National Family Caregivers Month—November 2015

National Family Caregivers Month

November 2015

At some point in our lives, most of us will become caregivers to someone we love—whether offering support as they age or providing care due to a medical issue or chronic health condition. The recent National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP joint report, Caregiving in the U.S. 2015, indicated that nearly 43.5 million Americans provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last year.

In addition to dealing with day to day living activities, family caregivers are often managing complex interactions with various providers, agencies, and healthcare professionals. They average about 24 hours a week on caregiving activities, although nearly a quarter provide more than 40 hours of care per week while also attempting to manage their personal health and wellness. These intense hours of caregiving can take a toll on the caregivers who, as a result, are more vulnerable to stress, financial strain, and health issues. During November, National Family Caregivers Month, we have an opportunity to recognize the critical and challenging role of family caregivers and to consider how to support these important members of society.

One way The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) is supporting these often unrecognized champions is through our current project to develop helpful resources for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Several caregiver modules are being developed for the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provide caregivers with strategies for more efficiently managing their personal health and wellness and that educate providers on how to integrate caregivers as active members of the care team. The caregiver modules will supplement a broad set of curricula for healthcare professionals on the identification and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. With a rapidly growing population of Americans over 65, many of whom are also family caregivers, it’s critical that caregivers have a source for accurate information, cutting edge strategies, and available resources.

Bizzell Supports the Nation’s Efforts on Emerging Behavioral Healthcare Trends

Bizzell Supports the Nation’s Efforts on Emerging Behavioral Healthcare Trends

The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) is pleased to kick off our second year of support to the Office of the Director (OD) for the Center for Mental Health Services within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). CMHS leads federal efforts to improve the quality and availability of prevention and treatment services for behavioral health disorders. To date, Bizzell has provided in-depth research and writing on current and emerging behavioral healthcare trends and practices in various media including speeches, blogs, PowerPoint presentations, white papers, reports, and issue briefs. Bizzell has also offered editorial and design support, meeting and retreat facilitation, leadership coaching, staff development and business process analyses.

Moving forward, Bizzell will deliver the same high quality services and offer our collective expertise in a wide range of behavioral health topics. These include evidence-based behavioral health and wellness practices, effective intervention and treatment strategies for people with serious mental illnesses, primary and behavioral healthcare integration and financing, homelessness services, mental health and recovery promotion, and cultural competency. “It’s been an honor to support CMHS’ essential mission to promote better healthcare and wellness for adults and children who experience mental illnesses,” said Anton Bizzell, M.D., CEO of Bizzell. “Given that nearly 20% of Americans experience a diagnosable mental illness each year, effective and accessible treatment and prevention services are crucial. Bizzell looks forward to continuing to promote CMHS’ vital initiatives by providing customized consultation services and subject matter expertise to CMHS in the areas of program and resource development, as well as business operations.” With a niche in healthcare, research and communications, Bizzell is committed to supporting initiatives like these that build healthy communities and individuals.

HRSA IDIQ Contract Awarded to Bizzell

HRSA IDIQ Contract Awarded to Bizzell

The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) celebrates the award of a critical Indefinite Delivery-Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the primary Federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.

Bizzell will provide technical and consultative assistance in support of HRSA grantees, including onsite and off-site visits and technical assistance (TA) for health centers, national cooperative agreements, State/regional primary care associations, FQHC Look-Alikes, universities, community-based programs, AIDS service organizations, grantees, etc.

The contract is intended to enhance overall primary health care program performance and management of grantee activities.  This particular award is perfectly aligned with Bizzell’s extensive experience in health care services and support.

Bizzell Supports Responsible Healthcare Provider Prescribing Education

Bizzell Supports Responsible Healthcare Provider Prescribing Education

By: Anton C. Bizzell, M.D.

December 10, 2013 – Opioid analgesics have become controversial drugs that are widely used for the management of moderate to severe pain, but are widely abuse and diverted for non-medical purposes. While there has been a marked decrease in the use of some illegal drugs, data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) show that nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over who used drugs for the first time in 2009 began by using a prescription drug non-medically.

Addressing the prescription drug abuse epidemic is a top priority for The Bizzell Group (Bizzell). Our staff designs, develops, and delivers specialized training and technical assistance for health care providers—from physicians to psychologists, social workers, substance abuse treatment staff, and peer counselors. We understand which tools and resources are the most effective for reaching and communicating with multiple specialized audiences including adults, teens, teachers, and medical professionals. In addition, we support the development and dissemination of sound educational programs for not only health providers, but also for the American public and other stakeholders.

“We provide comprehensive programs of support for efforts to reduce the burden of prescription drug use, misuse, and abuse on the American people”, says Anton Bizzell, MD, Bizzell’s CEO. “Currently, we are offering technical assistance and training that includes developing education courses for physicians, developing educational materials for dissemination, conducting literature reviews and analyses, developing and compiling best practices materials, and providing logistical support for meetings across the U.S”.