Page 22 - Indulge June/July 2016
P. 22
EBRATING 100 YEARS OF HOME HEALTH
In 1916, at the home of Easton eastOn hOme health
businessman Harry Mitchell, a
22 | indulge • june/july 2016group of concerned citizens gathered “Most home visits follow a similar
Photos courtesy of Easton Hospitalto discuss the lack of medical progression,” says Linda. She’s been
services to the poor. At that meeting working as a Home Health nurse for
the Easton Visiting Nurse Association more than 20 years. “Nurses gather
was born. vital signs and then assess the patient’s
health by asking a battery of questions.”
The association started with one
nurse, Rachel Walp. Riding her bike Nurses then communicate with
to each home visit, she worked in physicians, family and various
coordination with a doctor and helped community organizations that might
patients heal. Payments for services help a patient’s progress.
were optional, so the agency relied on
fundraisers and donations. Linda Forstoffer, Home Health Nurse WHY IS THE HOME SO CRUCIAL?
Today the Easton VNA is now But they didn’t have many tools to Linda says it’s possible to get to
known as Easton Home Health. It help. Nurses used supplies provided know the patient more personally. “I
employs more than 20 clinical and by the patient and shared medical know who they are, what they like and
administrative staff. resources, like stethoscopes and blood what matters most for each patient,”
pressure cuffs, with other nurses. she says. “Those details help me
While much has changed, much remove barriers that can keep
has stayed the same. Or as Home In the 1960s, Medicare began to patients from being healthy.”
Health Nurse Linda Forstoffer says, cover the costs of home care. Nurses
“Sometimes the old ideas are the were able to get their own medical tools. When care is not routine like a
best ideas.” By the 1970s, the number of procedures home visit, patients can go around
home health nurses could complete had and around. “They get caught in a
As its 100th birthday draws near, grown to include wound care and blood spiral of getting worse and getting
Easton Home Health will celebrate draws. Care was also available 24 hours a better,” Linda says. “But a home visit
the anniversary on June 15 with a day, seven days a week. can get them moving forward.”
party at Easton Hospital.
In the 1980s, most insurance 100 YEARS
HISTORY OF VNA plans would reimburse for home care.
Procedures expanded to include tube Despite the advances in drugs,
Visiting nurses faced it all, from feedings, IV care, physical therapy technology and technique, some of
delivering babies to treating global and occupational therapy. the core principles remain the same in
pandemics, like influenza, polio hands-on care.
and tuberculosis. Home health nurses today still
help deliver care, but they also serve “Like the days of Florence Nightingale,
to educate patients in order to prevent some old ideas are still important to
illness and promote health. health,” she says. “One idea is how a
caring community assists with healing.”
DAY IN THE LIFE
There is nothing like a significant
Most Home Health nurses visit milestone to bring a community together.
six to seven patients a day. While the
patients’ conditions may vary, they “Anniversaries are special days for
are usually grouped by vicinity. the community because it does take a
village to keep each member healthy,”
she says.
Easton Home Health has been in
the community for 100 years because
patients feel the care is top notch.
“Patients see the kindness, compassion
and skill,” Linda says. “It’s what will
keep us here for the next 100 years.”
In 1916, at the home of Easton eastOn hOme health
businessman Harry Mitchell, a
22 | indulge • june/july 2016group of concerned citizens gathered “Most home visits follow a similar
Photos courtesy of Easton Hospitalto discuss the lack of medical progression,” says Linda. She’s been
services to the poor. At that meeting working as a Home Health nurse for
the Easton Visiting Nurse Association more than 20 years. “Nurses gather
was born. vital signs and then assess the patient’s
health by asking a battery of questions.”
The association started with one
nurse, Rachel Walp. Riding her bike Nurses then communicate with
to each home visit, she worked in physicians, family and various
coordination with a doctor and helped community organizations that might
patients heal. Payments for services help a patient’s progress.
were optional, so the agency relied on
fundraisers and donations. Linda Forstoffer, Home Health Nurse WHY IS THE HOME SO CRUCIAL?
Today the Easton VNA is now But they didn’t have many tools to Linda says it’s possible to get to
known as Easton Home Health. It help. Nurses used supplies provided know the patient more personally. “I
employs more than 20 clinical and by the patient and shared medical know who they are, what they like and
administrative staff. resources, like stethoscopes and blood what matters most for each patient,”
pressure cuffs, with other nurses. she says. “Those details help me
While much has changed, much remove barriers that can keep
has stayed the same. Or as Home In the 1960s, Medicare began to patients from being healthy.”
Health Nurse Linda Forstoffer says, cover the costs of home care. Nurses
“Sometimes the old ideas are the were able to get their own medical tools. When care is not routine like a
best ideas.” By the 1970s, the number of procedures home visit, patients can go around
home health nurses could complete had and around. “They get caught in a
As its 100th birthday draws near, grown to include wound care and blood spiral of getting worse and getting
Easton Home Health will celebrate draws. Care was also available 24 hours a better,” Linda says. “But a home visit
the anniversary on June 15 with a day, seven days a week. can get them moving forward.”
party at Easton Hospital.
In the 1980s, most insurance 100 YEARS
HISTORY OF VNA plans would reimburse for home care.
Procedures expanded to include tube Despite the advances in drugs,
Visiting nurses faced it all, from feedings, IV care, physical therapy technology and technique, some of
delivering babies to treating global and occupational therapy. the core principles remain the same in
pandemics, like influenza, polio hands-on care.
and tuberculosis. Home health nurses today still
help deliver care, but they also serve “Like the days of Florence Nightingale,
to educate patients in order to prevent some old ideas are still important to
illness and promote health. health,” she says. “One idea is how a
caring community assists with healing.”
DAY IN THE LIFE
There is nothing like a significant
Most Home Health nurses visit milestone to bring a community together.
six to seven patients a day. While the
patients’ conditions may vary, they “Anniversaries are special days for
are usually grouped by vicinity. the community because it does take a
village to keep each member healthy,”
she says.
Easton Home Health has been in
the community for 100 years because
patients feel the care is top notch.
“Patients see the kindness, compassion
and skill,” Linda says. “It’s what will
keep us here for the next 100 years.”
