(January 12, 2011) Sellersville, PA – Grand View Hospital Community Nurse-Home Care has been honored as one of the nation's best home health agencies for the fourth consecutive year.

The organization is named among the 2010 Home Care Elite, a compilation of the top-performing home health care agencies in the United States.

“Our home health program brings the compassionate and quality care for which Grand View Hospital is known into a person’s own home,” said Nancy Heaney, Grand View Hospital Community Nurse-Home Care Department manager.

Individuals recovering from surgery, stroke, and cardiac conditions as well as people needing wound care or infusions use Grand View’s home health service. “Patients prefer to have care in their own homes rather than in a hospital,” Heaney said.

Home care is provided by a multi-disciplinary team of health care professionals and includes registered nurses; physical, occupational and speech therapists; home health aides; and medical social workers. “We always aim to be the best we can be,” Heaney said. Despite national recognition four years running, Heaney said Community Nurse–Home Care staff will continue to look for ways to improve.

A range of skilled nursing services tailored to patients’ needs is available and may include patient assessment and monitoring; intravenous therapy; dressing changes; catheter care; injections; medication monitoring; and pain management. Home health aide services are also available and include bathing, personal hygiene, and dressing.

Individuals coping with chronic medical conditions, diabetes, and those undergoing rehabilitation also use the service. “Home care provides a level of care, support, and education designed to improve health outcomes for these individuals outside the hospital setting,” Heaney said. The organization’s record of preventing unplanned hospital care is a big indicator of performance of which Heaney said she is most proud.

For new mothers and babies, maternal-newborn care is provided by experienced maternity nurses who provide assessments and care. They address any problems that may arise following birth and inform the physician.

Criteria for the Home Care Elite award include quality of care, quality improvement, and financial performance. Data used to compile the list of nation’s best is based on publically available information. Performance relating to patient quality care was reviewed in several categories and includes: avoiding unplanned re-hospitalizations; improving ambulation; managing pain and treating symptoms; treating wounds and preventing pressure sores. For more information on 2010 Home Care Elite visit www.ocshomecare.com.

About Grand View Hospital Community Nurse-Home Care
Grand View Hospital Community Nurse Home-Care is a not-for-profit, state licensed, Medicare-certified home health agency and is accredited by the Joint Commission. Community Nurse officially became a department of Grand View Hospital in 1983, although its roots date back to the 1940s. The organization serves Upper Bucks and Montgomery counties. A person does not need to be a patient of Grand View Hospital to use Home Care services. Many health insurance programs - Medicare, Medical Assistance, and others – provide coverage for the service. For more information, call Grand View’s Community Nurse-Home Care Department at 215-453-4265 or visit www.gvh.org.

About Grand View Hospital
Grand View Hospital, Bucks County’s first hospital, has provided residents of Bucks and Montgomery Counties with comprehensive health care services since 1913. Grand View offers a range of care – particularly emphasizing the areas of cancer treatment, women's and children's health, surgery, orthopaedics, and heart and vascular care. For more information about Grand View, visit www.gvh.org.