Backus Home Health Care covers border to shore
Print
Jack Fields of Norwich benefitted from the services offered by Backus Home Health Care following knee replacement surgery.
Knee replacement patient Jack Fields knows there are a lot of homecare agencies to choose from, but none in his opinion measure up to Backus Home Health Care.
“I felt it was important to recognize the superior effort at Backus Home Health Care,” he said. “My nurse and physical therapist gave extra effort to improve the quality of my life, for which I am so thankful.”
That is the mission of Backus Home Health Care, an integral component of the Backus healthcare system. It offers a wide range of services that many other homecare agencies do not, including:
- Advanced wound care
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Cardiac telemonitoring
- Social services
- Home health aide services
- Behavioral health
- Medication administration services.
Mr. Fields was the direct beneficiary of the specially trained staff at Backus Home Health Care. During his recovery his nurse Celeste Varieur, RN, provided the routine but impor- tant tasks of visiting to make sure his knee was healing well by assessing the surgical incision, ensuring the medication was correct and that he understood the medication regimen. But she also did much more than that.
“She was a compassionate, motivating nurse,” Mr. Fields said. “She reinforced the positives of my situation while eliciting an energy that was contagious.”
Mr. Fields, 62, was also equally impressed with physical therapist Jojit Enriquez, who helped him improve his range of motion despite the pain he endured because of a bulging disc in his back.
“Jojit took an active interest in my life and constantly motivated me to rehab so that I could return to my normal activities,” he said. “He demonstrated the skill of a coach in finding ways to keep my motivation at a high level...I cannot say enough about the quality of care he provided.”
Executive Director Mary Kate Waltenius, MS, RN, said being part of the Backus health system gives her homecare agency access to the latest technology and expertise.
People with unstable hypertension, diabetes, respiratory disease and other cardiacrelated issues can have equipment set up in their home to monitor their weight, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen and blood sugar levels. The information is sent electronically to the Backus Home Health Care office for monitoring seven days a week. If there is an unusual reading, a nurse will contact the patient to obtain more information about their symptoms and arrange a skilled nursing visit or notify the physician as needed.
Nurses and therapists in the field use laptops to update patient records. The home office of Backus Home Health Care recently relocated to 12 Case St. in Norwich. They serve New London and Windham counties, from border to shore, mirroring the Backus service area. The goal is to offer a continuum of care that other agencies can’t, from the doctor’s office to the hospital to the home.
To learn more about the services offered, visit the updated website at backushomehealth.com