Newspaper Articles
Akron Beacon Journal, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2003
The Repository (Canton, OH), Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2003
Springfield News-Sun (Associated Press), Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2003
The Independent (Massillon, OH), Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003
The Independent (Massillon, OH), Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003

A community forum was created in the spring of 2003 to evaluate the concept of a Caring Communities pilot program in Stark County, Ohio in conjunction with emergency responders and members of the community serving the older, frail and disabled population. Since a form that provided current information about a resident would increase the likelihood of receiving timely and appropriate intervention when police, fire and emergency personnel are called to the home in case of a medical emergency, the participants began to create a VITAL HEALTH RECORD.

In addition to basic medical information and emergency contact numbers, this form contains suggestions on how to best facilitate communication when there are hearing, vision, speech or memory difficulties that can make it difficult for someone to provide all the needed information. In an emergency situation, every minute counts and access to updated medical information can save not only time but lives.

On November 11, 2003 there was a kickoff program at the Canton Regency Retirement Community where these meetings had been held. There was a distribution of 5000 VITAL HEALTH RECORDS that were made possible through the generous donations of several companies. Our pilot project is about enlarging the scope of our Caring Communities and getting this information into every household in Stark County.

Some communities in Stark County may already have a program in place and we encourage everyone to support the availability of information in the homes whether it is the VITAL HEALTH RECORD or another format and to create a program so that reminders to update these forms are provided on a regular basis. If you already have a working program, you are welcome to take at look at the information on our VITAL HEALTH RECORD and incorporate whatever information you feel will be helpful in your current form. There are some additional checklists and details that emergency responders are finding to be very helpful and we are pleased to share that with you.

Guidelines for your Starter Kit

1. The VITAL HEALTH RECORD is a two-sided form printed on an 8 ½ x 14 inch piece of paper. There is also an instruction sheet that
needs to accompany each form.
• Recommend using pale yellow paper if possible. Do not use blue or green or glossy white paper.
• The instruction sheet is the first page and the reverse side of it is blank so that the VITAL HEALTH RECORD can be printed on the front and back of the second page.
• Place a label on the front of the baggie that says VITAL HEALTH RECORD and use large red print.
2. Each family member needs to complete a form. If someone is unable to do this, please encourage someone to complete the information for them and then provide their name on the line at the bottom of the first page indicating they assisted with the completion of the form.
• It is important that each question be answered as completely and as accurately as possible.
• Recommend the use of a pencil or an erasable pen so that changes or updates can be easily made.
• If needed, enlarge the form for someone with visual limitations.
3. Updating the form each time there is a change in the provided information is essential. A suggestion would be to make it a habit to also recheck the form to make sure it has the most current information when the clocks are changed twice a year.
4. Fold the form in thirds and then fold it again in half to easily fit into a sandwich-sized baggie. Several forms will fit into one baggie.
• Peel off the backing to the sticky strip(s) on the back of the baggie.
5. Stick the baggie to the right side wall of the refrigerator below the level of the first shelf.
6. If the baggie becomes damaged or is not longer sticking to the wall easily, replace the bag and get some double-sided sticky tape to reapply it to the refrigerator wall.
7. This form does not ask for a list of medications. Medications should be kept together and the VITAL HEALTH RECORD asks for location(s) so that emergency responders can locate them quickly. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT if the most appropriate and timely medical care is going to be received.
8. If possible, make a copy of the form each time it is updated it so that that there is an extra copy in case it is necessary to take this form to the hospital.
9. For additional for VITAL HEALTH RECORD packets in Stark County, contact Kris Mariotti at the Canton Regency Retirement Center at 330-477-7664. If you would like to be part of this project please go to www.connectionsincommunication.com/caringcommunities to download the most current VITAL HEALTH RECORD form and instructions to help you get started. You will be asked to register so that we can provide you with any updates.
10. If you are interested in starting a Caring Communities program with the VITAL HEALTH RECORD in your community send an email to kathy@connectionsincommunication.com for information.
11. Encourage participants in this program to tell their family, friends and neighbors about the VITAL HEALTH RECORD information form when they have completed one for themselves.

To Distributors of the Vital Health Record

Supplies you will need:

FORMS, LABELS, BAGGIES, DOUBLE SIDED STICKY TAPE

Resource information for Stark County

• FORMS DONATED BY PINNACLE PRESS at 330-453-7060
• VITAL HEALTH RECORD LABELS PRINTED BY PINNACLE PRESS at 330-453-7060
• STICKY BACKING AVAILABLE 1 roll - 1 inch by 216 feet - $20
• Contact kathy@connectionsincommunication.com to order your roll
• BAGGIES - SANDWICH SIZE - Try local discount stores