Changing healthcare one patient at a time

Thank you for visiting my website. Indeed we are changing the face of healthcare as we learn more about the lives of our patients and transform them from patient to person. By using Living History stories as we care for patients, we discover the person behind the illness. And when we do that, we become more compassionate and understand the reasons why some people behave and act the way they do. We understand that the sick person is not the person we would see under other circumstances. We come to realize that loving one another is easier when we know where the patient comes from and the road he or she has traveled throughout their life Our life experiences shape and mold us and are important to caring for the whole patient. So read on and remember there is no obligation if you want more information. The program is resonably priced and an annual renewal is even more affordable. In a world where most consultants come through the door only for tens of thousands of dollars, you will be delighted to know you can implement this program for less than $3000 with continued support at no additional charge. All organizations who have used the program report increased patient, family and staff satisfaction! You will be delighted with the feedback.....I guarantee it!

The Living History Program©

CREATING TRUE PERSON-CENTERED CARE
Contact Sheila Brune, RN, MS @ sslbrune@comcast.net

The Mission Statement of the Living History Program

The Living History Program© provides a document that gives basic life information to enable healthcare workers an opportunity to provide care to the heart and soul of the patient.

A Living History story increases satisfaction for the patient, family and members of the care delivery team.

The Living History provides a mechanism for enhancing our connections with the people we care for.

We learn to understand and appreciate our patients better through the use of their personal stories. We become more caring and compassionate when we understand the path they have walked in life.

Therefore, the mission of the Living History Program© is to positively impact the way we care about and for our patients. The story changes our perception from "just another patient," to a very real PERSON.


"Everyone has a story" We hear it all the time today, but I have known it for years. I began by reading the obituaries of my patients. It was a way for me to get to know families of those in my area, and to put together pieces of lives I had taken care of as a care manager for years. Every now and then, more often than not, I would read something that would make me say, "Why didn't I know that about them before they died?" Remorse and regret led me to create the Living History Program back in the year 2000. I cannot believe where it has taken me. All of the travels and awards. But nothing is more special to me than the stories I have uncovered over these past 24 years. Through a story I was able to learn that my home health client's favorite book was "Baby's Christmas." Whenever I read that book to Mary, she would get all wide-eyed and her breathing would change with excitement. In a non-verbal patient, I found a way to make her laugh, and sometimes giggle out loud. I got smiles and looks of love for the reading of her favorite book. I might never have discovered this wonderful connection without the story! I met a lady who sat on the lap of Mark Twain as a child. I met a man who flew Air Force One and declared Ronald Reagan as his favorite presidential passenger ("He always thanked us!"). Another man in Baltimore told me that he picked cotton till age 13 when he "had to get married!" Later his son from that early marriage became an electrician and had his own business. That son was the greatest joy and love for this man who cleaned hallways and offices his entire life. I met a lady who lost three of her eleven children in a terrible accident. She thanked us for letting her tell the story of those children. She said she never got to adequately grieve because she was so busy with her other eight children. One nurse proclaimed, "I cannot believe she has been through so much. She is positive and upbeat all the time. I love her more since I learned her story!" Yes--everyone has a story! I have known it for years and have the perfect mechanism for getting the story! It is the Living History Program.

the living history program is affordable and easy to implement with dedication and commitment to the process want more information? call today

Call: 319-470-5242

No obligation ever~ absolutely no charge for phone consultation
Reviews

What our customers say TESTIMONIALS DEBBIE COOK, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PCRMC "I AM SO THANKFUL TO HAVE MET SHEILA AND THE LIVING HISTORY PROGRAM. WE ARE CHANGING THE WAY WE CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND THEIR PERSONAL LIFE. MY PEOPLE HAVE APPRECIATED THE EXTRA ATTENTION. I APPRECIATE GETTING TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND RETURN A STORY. THANKS YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING THE VISION TO DO SOMETHING SO CARING." 5 STARS ADA BAIR, CEO MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CARTHAGE, IL "SHEILA BROUGHT LIVING HISTORY TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND WHAT AN IMPACT IT HAS HAD!! OUR HOSPITAL PATIENTS, NURSING HOME RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES LOVE THE PERSONAL TOUCH. ONE THING I DID NOT EXPECT WAS WHAT A POSITIVE IMPACT IT HAD ON OUR STATE AND JOINT COMMISSION SURVEYORS. WE HAVE EVEN HAD FAMILIES USE THESE WONDERFUL STORIES AT FUNERAL SERVICES BECAUSE THEY SPEAK TO LIFE IN SUCH A PERSONAL WAY." 5 STARS TAMMY MILLER, PATIENT ADCOCATE DEACONESS HEALTH SYSTEM EVANSVILLE, IN "PATIENTS LOVE IT! OUR HOSPICE FAMILIES HAVE GIVEN OUT COPIES OF THE LIVING HISTORY STORIES AT THE FUNERALS. WE TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE JUST RIGHT. IT’S SUCH A GREAT WAY TO GIVE SOMETHING SPECIAL TO OUR PATIENTS." 5 STARS

How the Program Began and Continues


Sheila Brune, creator of the Living History Program© is a registered nurse first and foremost. She is a graduate of a diploma program, St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in Ottumwa, Iowa. She later completed her BS from the College of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois and attained certifications in health care quality (CPHQ), utilization review (CPUR) and case management (CMC). In 2008, she graduated from The University of St. Francis with a MS in Healthcare Administration. She is currently happily retired from active nursing and fills her hours with volunteer work and The Living History Program. In 2000, inspired by years of patient stories left untold, she created and copyrighted the Living History Program©. She piloted the program in an Iowa hospital and began public speaking and sharing. Since that time, numerous hospitals have inquired about starting the program and many have moved ahead to full implementation. In 2009, Sheila was able to speak at the Joint Commission's Annual Quality and Patient Safety conference in Chicago. She spoke of the value of using personal stories to enhance patient-centered care. In December of 2009, she was a presenter at the Taking You and Your Organization to the Next Level conference of the Studer Group. Quint Studer attended the presentation and became "a big fan" of the program. He later sent Sheila her first referral from a Studer affiliate hospital. In February of 2010, Sheila left her previous position as Quality Director at Memorial Hospital in Carthage, Illinois, and moved on to CGH Medical Center in Sterling, Illinois where she was been given the opportunity to live her passion as the Patient Experience Director. Living History was a part of many initiatives to improve the patient perception of care, and positively impact the patient care experience. Sheila successfully led the organization to improved satisfaction scores and steady gains in HCAHPS performance. Sheila originally offered the program as an act of stewardship and offered it complimentary to participants. In 2013 Sheila partnered with The Beryl Institute to offer The Living History Program to its patient experience community for a nominal implementation and licensing fee. Through this partnership Sheila was able to expand the usage and awareness of the program, thus bringing the powerful gift of life stories to more patients, families and caregivers. In 2019, she again became an independent consultant and again offered the program at a nominal fee. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, she again is offering the program for a nominal fee and offers on-site consultation for travel expenses only. Her greatest joy is teaching hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies and others to use the program to positively change the healthcare experience for everyone--caregivers, patients and families. EVEN physicians love it!!

The Living History Story of one of my favorite people

Mary Theresa Prunty On May 20, in the year 1986, at Rockford Memorial Hospital in Rockford, Illinois, a baby girl arrived to the delight of her parents, Carol Ann (Powers) and Kevin Lawrence Prunty. Little Mary Theresa was named after her maternal grandmother. She was greeted at home by 15-month old Rachel Marie. Rachel was only 4½ pounds at birth mostly because Carol was so sick during the pregnancy. She especially disliked red meat of any kind which just made her sicker! Mary was a different deal, weighing in at 7 pounds and 9 ounces. The OB doctor on call was a little perturbed that Mary’s arrival kept him from watching his baseball game, but Mary was not to be put off! At 4 months of age, Mary got her DPT shot like all other infants, but that night she had a seizure. One month later she had her first episode of paralysis and so began the many doctor’s visits to diagnose Mary’s condition. It was at the University of Wisconsin that the family first met and began working with Dr. Mary Zupanc, a highly recognized seizure specialist who eventually diagnosed Mary with AHC—Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood. AHC is a rare neurological disorder in which repeated, temporary attacks of paralysis of a portion of the body, occur, usually affecting one side of the body or the other, or both sides of the body at once. It ranges from simple numbness in an extremity to full loss of feeling and movement. Mary walked as a child, although Kevin says she was like “a drunken toddler.” She crawled and talked. She had favorite toys and books. She loved to scribble with crayons and would irritate her sister by scribbling on her paper! She loved to have someone read to her. She had two books that she enjoyed more than any others. They are both Little Golden Books. One is called “The Golden Egg Book” and the other is “Baby’s Christmas.” At a certain point in one of the books, someone yawns. Mary’s grandpa would read it to her and always exaggerated the yawn. Mary would break out into a big smile and laugh at this. Mary enjoyed songs and singing. She loved “The Wheels on the Bus” and especially liked “Old McDonald Had a Farm.” In fact, her grandmother sang Old McDonald to her so much that Mary called her “E-I-E-I-O” instead of “Grandma.” At age three, Mary had pneumonia and was in an oxygen tent and hospitalized for quite a while. Then she fell and had a bad attack with seizures and stroke-like symptoms. She could eat and swallow until the age of 15 when she had a bad setback and never fully recovered. From then on, Mary had to be tube fed. Before this, she was a great little eater and loved all foods, except lettuce! Mary loved cookies and grapes which she affectionately called “papas” since Grandpa always brought grapes when he came to visit. Mary started early intervention preschool at the age of three. There she was especially fond of an older man who worked as an aid. She called him “Papa.” She called Carol “Mama” and her father was just simply “Da.” Rachel was “May” or sometimes “Tato.” Mary could say “cookie” and could sign a little too. She attended Page Park School in Rockford until age 12, then Reagan Middle School in Dixon until age 15 and went to Dixon High School until the age of 21 when she graduated. Today she attends Kreider in Dixon where they work with her with tactile stimulation, take her on walks outside, and let her watch TV. She likes to watch the Country Music Channel and music videos. Mary has many aunts, uncles and cousins. A favorite cousin was Michael, who she called “Kyle.” She is blessed with two wonderful nieces and one delightful nephew. Her sister Rachel is married to Jonathan Cukjati. They live in Elmhurst, Illinois with Scarlett Rose, 12, Ember Fay, 10 and Rowan Michael, 4. The kids love to visit Grandma and Grandpa and are a great help with Mary. Scarlett and Ember are especially comfortable assisting with feedings and meds. In fact, they will go with Carol, Kevin and Mary when they attend the AHC Foundation Conference in New Jersey June 22nd to the 24th. The family hopes to work in a visit to New York City while they are in Jersey. Mary loves to travel, likes to look out the window of the van and take in the countryside. Mary is well traveled and over the years has been to Montreal, the Grand Canyon, Seattle, Utah, the Rocky Mountains and loved the Estes Park area even though Kevin got on a very narrow mountain road and Carol feared for her life! To quote Kevin, “Mary takes it all in—she loves it.” Mary is a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Amboy, Illinois, where her father is Deacon and her mother is the bookkeeper. Mary is a delightful, beautiful lady who teaches us valuable lessons every day. She is very content with her life and her family is blessed to have her.