For Professionals

One of the benefits of working with VNA Community Healthcare is that our professional staff includes a variety of disciplines to assist patients in home health care. In addition to our trained nursing staff, VNA Community Healthcare offers Therapy Specialties that may be included in a patient’s Plan of Care.

• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech Therapy

Physical Therapy
VNA Community Healthcare's physical therapists work in the home with patients, and their caregivers, to be as active and independent as possible. We teach patients how to use devices that will assist with mobility, how to control pain, and how to perform exercises that will improve strength, balance and coordination.

With your referral for home health care, a physical therapist will assess the patient and create a treatment plan with goals for recovery. We also conduct home safety evaluations to recommend an atmosphere that will promote increased mobility and confidence.

Therapy in the home includes exercise, education, treating wounds, and support skills for caregivers. We teach therapeutic exercises to improve the patient's range of motion and increase strength, coordination, balance, and endurance. Our physical therapists train patients and their caregivers to use assisting devices, including canes, walkers, crutches, as well as transfer techniques and bed mobility. When patients are in pain, we recommend modifying activity to control pain.

We treat patients who have had elective joint replacement surgery, and we are available before surgery for consultation and advice on setting up the home during the recovery process. Other clients include elderly patients recovering from falls, those who have recently had a stroke or other medical event, and patients with arthritis.

Occupational Therapy
VNA Community Healthcare’s Occupational Therapists work with patients to make everyday living and routine household tasks easier to complete. Therapy includes exercise, education and treating pain, and may also involve physical or speech therapy as needed. Patients learn exercises to improve range of motion, how to use assistive devices to help with personal and household activities, and ways to modify activities to limit discomfort and pain.

With your referral, one of our Occupational Therapists will visit the patient to assess his or her physical needs and conduct a home safety evaluation. As the referring doctor, you will review and approve the “plan of care.” And, as that care progresses, you will be updated on the patient’s condition and how the treatment plan is working.

Speech Therapy
Our experienced speech therapists manage speech, language and swallowing disorders. Through therapy, we help improve speech, language and non-verbal communication, and swallowing techniques. We also work with caregivers to learn how to promote therapy at home.

Doctors or discharge planners may refer patients of all ages, including newborns and children with swallowing or eating difficulties. Our patients also include those with Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, neurological conditions, Parkinson's disease, neck cancer, stroke, or those with communication issues due to surgery.