November Marks National Home Health & Hospice Month
November is National Home Health & Hospice Month, and during this time, Penn Highlands Healthcare would like to recognize the nurses, home care aides, therapists, social workers and administrative staff of its four home health organizations.
“The hard work of these individuals improves lives in our community,” said Raymond Graeca, Chief Executive Officer of Penn Highlands Healthcare.
Home health workers go into patients’ homes and into their lives to provide medical care and personal assistance with things like bathing and grooming. They maintain a connection between the patient and his or her physician, while keeping them safely at home, where healing occurs better.
“No work is nobler, and no group is more deserving of our respect and admiration,” said Val J. Halamandaris, President of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. “Home health workers help society’s weakest members live the fullest lives they can.”
There are four home health organizations in the Penn Highlands Healthcare system. Their clinicians travel to homes in an eight-county region. A variety of services are provided including wound care, IV and nutrition therapy, injections, respiratory treatments, social service, help with home medical equipment, home health aides, and physical, occupational and speech therapy. The four organizations are:
- Community Nurses, Inc. ~ (814) 781-1415
- Penn Highlands Brookville Home Health ~ (814) 849-3739
- Penn Highlands Clearfield Home Health ~ (814) 768-2000
- Penn Highlands DuBois Home Health & Hospice ~ (814) 375-3300
Locally, Community Nurses, Inc. employs 27 nurses, 7 physical therapists, 2 occupational therapists, 1 speech therapist, 2 social workers, 1 dietetic technician, 3 home health aides and 24 administrative and office staff members.
“Our staff at Community Nurses is dedicated, compassionate, caring, and they are great patient advocates,” said Brenda Porter, Chief Operating Officer/Interim Director of CNI. “They go above and beyond for our patients, and I am proud to be able to say I am a part of this great organization.”
Community Nurses was recently named among the Top 150 Best Places to Work in Healthcare. In a recent report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Community Nurses rated at four stars for excellence in quality of patient care. The report, which is generated from the Home Health Compare website, evaluates criteria like timeliness of care, improvement in activities of daily living, improvement in pain and breathing, and hospital admissions.
“The scores speak for themselves,” said Graeca. “Our home health workers are excellent, and I think it is fitting that they should be commended during this special time of year.”