Backus offers home health care
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The Backus Home Health Care Team. |
As technology advances, people with chronic illnesses can remain at home longer with professional clinical and support services through home health care agencies.
"The trend is we are seeing sicker patients in the home. Our goal is to teach them how to manage their medical needs in order to be as independent as possible at home," said Debbie Psanis, MSN, RN, CWCN, Acting Clinical Director of Backus Home Health Care. "We have knowledgeable, dedicated staff who are able to treat patients holistically, taking into account their family and living situation."
Backus recently announced it has assumed full ownership of Connecticut VNA, SE from Wallingford-based Masonicare. The agency will do business as Backus Home Health Care, with operations based in Norwich.
Since 1999, Backus and Masonicare jointly owned Connecticut VNA, SE, a two office home health care agency with offices in East Lyme and Norwich. The East Lyme location will remain an office of Connecticut VNA, the homecare affiliate of Masonicare.
Executive Director Mary Kate Waltenius, MS, RN, said Backus Home Health Care offers skilled nursing services; physical, occupational and speech therapies; medical social workers and home health aides. The agency also provides specialized programs for wound care, behavioral health, diabetic and cardiac telemonitoring.
Ms. Psanis said patients with unstable hypertension, diabetes, respiratory disease and other cardiac related diagnoses can benefit from the home telemonitoring program. The equipment is set up in the patientÕs home and monitors 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.
The agency serves about 400 patients currently. Ms. Psanis said the staff provides approximately 800 visits per week, serving the Backus Hospital communities of eastern Connecticut. Monthly blood pressure screenings and seasonal flu immunization clinics are also provided by the agency throughout the community for the public.
"This is the continuation of the excellent home health services Backus Hospital has played a role in over the years," said Thomas P. Pipicelli, President and Chief Executive Officer at Backus. "It will be a great benefit to patients and their continuum of care. We are pleased to now be able to bring it to them under the Backus name."
For more information about Backus Home Health Care, located at 31 Clinton Avenue in Norwich, call 889-7198 or visit backushomehealth.com.