| President's Letter
Given that this is my first President's letter, I thought I would first introduce myself, as most of you won't know me or my qualifications for this position. I did my training in family medicine back in the 70s in the Midwest. Following my completion, I practiced and taught family medicine for several years, before entering private practice in Florida. After moving to Denver, Colorado, I took a position as Chief Medical Officer for the Colorado Department of Corrections. After leaving this position, I stayed in the field of correctional healthcare for another ten years.
In 2006, I became a medical director for a hospice in Denver, Colorado. This was the beginning of my career in hospice, which lasted for another 12 years. There were multiple hospices over that time due to mergers and acquisitions which gave me exposure to different business models.
It turned out that hospice was the most rewarding segment of my career. It enabled me to get close to my patients and their families in a short period of time. And doing this wasn't hard. I viewed my role as one who helped make their final days, weeks, or months as comfortable as they could be, and that's my philosophy on what BHH needs to strive for here in Boquete.
Now enough about me. We held the first President's Forum on May 10 at Animales before the general meeting. Fifteen people joined me to provide comments and feedback regarding BHH. The group felt that the blood drives are done well and and that we need to continue them to provide this critical service to the community. They also thought that the Being Prepared workshops provide vital information to the community and suggested that it would be beneficial to have a follow-up workshop shortly after the initial one, to provide more assistance in completing the workshop manual and the forms that need to be filled out.
We also discussed the changes being made to condense the new volunteer training class and shift some content to follow-up training provided by mentors in the specific area the volunteer is joining.
The group confirmed the importance of using social media and other publicity methods to reach the Panamanian community regarding the services we provide, especially the access to credits for blood that is available to anyone in Boquete at no cost.
All of these projects require money, and everyone was in agreement that we need to focus on new ways of fundraising to balance our budget as well as plan for future services that might be made available to the entire community.
I'm looking forward to this year and being able to work with all the wonderful, intelligent and energetic volunteers who see this organization as a major contributor to the community. And I'm thrilled that Lorraine Handler, Natalie Kelly, Deb Hornstra, and Lesley Hughes are stepping into new roles, as reported later in this newsletter.
Please join us for the next general meeting on June 14, where Mark Heyer will present "AI Unveiled: Illuminating the Path Ahead." It's sure to be exciting, and if you'd like to share your feedback on BHH with me, I'm holding another President's Forum prior to the June general meeting. I'd love to see you there.
Be well,
Roderic Gottula, MD
| |  | Visiting Hospice Patients Resumes on Limited Basis
By Bev Taylor,
Patient Care Coordinator | |
Great News! BHH is taking a small step forward into the arena of visiting patients in their homes. We started visiting hospice patients on a very limited basis about a month ago, and now we're ready to expand—a little. We will also resume providing rides to medical appointments, providing relief to caregivers for short periods of time, running errands that don't involve going into the home, as well as providing meals for those who really need them.
All BHH volunteers will wear masks when entering a patient's home and only vaccinated volunteers will conduct visits.
Step by step we are coming back! | | |
An Invitation to the President's Forum Before Our June General Meeting
Dear Friends of BHH,
Please accept my personal invitation to meet with me at a President's Forum on Wednesday, June 14, at 9am, just before the BHH general meeting. The forum and the general meeting will be held at our regular location, the Amigos de Animales Event Center, in Alto Boquete across from Ivan's.
Even though I have twelve years of experience as a hospice physician, I am new to the presidency of BHH and eager to learn more about the role our organization plays in the community (or should play), and the needs of the people we serve.
This is an opportunity to voice your concerns and pitch new ideas to move the organization forward. The forum will be informal and open to anyone who would like to contribute.
I look forward to meeting all of you and hearing your ideas and concerns. Many of you shared feedback at my first forum last month, and I look forward to another great session.
Be well,
Dr. Rod Gottula | | | June General Meeting~
Mark Heyer Presents "AI Unveiled: Illuminating the Path Ahead"
"It's the job of technology to work for people, not the job of people to work for technology" ~Mark Heyer | | | Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a concerned citizen, or simply curious about the future, this event is for you! Join us Wednesday, June 14, at 10am in the Animales Event Center.
In this captivating interactive demonstration, Mark Heyer will take you on an exhilarating live tour through the exploding world of AI. Within the next 12 months virtually everything you do will involve AI in one way or another. This talk will provide you with the essential information you need to understand and benefit from the fastest technological development in human history.
Mark will answer your questions about artificial intelligence, the impact it will have on medicine and healthcare, and how it can work for us to make our lives better, easier, and wealthier:
- Never used a chatbot? Mark will conduct a live demo using questions from the audience.
- What will AI mean to the generation of children growing up today?
- Mark will lead a thought-provoking discussion on the ethical implications and dangers of AI.
- What happens when we can't tell the difference between humans and AI?
- When do we get our household robot?
Bonus feature: Mark will discuss some very current discoveries in biology that could, within 5-10 years, radically change our idea of medicine, extend our healthy lifetimes, eliminate many diseases, and make it possible to recover from major physical injuries.
Who is Mark Heyer?
Mark Heyer describes himself as an applied futurist. His special talent is seeing the future of technology and then working to make it happen in the real world.
From the beginning, his mantra has been, "It's the job of technology to work for people, not the job of people to work for technology." With this principle in mind, his career contributed to the design philosophy that led to the iPhone, which in turn created the fastest, most pervasive technology revolution in human history. Combined with the internet, today 67% of all the people on Earth are able to pull a phone out of their pocket and communicate instantly with anyone they care about, no matter where in the world that person is. This is technology working for people.
In 2007, Mark and his wife Martine moved from Silicon Valley in California to Boquete to "detox, destress, and rewire our brains." At various times, Mark has been:
- Co-founder of the Foundation Alto al Crimen, which early-on reduced the crime rate in Boquete.
- Was instrumental in setting up the Rodny DIrect Boquete Helpline.
- Served as president of the BCP.
- Acted in various plays.
- Built a creative woodworking business.
- With his wife, built and renovated several houses.
- Developed an active practice of creative photography and writing.
- Studied thermodynamics and neurobiology in order to improve the user-friendliness and value of next-generation information machines.
- Is currently working with leaders in the AI industry to understand the potential of this revolutionary technology and how to apply it for the benefit of people.
If you'd like to explore Mark's works, click the buttons below for a fun article Mark wrote about his 200th birthday on his island off the coast of Panama, and another called, Pi at the Center of the Universe.
| | | Donating Blood Benefits Your Physical and Emotional Health Sign Up Now for the June 17 Blood Drive and Matching Fund Donations
According to a report by the Mental Health Foundation, helping others can reduce stress and improve your emotional well-being. Some of the health benefits of donating blood include:
- Revealing potential health problems: Donating blood can reveal potential health problems such as high blood pressure and anemia.
- Reducing harmful iron stores: One in every two hundred people in the U.S. is affected by a condition called hemochromatosis, which causes the body to absorb too much iron from food. Donating blood regularly can help reduce harmful iron stores in the body.
- Lowering risk of heart disease: Donating blood can help lower your risk of heart disease by reducing your blood viscosity.
By donating blood you are also helping your community by providing a vital resource that can save lives during emergencies and surgeries.
Click the links below to sign up to donate blood and/or participate in the Matching Fund!
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Participating in the Matching Fund is a Win-Win!
You win by supporting an important community service and Boquete Health and Hospice wins by receiving funds to continue its important work of education, loaning medical equipment, and providing palliative and hospice care for the community. | |  | | Watch this video about the upcoming blood drive on June 17. | |  | | Meet the President:
Dr. Rod Gottula Assumes New Leadership of BHH
By Deb Hornstra | | 2023 is shaping up to be an exciting year of change and growth for Boquete Health & Hospice. In March, the governing Council appointed a new president, Dr. Rod Gottula, a retired MD from the United States who moved to Boquete two and a half years ago.
"Dr. Rod," as he is generally known here, sat down with me earlier this month for a discussion of his professional life and his goals for BHH. Born in a tiny town of just 120 people in the southeast corner of Nebraska, sixty-five miles from the nearest city (Lincoln), Dr. Rod is a proud Midwesterner. He earned a Bachelor's degree at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and then graduated from the medical school at UN/Omaha. He was a member of UN's first class of medical students to complete their studies in three years instead of the traditional four.
As a newly minted family doctor in the 1970s, he did his residency in Des Moines, Iowa, where he also started a lifetime of on-and-off teaching as a member of the University of Iowa medical school faculty. Dr. Rod then took a job in Greenville, North Carolina. There he saw for the first time a degree of poverty and racism he had not experienced in the Midwest.
Dr. Rod next moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where he had a fulltime clinical practice with no teaching responsibilities. In 1983 he joined one of the earliest "urgent care" facilities, which was open fourteen hours a day, seven days a week. He was also involved in an early iteration of HMOs (health maintenance organizations) in the 1980s.
Despite these very interesting experiences, home beckoned, and about 1990 Dr. Rod moved back to the Midwest, choosing to settle in the up-and-coming city of Denver. At the time Denver had a population of about 1.5 million; the 2023 population is nearly double that.
His work in Denver included a difficult four-year stint as head of medicine for the Colorado Department of Corrections (Dr. Rod described a dysfunctional relationship between medicine and corrections), and another teaching gig at the University of Colorado medical school.
Always ahead of the curve, Dr. Rod's next move was into the burgeoning field of hospice medicine. As a hospice doctor Dr. Rod was responsible for certifying patients' eligibility for hospice services. He sometimes visited patients but that was mostly the responsibility of nurses and CNAs, who would then report back to him.
Most of Dr. Rod's patients had very severe disease, with a high prevalence of lung failure, COPD, congestive heart failure, and other cardiac issues among the hospice patients. Dr. Rod's experience in hospice also included work in the important fields of dementia care and pain management.
After twelve years in hospice medicine, Dr. Rod was ready for one more challenge, and he found it in Colorado, in the emerging field of cannabis medicine. His clinic specialized in treating children with seizures and autism with CBD. It was an interesting way to end his long and varied career!
Dr. Rod knew he wanted to retire internationally. When researching potential destinations, he was, like most people, hoping for better weather and a lower cost of living, but he was also specifically searching for a place with existing hospice services.
Because of the existence of BHH, Boquete was the only place that met all the requirements. Dr. Rod was also attracted to the vibrant ex-pat community here. He started volunteering and was approached earlier this year to consider leadership of the organization.
Dr. Rod's goals for BHH include increasing use of our services, especially hospice services. We are currently serving four hospice patients, but in a district of 25,000, with about 5,000 mostly older ex-pats, Dr. Rod thinks this number should be higher. "I wonder what happens to other ex-pats who require hospice services," he says. "Do they return to their home countries? Do they not know about BHH?"
Dr. Rod would also like to embed an awareness of hospice in the Panamanian community. "Yes, they are used to family-provided care, but family members may not have the necessary training for all circumstances."
Dr. Rod would also like to encourage more Panamanians to give blood. And he's concerned about the "health" part of Boquete Health & Hospice. "It could be considered palliative care, including dementia care and support groups for caregivers." Palliative care is defined as care that makes patients who cannot be cured comfortable in their final months. "People should know what they can get from BHH," says our new president. "That includes information, some equipment, some help in the form of meals and transportation, respite care, and advice on where to get additional care. "We also need to find regular funding, perhaps from the US. We need to hire a hospice director and we need to run the organization like a business."
Dr. Rod began his tenure with a President's Forum prior to the May general meeting in which he took questions and comments from the membership. Another such forum is planned in conjunction with the June meeting.
With so much on the agenda, there is no shortage of work to be done, and many ways to contribute. If you are not already volunteering, we invite you to reach out to discuss the ways you can get involved. And thank you to Dr. Rod for taking on the biggest role of all and bringing his wealth of experience to benefit our mountain town. | | | Deb Hornstra has been managing social media for BHH since September 2022 and recently became our Communications Team Leader. She moved to Boquete last summer after retiring from selling real estate in the Princeton, NJ area for twenty years. Deb has a Bachelor's in Television Writing and a Master's in Health Advocacy. | | | Welcome New Patient Care Coordinator Liz Baze
Patient Care Coordinators are the first point of contact for most BHH clients. Our PCCs determine whether we can help an individual and how. This volunteer position requires a health care background and a willingness to be on call during work hours about four months a year. | | | | It takes a special person to make this kind of commitment, which is why we are thrilled to introduce Liz Baze, our new Patient Care Coordinator in training!
Liz and her husband Andrew and sons Alex, 13, and Evan, 11, moved to Boquete in February 2023. Andrew works online and the boys are enrolled at Academia Internacional Boquete. Liz says they're all "so happy for the chance to move to such an amazing place."
Liz was trained as an occupational therapist at the University of Washington in the US. She has worked in hospitals, nursing homes, a hand therapy clinic, and in home health care. In her spare time, Liz enjoys gardening and making art, with pottery being her passion for the last few years.
Liz says she and her family "look forward to being a part of the Boquete community and hope to meet you soon!" Please welcome Liz when you see her, and thank her for joining our team in this crucial role. | |  | | New Council members and team leaders: (left to right) Lorraine Handler, Natalie Kelly, Lesley Hughes, and Deb Hornstra. | | | Key Council and Team Leader Roles Filled
BHH is pleased to announce that two critical Council roles have been filled. Lorraine Handler will become our new Secretary and Natalie Kelly will take on VP – Community Outreach.
Lorraine is a long-time resident of the Boquete district, and has been with BHH over five years, where she has served in variety of areas including fundraising, promotion, newsletter creation, and proofreading. One of her goals is to streamline the secretary function.
Natalie has been Newsletter Editor since early 2022 and began shortly after she and her husband moved to Boquete. The VP – Community Outreach oversees five teams: Ambassadors, Communications, Community Outreach, Events and Fundraising, and Translation. Natalie believes "success is often doing a lot of little things right" and is looking forward to helping BHH grow its services, programs, and public recognition.
Natalie is replacing Lesley Hughes, who will continue to serve as the team leader for Community Outreach. We appreciate her dedication and many years of service with BHH.
Additionally, Deb Hornstra is becoming team leader for Communications. Her dedication and success in expanding our social media presence bodes well for our future marketing efforts. Deb and Natalie will continue with social media and the newsletter, respectively, and are looking forward to working with new volunteers in those areas as the organization continues to expand.
Please join us in congratulating Lorraine, Natalie, Lesley, and Deb on their new roles and let them know if you'd like to join their efforts by sending an email to us here or completing a volunteer application form here. | |  | | The Being Prepared team: Kelly Honyak, Herta Bernbach, Sandra Cripe, Kay Wade, and Cat Vann (not pictured). | | | Being Prepared Workshop Draws Crowd
On May 18, thirty people attended the latest Being Prepared workshop. This was the fourth workshop in 2023, and it continues to be popular. The first speaker, Kelly Honyak, a retired nurse, focused on issues requiring health care decisions. The second speaker, attorney, Juan Gabriel Contreras, explained legal issues requiring documents in Spanish.
Being Prepared encourages individuals living in Panama as expats to take responsibility for their choices and take the actions required to plan for future contingencies. Packed with information you need to know, Being Prepared offers a comprehensive plan to deal with health emergencies, accidents, and end-of-life. Creating a personal information notebook, a "buddy" system, and having an attorney draw up required documents are integral pieces of the plan.
Thanks to the Being Prepared team for putting on this valuable program. | |  | | These PCCs are the heart and soul of BHH! From left to right: Bev Tyler, Denise Daniels, Craig Gatrel, and Liz Baze. | | | Patient Care Coordinator Services~
The Heart and Soul of BHH
Patient Care Coordinators (PCCs) are the first point of contact for persons needing assistance or requesting information from Boquete Health & Hospice (BHH). Our PCCs are Bev Tyler, Denise Daniels, Liz Baze, and Craig Gatrel. Providing services in Spanish and English, the PCCs cover 365 days a year.
When a request for assistance comes in, the PCC will conduct an assessment over the phone to determine what services are needed and how BHH can assist the person. A patient record is created in our system for each person at the time of the call and the record is updated as needed. For requests such as the need for a walker after hip surgery, the PCC will contact the Equipment team and a volunteer will meet the person or caregiver at our locker to loan the equipment. In other cases such as hospice or health support, the PCC team may visit a person in his or her home to assess the patient and obtain more information to determine specific assistance that can be provided.
An average day may result in five or more contacts with different patients or caregivers. Depending on the patient's need, multiple calls and messages may be required. PCCs also coordinate with local doctors when required. A good example is when an oxygen concentrator is required: the PCC may contact the doctor to get a prescription if the patient does not have it. PCCs also work with local Representantes to assist patients in our service area.
Interesting facts:
- BHH is a non-profit organization and all equipment is either donated or purchased using donations.
- Currently BHH has over 110 active patients ranging from equipment only needs to hospice.
- Service area: Alto Boquete, Bajo Boquete, Jaramillo, Palo Alto, Volcancito, Palmira, Potrerillos, and Caldera.
- Equipment offered includes wheelchairs, hospital beds, walkers, shower chairs, bedside commodes, transfer equipment, oxygen concentrators, MP3 players to provide music, crutches, canes, and a wide variety of other equipment.
- Wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, bedside commodes, hospital beds and oxygen concentrators are the most frequently requested equipment.
- Of our 30 wheelchairs, 26 are on loan.
- Of our 18 shower chairs, 13 are on loan.
- Of our 54 walkers, 33 are on loan.
All services provided by BHH are done with a talented and dedicated volunteer team. PCCs are available Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, and on weekends 9am-1pm. You can contact a PCC by calling or texting on WhatsApp: +507 6781-9250. | | | New Volunteer Training Under Construction
The New Volunteer training originally scheduled in June has been postponed until August. | | | | The Training team is hard at work developing new ways to deliver essential information to our volunteers. We invite you to learn more about us at boquetehealth.org. Stay turned for further developments. | | | Volunteer and Help Us Serve the Community!
Boquete Health & Hospice continues to grow and provide more services to the Boquete community. Volunteering is a rewarding experience and volunteers can feel proud of their efforts and the impact BHH has on the health and wellbeing of our community.
Please consider joining us as a volunteer on one of our teams. Volunteers can contribute as much or as little time as they wish. We need volunteers in many capacities, and while the ability to speak Spanish is helpful, it is not necessary!
- Equipment and Respiratory teams – Dispense and receive equipment at our storage lockers in Alto Dorado and train patients and caregivers in its use.
- Hospice and Family Care team – Works with patient care coordinators to provide care, information, and services to hospice patients to make a difficult time easier.
- Being Prepared team – Presents workshops on Being Prepared 3-4 times a year, which cover why being prepared to deal with emergencies and end-of-life situations is vital to your wellbeing.
- Home Comfort teams (Meals and Music) – The Meals team provides meals to those unable to cook for themselves or leave the home. The Magic of Music team provides MP3 players with customized music to patients and their caregivers.
- Blood Donor team – Acts as a contact point for those who need blood or want to donate, and organizes blood drives twice a year.
- Translation team – Provides translation (written or spoken) assistance to our clients and volunteers as needed.
- Ambassador team – Greets guests at BHH functions and staffs our tables to answer questions about our organization.
- Communications teams – Produce our monthly newsletter, maintain our social media and website presence, and organize events, fundraisers, and promotion.
- IT team – Provides IT support for our website, database, communications, and teams.
- Admin/Coordination/Project Management team – Organizes our efforts and helps BHH perform more effectively.
- Volunteer Coordinator team – Matches volunteers with teams and ensures they have a rewarding experience.
These are just some of our teams. If you have expertise in a specific area, let us know. It's likely we can use it!
How to apply for a volunteer role:
Complete and submit a membership application, which can be found here. We will contact you within a few days to discuss your interests and how we can work together. | | |
