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HOME HEALTH CARE AND HOSPICE... THERE WHEN YOU NEED US. A publication for the associates and friends of the VNA of Erie County
MARCH 2010
Erie Community Foundation Awards Grant for VNA Wound Care Program
The Erie Community trained professional could be Foundation awarded a $20,250 cured or taught to handle their grant to the Visiting Nurse conditions more effectively. Association of Erie County in There are only seven certified October 2009. This award will be WOC nurses in Erie County. VNA utilized to enhance services to has made a commitment to the patients in need of wound care. ongoing health of the community In the United States, millions by recognizing the need for this of individuals suffer with wound, specialty and employing a full time ostomy, and continence disorders. Wound Care nurse. This includes more than 5 million The VNA's Enhanced Patient Americans who are debilitated by Care Program includes computer non-healing wounds, a half million software technology that was individuals who have ostomies, purchased by the ECF grant. and a staggering 11 million men Through the use of specialized Wound Care specialist Renee Maker RN, BSN, and women who endure urinary wound care computer software, WOCN demonstrated the VNA's new Wound Advisor Software to David González, Program and fecal incontinence. As clinicians caring for a patient in Officer with the Erie Community Foundation. surprising as these numbers are, the home will now be able to experts predict that they will eliminate the lag time created when continue to rise as the number of elderly and chronically a clinician must return to the office to conference with the ill individuals in our society increases.1 Wound Care specialist for treatment recommendations. The wound care computer software now allows a Wound care specialists are registered nurses who clinician to take pictures of a patient's wound with a digital have been trained and certified in the care of patients camera and send the images to the WOC specialist for with wound, ostomy, or continence disorders, whether evaluation. (The ECF grant was also used to purchase supporting a patient's return to a productive lifestyle or digital cameras to document wound details. Each providing palliative care. They are uniquely qualified to clinician with a digital camera is able to arrive at a visit offer interventions and cost effective treatments to and record any adverse changes in the patient's individuals with such disorders. wound and send this information to the Wound Care Studies have demonstrated accelerated wound healing with the presence of a wound care nurse. article continued on page 12 Wound/Ostomy Care (WOC) specialists have been credited with significantly reducing amputation rates, If you want the services of someone you know and trust, someone who has the skill shortening hospital stays, and experience to give you quality, comprehensive home health or hospice care, and have also identified ask for the VNA by name. We are Erie County's FIRST home care provider, bringing significant cost savings to health care into your home since 1906. the patient and provider. Patients who are affected by Be sure that you have the VNA for your home health or hospice care. If you or a loved urinary incontinence and one is not currently a VNA patient, and you are not satisfied with your care providers are treated by a properly or their agency, you have the right to change anytime during your care.

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