opioids and reduce their risk of fatal overdose as well as manage their pain. Cannabinoids, the compounds in the cannabis plant, operate by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, the body’s largest neurotransmitter system. Only one compound in the cannabis plant, THC, creates psychoactivity, the stoned feeling, whereas CBD acts largely as a muscle relaxant and anxiety reducer. Pam and Linda learn all about how THC and CBD work in different combinations to relieve a host of pain and disease issues, finding out from Susan how effective proper medical cannabis use can be in reducing the number of pharmaceutical medications aging clients need to take. This episode will help open minds to the enormous medical and life-improving care that cannabis can provide if we step back from fear and learn how it can benefit us.__ About Susan Marks, N.P. “The Cannabis Nurse”:Susan Marks, MSN, FNP-C, PHN, specializes in cannabis medicine. She got into medical cannabis almost 8 years ago when she went searching for an alternative to Primidone (an anti-convulsant), which she was taking for a progressive neurological movement disorder called Essential Tremor. The effects of Primidone were intolerable; it was as if her brain was no longer her own. Her tremors were getting so bad that she could barely drink out of a glass without spilling water everywhere, so she couldn't just stop the medication; she needed to find an alternative. During her months of medical research, cannabis kept coming up as a possible treatment for seizures, Parkinson's Disease (dyskinesia), and movement disorders associated with neurodegenerative diseases. As she weaned off of Primidone, she began adding her dose of cannabis, which included CBD, THCA, and a small amount of THC at night. Not only was she able to discontinue the Primidone, but her tremors were significantly better. Susan’s improvement and stillness were noticed by friends and family, and they began asking her to help them use cannabis for their medical issues. That was the beginning of her cannabis consulting business, which she calls Nurse Susan. Susan still works with patients, but now she is teaching other nurses how to be a cannabis consultant, either as a part-time income or a full-time business.__Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Weed - CNN Special Documentary: ​​https://youtu.be/-SZzgfyXhJI?si=Xxy3N_Dx7zi3sL3gDr. Sanjay Gupta: Weed 6 - Cannabis and Autism: https://youtu.be/E6xpAzqzhnI?si=5xDNlg9GykGdFpyZ—Contact Susan Marks, MSN, FNP-C, PHN:Website: DearNurseSusan.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-edith-marks-msn-fnp-c-phn-a811558/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEC2ccZQFhUlyu9-OTc9TvQContact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting: Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.comFacebook: @Your RNAdvocatePinterest: @YourNurseAdvocateInstagram: @YourRNAdvocateLinkedin: Your Nurse Advocate ConsultingYouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    続きを読む 一部表示
    38 分
  • New Year, New Possibilities: Empowering Aging Adults & Families for a Safe, Connected 2026

    New Year, New Possibilities: Empowering Aging Adults & Families for a Safe, Connected 2026
    2025/12/29

    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos guide aging adults and their families through four key areas that shape a safe, purposeful, and well-supported start to 2026: winter safety, social connection and purpose, advanced life planning, and preparing for possible relocation. They discuss how aging adults often shift their New Year priorities from material goals to emotional ones, such as wanting more time with loved ones, and address the unique challenges aging adults face that require realistic and supportive goals set alongside families.

    Linda highlights how winter creates serious risks for older adults, including slips, power outages, and difficulty managing medications, groceries, and transportation. Social isolation is a major health risk, and Pam shares striking statistics showing that one-third to half of older adults experience loneliness. They explain the critical need to review important documents at the start of each year, such as healthcare power of attorney, financial power of attorney, wills, and estate plans. And they outline signs that it may be time for a relocation. Aging is a journey best approached with planning, compassion, and teamwork, and Pam and Linda are here to guide every family through it with grace.

    __

    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

    • “11 Signs Your Aging Parent May Need Help in the Home” Checklist: https://wfn2dovb.pages.infusionsoft.net/?cookieUUID=55c1681e-d914-4910-beb2-ca72305fdf74&affiliate=0
    • Checklist on Advance Life Planning: https://yournurseadvocate.yournurseadvocateconsulting.com/advance-life-planning-checklist.html
    • Senior Relocation Ready Checklist: https://yournurseadvocate.yournurseadvocateconsulting.com/senior-relocation-guide.html
    • “Winter Safety Tips for Older Adults” from HealthInAging.org: https://healthyagingcore.ca/files/preview/29493
    • Age Friendly Community Guide and Checklist: https://yournurseadvocate.yournurseadvocateconsulting.com/age-friendly-community.html
    • Fall Prevention Checklist and Guide: https://yournurseadvocate.yournurseadvocateconsulting.com/fall-prevention.html
    • FAQ Family Caregiving Guide: https://yournurseadvocate.yournurseadvocateconsulting.com/caregiver-faqs.html
    • Long Distance Guide and Checklist: https://yournurseadvocate.yournurseadvocateconsulting.com/long-distance-caregiving-tool-kit.html
    • Neighborhood Age Friendly Checklist: https://yournurseadvocate.yournurseadvocateconsulting.com/age-friendly-communities.html
    • Free Senior Saturday Newsletter: https://juwyexd7.pages.infusionsoft.net


    —


    Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:

    • Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.com
    • Facebook: @Your RNAdvocate
    • Pinterest: @YourNurseAdvocate
    • Instagram: @YourRNAdvocate
    • Linkedin: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    • YouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    続きを読む 一部表示
    45 分
  • What a Death Doula Can Teach Us About Living and Dying Well

    What a Death Doula Can Teach Us About Living and Dying Well
    2025/12/15
    Hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos welcome death doula Crystal Flores, Founder of The Grateful Death, to the show to explain what a death doula is and the dignity and compassion they can bring to end-of-life care. There are misconceptions and plenty of questions surrounding end-of-life experiences, which Crystal very openly and candidly answers for Pam and Linda. This conversation sheds light on what VSED and MAID are, what a death doula does, and how Crystal works with the client and hospice to provide a meaningful experience for the client and their loved ones.VSED, Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking, and MAID, Medical Assistance In Dying, are processes that Crystal breaks down in detail, explaining who qualifies and when, why a client might choose either experience, and how she and her team ensure compassion and alleviate fears surrounding death. Pam and Linda dive into what it looks like for a death doula and hospice to work side by side for a client and learn how Crystal helps build bridges between what clients want for their end-of-life experiences and informing families about those choices. Empowerment for the client and education for all involved are utmost in the death doula experience. Through her company, The Grateful Death, and also The Grateful Mess, Crystal provides dignity and honor to those facing end-of-life decisions.__About Crystal Cannon Flores:Crystal Cannon Flores is a Death Doula in Seattle, serving clients throughout Western Washington. She is the Founder of The Grateful Death®, an organization that offers Care, Comfort, and Coaching for a meaningful end-of-life experience.In 2015, Crystal found her calling when she met death unexpectedly and intimately when her parents passed within weeks of each other. She wasn't exploring end-of-life careers, but the work found her, and she's never looked back. Today, she dedicates her life to empowering and educating families to bring the human experience back to bedside work with clients and by coaching aspiring death doulas who want to serve their communities. Her mission is to disarm the fear surrounding death and honor the process through educational workshops, mentorship, volunteering, retreats, creative expression classes, and doula care. Crystal studied at The Institute of Integrative Nutrition, where she learned from Wellness Extraordinaires like Gabby Bernstein, David Wolfe, Deepak Chopra, and more. She trained with INELDA and is certified by Doulagivers. Crystal specializes in V.S.E.D. (voluntary suspend eating and drinking), a legal and compassionate alternative strategy for clients who do not qualify for life-ending medical treatment. She offers in-person support in the Greater Seattle Area and virtual support across the United States.__ Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Crystal Cannon Flores | Founder of The Grateful Death: https://www.thegratefuldeath.org/Email: Hello@TheGratefulDeath.Org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegratefuldeathseattle/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegratefuldeathseattle/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-cannon-flores-05a42520/Search for an End-of-Life Doula: International End-of-Life Doula Associationhttps://inelda.org/Doulagivers Institute Directoryhttps://doulagivers.com/find-a-end-of-life-doula/ Ever Loved Directoryhttps://everloved.com/death-doulas/General resource on VSEDhttps://vsedresources.com/education-outreach/vsed-faq—Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting: Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.comFacebook: @Your RNAdvocatePinterest: @YourNurseAdvocateInstagram: @YourRNAdvocateLinkedin: Your Nurse Advocate ConsultingYouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    続きを読む 一部表示
    48 分
  • Cracking the Hospice Code: Debunking the Top 10 Misconceptions of Hospice

    Cracking the Hospice Code: Debunking the Top 10 Misconceptions of Hospice
    2025/12/01

    Hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos set the record straight on what hospice is and is not about in this episode. They address the top ten misconceptions people have about hospice care, misconceptions that hold people back from choosing hospice for themselves or loved ones. Pam and Linda both have practical experience in hospice and share stories from their book, “Cracking the Hospice Code: Your Nurse Advocates Debunk the Top Ten Misconceptions of Hospice”, that will change minds about the reality of hospice.

    The top ten misconceptions addressed include the belief that hospice is only for people with one foot already in the grave, that hospice will involve a lot of out-of-pocket expense, that morphine kills, and even the misconception that once someone enters hospice, they can’t leave. Pam and Linda debunk each of the ten myths with facts and truths about what hospice care really involves. They tell stories of clients who greatly benefited from hospice. And they provide assurance that the needs and wants of the client in care are of the utmost priority.


    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

    • “Cracking the Hospice Code: Your Nurse Advocates Debunk the Top Ten Misconceptions of Hospice” by Linda Kritikos, R.N. and Pam Dunwald, R.N.
    • Free Checklist and Guide "Should I Consider Hospice?"

    —


    Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:

    • Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.com
    • Facebook: @Your RNAdvocate
    • Pinterest: @YourNurseAdvocate
    • Instagram: @YourRNAdvocate
    • Linkedin: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    • YouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting


    —
    続きを読む 一部表示
    18 分
  • Avoiding Hospital Readmissions

    Avoiding Hospital Readmissions
    2025/11/17

    Hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos discuss the issue of hospital readmissions, why they occur, and how they can often be prevented. Hospital readmission is defined as a return to the hospital within thirty days of the patient’s discharge. Often, readmissions occur due to miscommunication, misunderstanding, or medication changes. Advocates, like the type provided by Your Nurse Advocate Consulting, can reduce hospital readmissions by 30%. Join Pam and Linda to find out how.

    Hospital readmissions are not just frustrating and discouraging; they can be risky and costly as well. Pam and Linda break down common reasons older adults tend to end up back in the hospital: 1. Confusing or incomplete discharge instructions, 2. Medication errors or missed prescriptions, 3. Lack of follow-up appointments, and 4. Unaddressed symptoms or complications at home. These reasons can be prevented with a nurse advocate on hand. An advocate clarifies all instructions and medications, tracks doctors’ discharge summaries, makes follow-up appointments, and ensures the transition from the hospital to the next step is smooth and organized.


    __

    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

    • “Senior Relocation Guide and Checklist”: free transition resource
    • Schedule A Free 30-Minute Call

    —


    Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:

    • Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.com
    • Facebook: @Your RNAdvocate
    • Pinterest: @YourNurseAdvocate
    • Instagram: @YourRNAdvocate
    • Linkedin: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    • YouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    続きを読む 一部表示
    14 分
  • How to Prepare for This Year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment Period With Wendi Schoonover

    How to Prepare for This Year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment Period With Wendi Schoonover
    2025/11/03

    Host Pam Dunwald explores what listeners need to prepare for the Medicare annual enrollment period in this episode. Pam is joined by guest Wendi Schoonover, the owner and founder of Integrity Insurance Group. Wendi has 16 years of experience in the industry, and started her own agency in 2018 to take a more educational and advocacy-based approach with clients. Pam asks Wendi key questions about Medicare: everything we need to know about insurance options, cost, and how to get ready for annual enrollment.


    Wendi explains the differences between the Medicare annual enrollment period, which starts in October, and the subsequent open enrollment period, and clarifies what requirements, if any, are needed for initially starting out with Medicare. Pam asks Wendi a host of vital questions, including the differences between a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medigap plan, what is covered by each part of a plan, the differences in cost, and how to prepare for meeting an advisor. Wendi contains a wealth of knowledge about all things Medicare and health insurance, which she gladly shares to demystify some of the confusion and misinformation about Medicare Advantage, premiums, and supplements.


    About Wendi Schoonover:


    Wendi founded Integrity Insurance Group in 2018. She is a veteran of the insurance industry with over 16 years of experience. She envisioned an agency that was client-focused, not sales-driven—a place where people could get honest advice and exceptional service without the pressure.


    —



    Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos| Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:

    • Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.com
    • Facebook: @Your RNAdvocate
    • Pinterest: @YourNurseAdvocate
    • Instagram: @YourRNAdvocate
    • Linkedin: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    • YouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting


    Contact Wendi Schoonover | Integrity Insurance Group:

    • Website: IIGTulsa.com
    • TikTok: @WenInTulsa
    • Phone: 918-600-2133

    —
    続きを読む 一部表示
    42 分