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The Newsletter of the Visiting Nurse Association of the Treasure Coast
VNA Celebrates 30 Years of Caring
Always at the forefront of
community health initiatives, VNA
has led the way in home care and
hospice. Although we have grown in
size and technological sophistication,
our mission to meet community
health care needs remains
unchanged.
We mark our 30-year anniversary
in 2005 and will celebrate a
successful history that began
November 17,1975. It was during
that monumental year the VNA was
chartered as a non-profit home health
agency by a group of volunteers who
later became the first Board of
Directors.
Thirty years later, VNA continues
its commitment to bringing skilled
and compassionate care to our
VNA Expands Therapy Program
Odean Burgner was skeptical
when her doctor suggested she receive
physical therapy at home after
undergoing knee replacement surgery.
"I was not really happy about
getting therapy at home and I wanted
to go to a facility. I was scared that I
wouldn't get the same level of
treatment at home," says the 57-year-
old Fellsmere resident.
All that changed when Burgner
met Jessica Smith, a physical therapy
assistant and member of VNA's
comprehensive rehabilitation team.
"Jessi has been a godsend and a
lifesaver. She makes me feel
completely comfortable. There are
days when I don't want to fool with it
because it hurts so much, but she tells
me I can do it and encourages me. I
would not have been able to go
through all of this at home if it had not
been for Jessi," Burgner says.
Burgner's story is just one example
of how VNA's recently expanded
rehabilitation program is helping
patients with physical, occupational
and speech therapy needs.
Nearly 20 therapists work with
patients who require rehabilitative
services. Using laptop computer
devices in the patient's home,
therapists, nurses and other
caregivers have instant access to
patient care history and plans.
"Streamlining this process allows
therapists to work more closely with
the nursing staff to ensure all our
patients' needs are being met," says
Margaret Olsen, therapy supervisor.
"Our goal is to keep people
independent in their homes after
illness or surgery, and get them back
to their prior level of function as
quickly as possible. One of the benefits
of receiving therapy at home is that
patients heal more quickly because
they are in a convenient and familiar
setting."
Burgner agrees. "I can't drive so
not having to get up and leave the
house has been wonderful. I'm also
more comfortable doing the exercises
in the house than I would be in front
of a group," she says.
Rehabilitative therapy services are
available to patients of all ages- from
pediatric to senior. People with broken
bones and other orthopedic needs,
such as joint replacements, can benefit
from physical therapy. Occupational
therapy is used to assist with daily
living, such as dressing and feeding,
and speech therapy can help children
community. Our yearlong
anniversary celebration will begin
Feb. 10 with a Founders Breakfast at
Quail Valley River Club to honor
current and former board members
for their dedication to the VNA.
Watch your local newspapers or visit
www.vnatc.com for more information
about 30th anniversary activities
throughout the year.
with speech issues or older adults
recovering from a stroke.
Burgner credits Smith and the
VNA for helping her get over her
initial apprehension about at-home
therapy and even recommended it to
her sister. "If I had to get my other leg
done, I would go through all of this
again," she says.
For more informationaboutVNA
rehabilitative services, visit
www.vnatc.com or call (772) 567-5551.
Jessica Smith, PT assistant, works with Odean
Burgner on leg strengthening exercises.
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