Coastal Medical Health Links and Resources

Advanced Care Planning Education

• Patient Class: Advance Care Planning (Coastal video)

Links to Advance Care Planning Documents

• About Advance Directives (PDF)
• Medical Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) (Free)
• Medical Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (MOLST)- Spanish (Free)
• Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare (DPOA) (Free)
• RI Living Will (Free)
• Five Wishes ($5)
  
  Five Wishes is a legal document written in easy-to-understand terms. It is available in 30 languages. There is a cost of $5.

The websites below can help you find behavioral health providers and community-based resources.

Psychology Today

Click on "find a Therapist." The filters on this site allow the user to customize provider search results by issue, insurance, gender, types of therapy, age, price intro videos and more.

Zencare

Click The search tool for this site is on its homepage. The site allows you to customize provider search results. Some provider listings offer an option to schedule a free 10 minute introduction call before scheduling your first appointment. This can be helpful in finding a provider that is a good fit for your goals.

Thrive Works

This site walks you through a scheduling process. It has a limited number of providers, but it is a nationwide database, so if you live or spend time in another state, this could be useful.

The Coastal Behavioral Health Team is available to help you find community resources.  Please contact your practice for more information.

Apps to assist in managing symptoms of anxiety and depression

While these apps require subscriptions, there is at least some free content within each app. These can be found on Google Play or the Apps Store.

Headspace - Meditation and sleep calm

Insight Timer - Meditation for sleep and anxiety

Smiling Mind - Meditation for all ages

Sanity &Self - Self care, meditation and sleep

Ibreathe - Simple guided breathing

Mindfulness Coach - Mindfulness exercises

Feelmo - Mental health support - anxiety and depression self-care 

Grief Support

Hope Health:

www.hopehealthco.org/griefsupport

RI Department of Health:

https://health.ri.gov/publications/resourcedirectories/grief-counseling.pdf

The Samaritans of RI:

http://www.samaritansri.org/our-programs/safe-place

Useful Articles or Videos

Practice grounding anywhere, anytime, with The Rule of 5 (video)

Patient Class: Stress Management (Coastal video)

• What is COPD?   
• Coastal’s COPD Action Plan (Coastal Guide, PDF) 
• Monitoring your Oxygen Levels at Home Using a Pulse Oximeter (Coastal Guide, PDF)

• American Lung Association (ALA)
• Better Breathers Club
• Lifespan Pulmonary Rehab
• COPD Foundation

• What is Heart Failure? 
• Heart Failure Handbook (Coastal Guide, PDF) 
• CHF Action Plan (Coastal Guide, PDF) 

Coastal Medical recognizes that factors impacting your health extend beyond your medical care.  Below we've compiled a list of several resources in the community that can help with other needs.  

Adult Community Resource Guide (PDF)

Pediatric Community Resource Guide (PDF)

If you are having difficulty accessing resources for you or your family, we are also available to speak with you in more detail about your needs.  Please contact a member of our Community Health team at 401-203-7922.

• COVID-19 Information from RIDOH 
• COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions(Coastal Guide PDF)
• Monitor Oxygen Levels at Home with a Pulse Oximeter (Coastal Guide PDF)
• COVID-19 Self-Management Recommendations (Coastal Guide PDF)
• (Adult Only) OTC Medications to Help Manage Symptoms (Coastal Guide, PDF)

View Community Resources related to COVID-19

Coastal Medical is dedicated to supporting you in controlling your diabetes. We know managing your diabetes can be challenging, regardless of how long you've lived with it. But there are always new things to learn about this disease that can help make managing diabetes just a bit easier. This page contains frequently asked questions and links to resources recommended by Coastal Medical's Diabetes Care Team.  Additionally, you can click and download our quick Diabetes Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an A1C screening?

The A1C is a blood test that tells you what your average blood sugar levels have been for the past 2 to 3 months. This number helps you and your care provider monitor your overall blood sugar. By keeping your A1C at target, you can significantly lower your risk of diabetes complications over time.

What are the best ways to manage diabetes?

Three ways to manage diabetes more effectively:

1. Take medication as directed
2. Maintain healthy diet low in carbs
   
   Limit your portion sizes as well as your carbohydrates (30-45 grams of carbohydrates per meal for women) / (30-60 grams of carbohydrates per meal for men) and about 15-20 grams per snack (max 2/day). Make sure to include protein with meals and snacks (ex: meat, fish, chicken, cheese, nuts, nut butters, hummus).
3. Exercise regularly
   
   Exercise 30 minutes most days of the week (goal: 150 minutes/week)

What are my blood sugar goals?

Blood sugar goals:

• In the morning (fasting), the goal for most is to have blood sugar levels between 80-130
• 2 hours after any meal, the goal for most is to have blood sugar levels less than 180

What screenings do I need to do throughout the year?

Keep up with your routine screenings by following the "ABC's" below

• A1C, every 3-6 months as directed
• Blood Pressure, every office visit
• Cholesterol, Pressure, every office visit
• Diabetes Kidney Screening, annually
• Eye Exam, every 1-2 years
• Foot Exam, annually
• Get Vaccinated
  
    -Flu Shot, annually
  
    -Pneumonia Shot, as directed

What is a Diabetes Kidney Screening?

Frequent high blood sugar level can lead to changes in kidney function so Diabetes Kidney Screenings are a good way to catch if that is happening. Because kidney damage can occur for years without symptoms,  the best way to learn whether you have kidney problems is to have an annual urine sample or blood test checked once a year, or as directed by your provider.

Why is it important to have an annual dilated eye exam?

Poorly controlled blood sugars are one of the leading causes of blindness. Having annual dilated eye exams can help detect unnoticeable damage to your eyes that can lead to vision complications if untreated. In a dilated eye exam, the eye doctor will put drops in your eyes to check for any problems in the tiny blood vessels in your eyes. Need help finding an eye doctor? We’re here for you! Contact us at 401-321-2790.

Should I get vaccinated?

High blood sugar levels can increase your risk of illness and make it more difficult for your body to fight an infection. Prevention through regular vaccination is key to helping you stay healthy.

Helpful Links

Below are links to trusted resources used by our own diabetes care team:

Diabetes Education

• Diabetes Classes

Diabetes and Technology

• Diabetes and Technology
• How to Use a Glucometer 
• Setting up your One Touch Reveal App (Coastal video)
• Blood Glucose Testing and Control

Nutrition & Exercise

• Diabetes and Nutrition
• Working Towards Weight Loss
• Healthy Snack Ideas
• Healthy Eating when Dining Out
• Planning Meals
• Patient Class: Diabetes and Nutrition (Coastal video)
• Fitness: Getting Started
• How to Benefit from Physical Activity
• Establishing a Fitness Routine

New Diabetes Diagnosis & Diabetes Basics

• Introduction for the Newly Diagnosed
• The Basics of Type 2 Diabetes
• Patient Class: Diabetes Medications (Coastal  video)
• Patient Class: Diabetes Basics & Self-management (Coastal video)
• Patient Class: Diabetes & Navigating the Grocery Store (Coastal video)

Additional Resources

• Diabetes Action Plan (PDF)
• Checking Blood Sugars
• Community Resources
• Diabetes Education Classes at Coastal
• Mental Health
• Sick Day Management (Coastal handout)
• Steroid Medications and Diabetes (Coastal handout)

• Patient Class: Living Healthy, Getting Moving (video)

• Patient Class: Living Healthy, Eating Healthy (video)

• Facts about High Blood Pressure  
• Monitoring your Blood Pressure at Home 

• Lifespan Lyme Disease Treatment Center

Below is a library of video and written instruction links for commonly requested resources on different medication devices.   

• Learn about Medication Devices (Coastal PDF)

Pediatric Information

• Patient Class: Anxiety Management in Children (ages 3-11): A Parent's Guide (Coastal video)

Coastal Recommended Skilled Nursing, Home Services and Home Infusion Providers 

Download Pamphlet (PDF)

Why choose one of these providers?

• Ensure a smooth transition from the hospital to rehab and receive visits from your Coastal Community Nurse Care Manager
• Seamless communication with your Coastal primary care clinician
• Expertise from trusted Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation professionals

• My Quit Smoking Guide (PDF)
• Smoking Cessation Resources Sheet (PDF)