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Special
News Articles: Department
News: General
Information: Click here to subscribe
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Special
News Articles On April 3rd, 2004 the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology will be sponsoring a Gastroparesis symposium in Baltimore Maryland. A special Track will be held that will be geared specifically for patients. This program aims to present the most current diagnostic and management modalities available for Gastroparesis today. Future therapies will be identified as well as discussion on how to improve quality of life for patients with Gastroparesis.
The patient track will be available via a live web cast with audience feedback on the day of the event for those who can not attend in person. There is a registration fee for the event. For more information please visit the website at http://www.hopkinscme.org/cme/events/gastropar04.html#top
We encourage you all to pass this information on to your personal physicians, as they are the ones that need to further their education on Gastroparesis. By doing so, this will benefit you as a patient as well!
The registration fee will be reduced from the regular registration price of $40 to $10, just for mentioning G-PACT!!! Sign up now. We hope to see you there!
Send your ideas on how to make events like this more accessible to patients by writing to Veronica Pennington at vpennington@g-pact.org
Digestive Disease Week (DDW) will be held in New Orleans, LA from May 15-20 and G-PACT is proud to announce that we will be an exhibitor this year! You can learn more about DDW by going to http://www.ddw.org/programInfo/
The Patient Awareness Liaison Program (a.k.a. PAL) was launched in August 2003. This is a program for Gastroparesis sufferers, who have questions about this illness, need someone with an attentive ear to listen, or who may need information for handling an insurance denial. This is an excellent way to offer support and answer questions for Gastroparesis sufferers and family because it offers a personalized and precise support for those who use the service. G-PACT provides five 1-800 numbers* for callers to use when in need of support
If you are in need of individualized assistance or support, you will find information on each of the active volunteers on the website and in the monthly e-mail newsletter.
*G-PACT would like to thank Medtronic for sponsoring this very important program!
Current PAL Volunteers:
Jo
F -Age:
50 -GP History: Diagnosed with gp in 3/02, but was sick for years before that -Areas of experience: diet, medication, treatment options, botox -Marital/Family Status: Married, two children, age 23 and 10 -Time Zone: Eastern -Available hours: 4-7 PM M-F, 9pm-1am M-F -Toll Free: 1-866-58-GPACT
Lila
L -Age: 62 -Location: Orlando, Florida -Area of knowledge: General Gastroparesis Issues and Procedures and Gastroparesis Patient Support -Connection to Gastroparesis: Friend diagnosed with idiopathic Gastroparesis -Marital/Family Information: Retired, Wife, Mother and Grandmother -Time Zone: Eastern -Available Hours: Monday- Friday 12pm-3pm -Toll Free: 1-866-59-GPACT
Diane
C. -Age: 45 -Location: Western Tennessee -GP History: Diagnosed 7 years ago, have suffered with symptoms of GP for at least 10 years, but probably back to teenage years -Areas of Experience: abdominal x-rays, upper GI barium x-rays, lower GI barium enema with x-rays, abdominal CT Scan, MRI, Endoscopy, EGD, ERCP, Gastric Emptying Scan, Anal Mamometry, Endoscopic Gastric Motility Probe, Esophageal Mamometry, Sitz Marker x-ray -Past Surgical Procedures: Appendectomy, Gall Bladder Removal Internal Anal Sphincterectomy -Current Medical Diagnoses: Type II Diabetes, GERD, IBS, Asthma, Gastroparesis, Chronic Pseudo-Obstructive Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Pancreatitis, Chronic Hepatitis (due to elevated cholesterol) -Available Hours: 9 AM- Noon MWF, 3 PM-6 PM T, R, Sat -Toll
Free: 1-866-60-GPACT
Restaurant
Cards are available!!
G-PACT has created personalized restaurant cards in the size of business cards for all people dealing with gastroparesis. They can be used at restaurants when a GP patient needs to order a meal in a smaller portion. These cards request that people with GP be allowed to order off the child or seniors menu, or share a dinner with another customer.* This help patients reduce the cost of meals and amount of wasted food they cannot finish. They are free to anybody with gastroparesis. Just send an SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope) to the following address to request your card. Please include your name so we can personalize it for you. If you lose your card, we will replace it. We have received excellent responses about this program! G-PACT Ohio Office P.O. Box 674 Bellefontaine, OH 43311 -0674
Your card is usually shipped within the same week it is received. If you have any questions please contact Veronica at vpennington@g-pact.org
* G-PACT can not guarantee the acceptance of the card.
Department
News
G-PACT has made many changes to our volunteer application process. Applications are now online so anybody may request to volunteer while surfing our website and learning about us! The new process is easy, quick, and efficient! Jo Fick, Volunteer Coordinator, will work with each applicant on an individualized basis to determine the best ways for you to use your skills and interests! We offer many various opportunities, so there should be an area of interest for just about everyone! Click here to fill out the application now!
Volunteer Job Opportunities are available in G-PACT!!
G-PACT is growing rapidly, and as a result, we are in need of increased assistance! Although we have added many volunteers in recent months, we have many opportunities still available. There are a wide range of opportunities for various projects. Jo, Volunteer Coordinator, will work with you on an individualized basis to determine which position you will enjoy! This is a great opportunity for anyone, but especially those who are unable to work, need voluntary projects they can do from home, and want to reach very important goals throughout the nation!
To help guide you to finding the right position within G-PACT, we have labeled each position with "Active Levels". The Active Levels are as follows:
High- This is a high priority position, usually a department head requiring a substantial number of volunteer hours and a large commitment.
Medium- This position will require fewer commitment hours, however, the hours that are requested are very important (e.g. Board meeting attendance, registration completions)
Low- This position offers a wide range of opportunities for people interested in assisting G-PACT on a smaller scale if health or other commitments interfere with being able to donate a large amount of time.
Publications Director Active Level: High
He or she oversees/develops G-PACT's newsletter and other organizational articles by writing, editing, and/or compiling text provided by other volunteers. In addition, he/she will write articles or update information for the webmaster to post to G-PACT's website. The Publications Director is a Board member and required to attend quarterly Board meetings via AOL messenger.
Research Director Active Level: High
This person is responsible for learning more about our intended cause while researching both on the Internet and other printed publications. He/she will work with researchers as needed on projects such as creating polls as requested under the guidance of researchers, seeking volunteers for studies as proposed by research companies, and updating G-PACT and public on any new developments. Additionally, this person will provide information to researchers, compile our data from studies we do for them if requested, and maintain close contact with researchers on latest developments The Research Director is a Board member and required to attend quarterly Board meetings via AOL messenger.
Patient Advocacy Administrator Active Level: High
The Patient Advocacy Administrator is responsible for training, organizing, and overseeing all operations and activities of Patient Advocacy Assistants. This person is also responsible for assisting people with gastroparesis one-on-one on an individualized basis. Responsibilities include assisting someone with receiving better medical care, assisting with insurance approval process, arranging medical transportation to clinics, understanding the needs of individualized callers and seeking the appropriate solutions, special need/urgent situations, etc. He or she will work to help those who request it, as long as the requests are reasonable and do not go against our bylaws, mission statement, purpose, or other legal guidelines.
Patient Advocacy Assistants Active Level: Medium
Works directly with patients via phone, e-mail, Internet conference, or fax to assist with individual needs requests such as insurance approvals, transportation to clinics, full or partial financial coverage for medical testing or procedures (not currently available), and other requests. The Patient Advocacy Assistant performs all duties as Administrator minus leadership duties.
Registrations Manager Active Level: Medium
He or she is responsible for maintaining annual state registration paperwork by compiling and distributing exact information requested by various states, learning what each state requires, and by keeping G-PACT updated on the progress and any significant changes in laws for certain states.
Board of Directors Active Level: Medium
These are volunteers that are responsible for the guidance of G-PACT as a whole and must be a positive representative of G-PACT. While Department Heads are Board members, G-PACT also needs several people who would like to sit on the Board only (e.g. hold no other position). He or she will be required to attend quarterly Board meetings via AOL messenger.
Regional Support Group Coordinators Active Level: Medium
This position is for someone with excellent people skills as it involves sponsoring a support group meeting in your area. He/she will be responsible for coordinating the meeting in their area which will include finding a location, sending out meeting information to the people who RSVP for the meeting and from time to time arranging guest speakers.
General Volunteer Active Level: Low to Medium
He/she will be able to pick which area they prefer to work in which may include assisting a director in a particular department of interest, working with G-PACT in general doing various jobs as they arise, or working on a specific low level project on an ongoing basis such as scanning pictures for website or newsletter, assisting new G-PACTer's learn how to use the computer and specific programs we use. G-PACT'S Volunteer Coordinator will assist in job placement to ensure that everyone finds the job best suited for their needs and commitment levels. Depending on which department they work with, their hours will vary.
For more information regarding positions please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Jo at jfick@g-pact.org or (888) 820-0729 Ext. 88
The supply depot is accepting unused medical supplies which can be legally distributed to people who have little or no coverage for medical supplies. The donor will ship supplies to the supply depot. We ask that the donor cover shipping costs to the Supply Depot, and G-PACT will pay for shipping to the recipient once there is someone in need of them. Current supplies available include:
Dressing Change Kits..(4)
If
you have supplies you want to donate, or
would like to request supplies, please contact Sherri at supplydepot@g-pact.org
or 1-888-820-0729 x 87 for assistance and to determine if your supplies can be
donated. You may also request a list of current available supplies from her as
well.
General Information
Sincerely, Your G-PACT Team: Carissa, Veronica, Lila, Carey, Diane, Ed, Sherri, and Jo
Please read our disclaimer below. You have received this newsletter either because you requested it, or because someone you know thought you would be interested. If you do not wish to continue to receive these updates, please e-mail thepact@g-pact.org and ask to be removed from the mailing list. You may also use that address if you are receiving this newsletter as a forward from someone you know and would like to receive it directly from us. If you would like to be added to receive our quarterly newsletter through US mail, please send us your name, mailing address, and reason for interest in G-PACT (patient, doctor, and friend of GPer, med student, etc). The information in this newsletter is intended to be used for information only and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or treatment of Gastroparesis. Follow the advice of your physician. G-PACT does not discriminate
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