Introduction to the Cosmecaregiving Guide

The publication provides the essential information and standards needed to characterize an emerging new branch of cosmetology – Parinology -Medical Beauty Hygenics.

The goal is to expand cosmetologists marketable skills and expertise for people who are bedridden in health care facilities and those convalescing in their own residence.

Health care facility administrators and medical care professionals are more than willing to make available beauty hygienic care to their patients if the services are taken to a higher level. An appointment should not be made if it knowingly puts the patient or you at risk. In most all cases, the person requesting the service will have received prior authorization from his or her physician. The specialty can help complement bedside care in maintaining and promoting the mental outlook of the patient.

The Formals -- Facial, Manicure and Pedicure treatments along with other proven accessory techniques maximize efficiency and productivity while maintaining an aesthetic outcome for the bed patient.

For clarification, cosmecaregivers are duly licensed in cosmetology in their respective states; nationally registered to practice at a patient’s bedside with medical authorization in a health care facility or residence; accountable for performance that meets basic expectations with patient safety and efficiency; a qualified assistant for patient pre-care then as needed; reports to the assigned nurse or responsible family member in a residence; maintains sanitation and ethics; presents service record to the assigned nurse or family upon completion and listens for instructions, if any.

In-Depth Synopsis of the Guide

Chapter One concerns the Americans With Disabilities Act, nationally governed act under the Department of Labor. The act states that it is also for persons unable to perform everyday functions such as brushing of their teeth or taking a bath. In time, the patient’s scalp, hair, facial skin and nails can result in varying degrees of lesions and if left uncared-for can add to their medical problems. Most people with disabilities or physical ailments and those recently hospitalized are unable to stand in a shower stall or enter a bathtub.

The basic premise of A Patient’s Bill of Rights and one pending before the federal legislature is that all patients must have the ability to make their own decisions if able and have access to essential services; to have the right to expect that, within its capacity, health care facilities and associates must make a reasonable attempt to respond to the requests for these services. It declares that there are over 44 million Americans that must have greater access to everything this society has to offer. This also refers to what the beauty industry can provide. In applying the Bill, the patient has the right to request and to receive other personal care -- this includes beauty hygienic services.

Some articles of importance are as follows:

* Witness Power
* Lamented Grievances
* Ethics & Boundaries
* Rendering Service to Hospice Patients
* People Living with HIV & Those with AIDS
* Look Good…Feel Better - a national public service. Cosmetologists who participate instruct female, male or teen cancer survivor on how to disguise with cosmetic, use of various accessories and crafted hair wigs when there is a major hair loss which can be obtained without charge by contacting their local American Cancer Society office.

A scenario - each day, a person cancer survivor looks in the mirror and begins the step-by-step procedures shown by the volunteered cosmetologist. In no time, the individual feels better and blesses the professional who reached out to help and those who made the program possible. The person glances in the mirror once again, smiles with approval then goes on with their daily activities interacting with family members, friends, co-workers...or classmates.

Chapter Two is that of OSHA, The Bloodborne Pathogen Act & Universal Precaution which applies to the safety of the workplace in general along with sanitary, physical barriers, hygiene, Suggest Way of Hand-Cleansing and An Impromptu Drop-In.

Chapter Three concerns the Malalignment Neurosyndrome MNS reported in the Journal of American Medical Association (1994), JAMA and the news media. The study showed that four women suffered strokes when they lifted themselves from a chair after specific salon services and required hospitalization. Some stroke symptoms include dizziness, nausea, numbness on one side of the face, loss of balance and can also increase lesser forms of brain damage. The hazards are increased in older people and adults with high blood pressure, diabetes or those having a hidden malfunction of the vertebral artery. The vertebral artery, actually there are two, lies along the spinal column leading to the brain. The academy called for salon, barber shop and spa professionals to be alert and suggested safer methods.

MN Syndrome in patient care - it would be of interest to the neurologist and academy members to know the syndrome is present in health care facilities, chiropractic offices and in-home patient care. Historically, it seemed perfectly natural for those who had the task of cleansing the hair and scalp to position the patient so that the head is extended over the edge of the bed. This required several containers of water to be brought to the bedside.

Use of an inflated plastic basin which require containers of water and a rinseless shampoo often mixed with a cup of water, poured over the patient’s head then absorbed by the towel previously placed under the head and shoulders were some method employed. After any of these procedures, to loosen tangles from the hair, additional water is needed to rinse the product. In some instances, tangled hair was left as is so as not to cause additional discomfort to the patient. Disposal of the contaminated water presented anther problem.

There are times when a stretcher or hoist (lift) is used If the patient can be moved to a sink. Supplies are assembled, assistants are needed for transferring the person from the bed to the stretcher then wheeled to the facility at which time hair cleansing takes place. The person’s neck is hyper extended at the sink and held by an assistant to prevent any movement.

Although the methods sounds a little unkind to bed patients, the providers did the best they could, the hair and scalp had to be cleansed under the circumstances.

State regulations specify that requested beauty caregiving services are to be documented in the salon Appointment Book. Further, Scheduling System, An Encountered Predicaments and a discussion with Cosmetologists in Health Facility Salon is provided. Items such as the fee, payment method and list of supplies for the service is provided.

Chapter Four The chapter introduces a therapeutic proven breakthrough strategy — hair and scalp cleansing of bed patients. The method is designed for patients lying down on their back face up, those who must remain face down or in a fetal position no matter the type of bed. It is of help for people who are unable to stand in a shower stall or enter a bathtub. The treatment eliminates the risk of inducing the syndrome, serves as a mini-scalp massage, it refreshes, improves the growth of healthy tissues of the scalp and aids in aerating.

The manipulation technique applied on each site, approximately forty, help circulation, soften contaminants and soothes sites containing lesions. The length of time the cleansing solution is left on the hair can help restore chemically treated and sun damaged hair, is also effective with use of a rinseless shampoo product and hard (mineral tap water) or soft (like rain, purified) water. Because of its simplicity and therapeutic results, it permits more bed patients to receive the service every few days, perhaps even sooner. Also recommended for salon clients at risk.

Chapter Five concerns itself with Cancer, Other Skin Lesions, Facial Hairs - Trimming or Tweezing, Removal of a Mole. Also, the Formal Facial, delivered in four stages — pre-care, facial, service record and post-care.

Other Procedures are as follows:

* Analysis with use of a Magnifier Lens
* Facial Hairs - Tweezing or Trimming
* The Rub & Pat Manipulations
* Maintenance Essentials
* Location Favored by Head Lice
* Improper Hair & Scalp Cleansing — the Wax Cradle Cap

Chapter Six presents disorders of the Nails, Adjacent Skin Lesions, The Hands, Feet including Cuticleless Nail, Hangucle and Nail Sliver.

Additional and effective procedures are as follows:

* Suitability of a Warm Dressing
* The "Race" to Shape Nails – a Faux Pas
* Corner Clearance
* Cuticles – Cutting or Treating
* Square Nail Shaping to Help Prevent Insult
* Mending Nail & Cuticle Insults
* Nail Decal Styling
* Analysis with use of Magnifier Lens

The Formal Manicure and Pedicure, delivered in four stages — pre-care, medical manicure or pedicure, service record and post-care.

Chapter Seven presents additional techniques ...

* The Underhand for Shaping
* H"air" Bag
* Haircoloring, Lightening, Perming performed with use of 
* Application of a Lip Moisturizer
* Male Patient Facial Shaving
* Shaping of a Beard, Mustache or Sideburns
* Trimming & Types of Male Eyebrows

A scenario - happy with his professional shaped hair and sideburns, when shaving, the person approaches the mirror and positions the razor at the sideburns horizontal line on his right side, if right handed — draws the razor downward. To see the left horizontal line, he evens his head to the right, places the razor close to the line, though not at the line and continue shaving. The person has no idea this begins a minor discrepancy at the left line. He repeats his daily habit adding to the discrepancy to the section. If he has his hair shaped every month or waits a little longer, the sideburns in question could lengthen half inch. The cosmetologist or barber stylist may wonder each time during the person’s hair shaping if they caused the problem -- noticeably uneven sideburns.

Chapter Eight contain issues such as:

* Where to Locate Patients as Clients
* Liability Insurance Theirs or Yours
* News Release
* Salon Outreach Program
* Professionally Correct
* Family Doctor’s Advice
* The Butterfly — Beauty Caregiving Symbol Decal
* Politically Incorrect with Certain State Regulations…

A scenario - at a Trade Show held in Las Vegas, I met a cosmetologist (licensed in the state) who had recently received a request for her services from the family of her client who was hospitalized. I immediately questioned her concerning their State Board regulations.

She proceeded by saying that, "We must tell the family we need the physician work order then notify the board so they can record the patient’s name, health care facility or residence, appointment date, time and our license number."

She also said, "We have to tell the family it’s illegal for us to go back again." I asked what happens if the person is bedridden for months. "We tell them to call the salon and if a cosmetologist agrees, she or he, must contact the board and it’s for one time." "Why," she said "are bedridden forced to endure weeks of red tape to receive our services?"

At that point, the cosmetologist lowered her head and walked away.

Resource to supply helpful information                 

Index for cross reference during study.