The Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association (CRVNA) continues to offer comprehensive  health services to the residents of Dunbarton:  The following is a description of these services:

 

Home Care services respond to the health care needs of those patients with acute or chronic illnesses that require skilled professional and para-professional care so they may return to or remain in their homes.  Emphasis is on promoting independence and maximum functioning of the patient within the least restrictive setting. Patients who receive services range from children who have a complex medical condition to frail elders who require supportive assistance to stay in their own homes.

 

Hospice services provide professional and para-professional services to the terminally ill patient with a limited life expectancy.  The goal is to enhance the quality of the patient’s remaining life by helping he/she remain at home in comfort and dignity.  Emphasis is on pain and symptom management and on skilled intervention to meet the patient’s special physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

 

CRVNA’s Hospice House provides residential care to terminally ill patients who have no primary caregiver or need a supported residential setting.  Often times patients are transferred into the Hospice House when a caregiver is exhausted and unable to care for them at home any longer.  To date, this house has provided a home to approximately 500 terminally ill residents.

 

Community Health services include health education, health maintenance and preventive health services.  The program includes preventive care, adult and senior health, child health, Baby’s First Homecoming, immunizations for all ages, support services to school districts parent education and support, health education, and  nutritional counseling.

 

Community Health includes health promotion services which focus on the low and marginal income families and individuals to prevent illness by professional assessment and screening for health risks and needs, by early intervention to prevent, eliminate, or minimize the impact of illness and/or disability, and by anticipatory guidance and health teaching.  Emphasis is on promoting healthy children, families and individuals through early intervention and health teaching.  Services rendered in the clinic setting are: child health, adult screening, and immunizations.  Home visits are made in crisis situations or when needed health care cannot be given in the clinic.  Senior health services are provided at congregate housing sites.

 

Over the past two years Senior Health Clinics have expanded to reach out to seniors who may require a monthly check by a nurse of their blood sugar, blood pressure, and/or diabetes management.  The expansion of these services was in response to the decrease in Medicare services to seniors.

 

Professional and para-professional hourly home services are provided on a private fee-for-service basis.  Health education and instruction are part of each home visit or clinic visit.

 

Anyone in Dunbarton may request service; patient, doctor, health facility, pastor, friend or neighbor.  The nurse who completes an assessment will coordinate with the patient’s physician a plan of care to meet the patient’s specific needs.  If the patient does not have a physician the nurse will assist the patient to identify one and schedule a visit.  The agency has developed a program with the NH Dartmouth Family Practice Residency Program to coordinate a house call visit by a resident to a frail elder’s home who is unable to leave his/her home.

 

A call to Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association (1-800-924-8620) is all that is necessary to start services or make inquires.  The CRVNA office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 5:00pm.  A nurse is on call twenty-four hous a day.  The  On-Call Nurse can be reached by calling 1-800-924-8620.

 

Federal regulations specify a charge is applicable to all visits.  Fees are scaled for the individual without health insurance and/or who is unable to pay the full charge.  However, a fee scale, federal regulations require a financial statement be completed by the patient or responsible person.  The community health services are provided to residents often times free of charge.  Town monies subsidize those visits that are scaled or that no fee is collectible.

 

This agency is certified as a Medicare/Medicaid Provider, licensed by the State of N.H., accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and is a member agency of the United Way of Merrimack County.

 

Total visits made during October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2003:

 

Home Care/Hospice:            31  Clients             1001 Visits 

 

Community Health Services:             

            -Immunizations                         1 Client                         1 Visit

            -Dental                                      1 Client                         1 Visit

            -Health Clinic               2 Clients                       2 Visits

            -Senior Health                          2 Clients                     2 Visits

            -Baby’s Homecoming            17 Clients                     17 Visits

                        -Flu                                          33 Clients                     33 Visits

 

Community Health Total                   56 Clients                  61 Visits

 

Total Clients and Visits                        87  Clients             1062 Visits

           

           

            5 Adult Bereavements Support Groups

            3 Hospice Volunteer Training Groups