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Home Health Helps Patients At Home

Marjorie Frano of DuBois has been using home health services on and off for several years for different things.

She was seen by home health nurses after a hip fracture and an infection developed. Physical therapists helped her, too. Now, she has different problems with her hip, and home health staff help her with that problem without her having to leave home.

“I’m unable to do as much as I did before,” Frano said. “I can’t get into a car because of my legs. I go by van or I can’t get there.”

At age 95, home health services have been a help to her. “I get excellent care,” she said. “They are all so good to me and care about you as a person.”

As November is Home Care and Hospice Month, it’s a good time to remember what is available for you should you ever need it.

Home health care is a wide range of health care services that can be given in your home for an illness or injury. Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, than and just as effective as care you get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility, according to information from Medicare.

The goal of home health care is to treat an illness or injury. Home health care helps you get better, regain your independence and become as self-sufficient as possible.

“Home Health services include skilled nursing, physical/occupational/speech therapy, social services and care from home health aides,” Karen Warfield, RN, home care director at Penn Highlands Clearfield Home Health Services said.

“Nursing provides education on illnesses and their treatments, assessment of response to treatments and notifying the physicians of any changes in the patient, wound care, IV therapy and injections,” she said.

“Therapies assist the patient to regain lost strength, make recommendations for home modifications, help manage chronic illnesses and evaluate safety in the home. Aides assist with personal care until the patient is able to manage on their own. Social workers can assist with financial issues, caregiver issues and transportation issues,” Warfield continued.

“Home health provides care to every age group with our youngest patients being only a couple days old,” Kristen Genevro, director of Penn Highlands DuBois Home Health and Hospice, said. “We have nurses that specialize in pediatric service, wound care service and palliative care. We care for post-operation surgical patients, congestive heart failure and COPD patients, just to name a few. Our patients come from the hospital, nursing home or from the doctors’ offices.”

“To get home health we just need an order from their physician. If they are in the hospital the discharging physician can order it also,” said Kristi Fait, director of Penn Highlands Brookville/New Bethlehem Home Health Care


“Our field staff are out in the community every day of the year to make sure patients at home are safe and have what they need to maintain their independence,” Brenda Porter, service line director for home health services at Penn Highlands Healthcare and Community Nurses Inc., said. “Most of us feel better when we are in our own homes, and that’s what we provide for our patients. They feel a sense of control and empowerment over their health and their environment. Our office staff also works hard to make this possible, whether by contacting physicians, scheduling visits, monitoring telemedicine, or billing insurance.”

To receive home health, a doctor must make a referral. For more information, call PH Clearfield Home Health Care at 768-2000, Penn Highlands Brookville/New Bethlehem Home Health Care at 849-3739, Community Nurses Inc. at 781-1415 or PH DuBois Home Health at 375-3300.