In-Home Nursing Services & Home Health Care
Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk (VNSHS) offers comprehensive, patient-focused
services to help you or a loved one manage healthcare needs at home. Under the direction of your physician,
we provide skilled home nursing, rehabilitative physical, occupational and speech therapy, enterostomal
therapy, wound care, home health aide care, medical social work support, nutritional counseling, diabetic
education and telehealth throughout Suffolk County. As a certified home care agency, we bill Medicare,
Medicaid and most private insurance companies for our VNS & Hospice of Suffolk home health services. When
insurance does not cover a service, fees are adjusted based on the ability to pay.
Maintain Independence with the Help of a Visiting Home Nurse
As the first home health care agency in Suffolk County, New York and a trusted leader in healthcare ever since, our professional staff and customized services enable you or your loved one to function as independently as possible within your own home and community. We work closely with each patient and caregiver in order to create an individualized VNS & Hospice of Suffolk home care plan. This allows for a seamless transition to a variety of specialized services if health care needs change.
The Benefits of VNS & Hospice of Suffolk Home Health Care
VNS & Hospice of Suffolk home health care allows patients to recover from injuries, surgeries or manage
acute or chronic health conditions in the safety and comfort of their own homes. In addition to greater
independence and convenience, this level of high-quality care prevents trips to the hospital, offers a
comprehensive range of services and provides personalized, one-on-one care. The use of in-home nursing
services also offers much-needed relief and peace of mind for family and caregivers.
Are VNS & Hospice of Suffolk Home Health Services Right for You?
Do you or a loved one require home health care on Long Island? As a home care agency, VNS & Hospice of
Suffolk provides in-home nursing and rehabilitation services to residents throughout Suffolk County. You
or your loved one may benefit from VNS & Hospice of Suffolk home health services if you:
- Are recovering from hospitalization for an illness
- Are recovering from hospitalization for emergency or elective surgery
- Have a chronic illness that requires skilled nursing or physical, occupational, speech or
enterostomal therapy
Registered Nurses
Under your physician’s orders, VNSHS skilled Registered Nurses (RN) make an initial assessment visit to develop an individualized care plan specific to your needs. There is no fee for the initial assessment. Our RNs are qualified to assist you with home health care needs, including disease management and treatment, administering medication and dressing wounds. To help maintain independence, patients and their caregivers are offered guidance and training on how to participate in patient care.
VNSHS offers extensive rehabilitative therapy including outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy, reimbursed under the Part B Medicare benefit. The advantage of VNSHS is that our therapy staff will see a patient in their home rather than a clinic or office. Our therapy staff is also trained to assess a patients vitals including including blood pressure, heart rate, respirations, temperature, and oxygen saturation to ensure patient is medically stable to participate in therapeutic activities. The therapy team coordinates findings with your physicians should higher level of care be needed.
Physical Therapy
VNSHS Physical Therapists (PT) provide rehabilitation to restore and improve mobility, as well as perform home safety evaluations to ensure a safe home environment. Registered PTs provide direct care and teach patients and their caregivers how to perform strengthening exercises on their own.
VNSHS offers extensive rehabilitative therapy including outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy, reimbursed under the Part B Medicare benefit. The advantage of VNSHS is that our therapy staff will see a patient in their home rather than a clinic or office. Our therapy staff is also trained to assess a patients vitals including including blood pressure, heart rate, respirations, temperature, and oxygen saturation to ensure patient is medically stable to participate in therapeutic activities. The therapy team coordinates findings with your physicians should higher level of care be needed.
Occupational Therapy
VNSHS Occupational Therapists (OT) treat injured, ill or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. Registered OTs help patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.
VNSHS offers extensive rehabilitative therapy including outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy, reimbursed under the Part B Medicare benefit. The advantage of VNSHS is that our therapy staff will see a patient in their home rather than a clinic or office. Our therapy staff is also trained to assess a patients vitals including including blood pressure, heart rate, respirations, temperature, and oxygen saturation to ensure patient is medically stable to participate in therapeutic activities. The therapy team coordinates findings with your physicians should higher level of care be needed.
Speech Therapy
VNSHS Speech Therapists assist patients with problems in eating and speaking. The changes could occur related to various illnesses such as a stroke, heart attack, Parkinson’s disease, neurological issues or if there are injuries to the head and neck. The therapist will assess all of the mechanisms related to swallowing and determine if the change can be corrected or if there is a need to alter what kinds of solid and liquid foods are most appropriate. When the ability to communicate is disrupted, our Speech Therapists design a program for language retraining.
Medical Social Work
VNSHS Licensed Social Workers (LSW) provide professional counseling to help patients and their families cope with the stress that arises from illness or accident, as well as applying for Medicaid. Our LSWs provide psychosocial support, a broad term covering the personal, emotional, financial and social issues that a patient and family may encounter during illness.
Home Health Aide Care
VNSHS Certified Home Health Aides are covered by insurance and available to provide personal care while a patient is receiving skilled services. Under the direction of a skilled clinician, aides assist with everyday activities such as bathing, dressing, preparing meals and home management.
Our Home Health Aides are New York State Certified and supervised regularly by a Registered Nurse. All services are provided by VNSHS employees, not outsourced to another provider, with the participation of the patient’s Primary Physician. We work with you to create a plan that will help you to remain as independent as possible in your home.
Should a patient or family want to continue with Certified Home Health Aide care after a patient is discharged from our skilled services, VNSHS offers a private pay solution through our Caring Hearts program.
Wound Care and Enterostomal Therapy
VNSHS Registered Nurses are specially trained to treat and manage pressure sores, wounds, skin care related to incontinence, and any type of Ostomy (Colostomy, Ileostomy, Urostomy). Our highly skilled Wound Specialist nurse provides consultation on complex enterostomal therapy and complex wound care cases. Our VNSHS Wound Specialist critically assesses post-surgical, vascular, and traumatic injury wounds for complications in the healing process and collaborates with the patient’s physician to implement wound care for appropriate and faster healing.
Nutritional Counseling and Diabetic Education
VNSHS nutritional counseling and diabetic education is a critical component of patient care. Although the Registered Dietitian (R.D.N.) position is not mandated of home health care agencies, VNSHS has a full time R.D.N. to collaborate with nurses and physicians to develop a plan of care for nutritional counseling based on the assessment of the patient’s needs and the effectiveness of a medically prescribed diet. Our R.D.N. provides medical nutrition therapy to patients and families regarding prescribed nutrition regimens to meet nutritional requirements. Patients on enteral feedings are referred to the R.D.N. for assessment and adequacy of tube feeding to meet nutritional and hydration requirements. As a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (C.D.C.E.S.), our R.D.N. also teaches patients diabetes self management
Telehealth Virtual Visits
Telehealth is a program that allows VNSHS to continuously monitor patient vitals and symptoms remotely. We provide home care patients with unique care plans and state-of-the-art technology that allow patients to have a “virtual visit” with a VNSHS clinician to monitor and manage their healthcare, safely and easily from the comfort of their own home. Telehealth has helped patients reduce their chances of hospital readmission and emergency room visits while providing patients and families with peace of mind.
What are the benefits of telehealth?
- Allows patients and caregiver partnership in the plan of care to improve outcomes
- Encourages patient self-management by reinforcing positive behavior and lifestyle changes
- Gives concerned family members peace of mind that a professional clinician is monitoring the patient daily and communicating important information to the physician
Telehealth monitoring allows patients to:
- Measure and track weight, blood pressure, heart rate, glucose and SpO2
- Inform their clinicians of symptoms through a daily survey
- Learn about their disease condition and how to manage it
- Track their medication adherence and progress
- Communicate with their clinician via text, phone or video chat
Telehealth monitoring allows clinicians to:
- Monitor a patient’s vitals in real time
- Respond to high risk readings that could lead to a hospital readmission
- Track a patient’s medication adherence
- Conduct nursing assessments through wound imaging technology
- Supplement education through videos and quizzes
- Communicate with their patients via text, phone, or video chat
What is the cost to the patient?
- Patients with Medicare, Medicaid or other third-party payers will be monitored at no cost to the patient
- Telehealth services may also be paid for privately when Medicare, Medicaid and insurance coverage ends
Medical Transportation
A VNSHS Certified Home Health Aide is available to provide transportation to and from the patient’s home to their medical appointments if they require transportation. This a private pay solution provided to patients who receive or have received our skilled services.
Learn More About Obtaining VNS & Hospice of Suffolk Home Care Services
Looking to receive home care in Suffolk County, New York? We understand that it can feel overwhelming, but we are here to help. Our visiting home nurses and therapists are specialized to provide a wide range of services and treatments in the comfort of your own home. Keep reading to learn more about requesting in-home nursing services from the skilled and caring team at VNSHS.
What Are Skilled Nursing Services?
Skilled nursing refers to the level of medical care provided. Skilled nursing services are provided by licensed home visiting nurse professionals.
How Do I Know if I or My Loved One Requires Skilled Nursing Services?
If you are unsure, please feel free to contact the VNSHS Intake Department. We will review your unique situation to determine if you meet the criteria for skilled services. We will also provide you with alternative community resources if you do not meet the criteria or if we do not provide the services that you require.
Who Will I Speak With When I Contact VNSHS About Services?
All inquiries about visiting nurse home health services are directed to the VNSHS Intake Department, who will work with the patient or caregiver to determine that the patient meets the criteria for skilled nursing services. If the patient meets the criteria for services, Intake will contact the patient’s physician, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant to obtain the required documentation to begin in-home nursing services. Once certified for services, our Intake Department will contact the patient or their caregiver to schedule a home visit.
Who Can Sign Orders to Approve VNSHS Services?
A patient’s healthcare provider, which may be a physician, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant, can provide the certification required for VNS & Hospice of Suffolk home care services.
What Information Should I Have When I Contact VNSHS About Services?
When you contact VNSHS, please provide us with the patient’s name, date of birth and address, general information about the patient’s diagnosis, insurance information and the patient’s physician’s name and phone number.
Experience a Compassionate and Customized Approach with VNS & Hospice of Suffolk Home Care Services
Part of the Long Island community since 1952, VNSHS has maintained a tradition of compassionate, high-quality health care. If you or a loved one is in need of a visiting home nurse or rehabilitative therapy, VNS & Hospice of Suffolk home health services are here to help. Have a question or want to learn more about the benefits of our in-home nursing services? Call 631.930.9375 and our Intake Department nurses will set up a call with your doctor or healthcare provider to discuss your needs.
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