Independent Home Health Care now enjoys a stable reputation for providing distinctively good service. Hundreds of area physicians regularly refer to IHHC for the following advantages:

1. Advanced Wound Care Techniques
2. Full Range of Home Health Disciplines
3. A Willingness to Take All Referrals
4. Diabetes Management
5. Professionalism

1. Advanced Wound Care Techniques
Most of the time, effective wound care simply requires good technique and a commitment to make the optimal number of home visits. In these cases, Independent Home Health Care delivers. Some difficult cases require less common techniques. For these situations, the physician needs an agency with an administration that is willing to accept the extra paperwork and expense involved with uncommon therapies. Independent Home Health Care is that agency, with nursing staff and administration possessing the experience in the delivery of:

A. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
---Use of the Wound V.A.C. (Vacuum Assisted Closure)

B. In Home Whirlpool Therapy (includes up to 17 inches)

C. Nurses with certificates in wound care training from the Virginia Association of Home Care.

2. Full Range of Disciplines
Under federal regulations, home health may provide services from 6 disciplines. While many home health providers only provide some of the available disciplines, IHHC provides all 6:
   Skilled Nursing
   Home Health Aides
   Physical Therapy
   Occupational Therapy
   Speech Pathology
   Medical Social Services

*** Special Note: Many home health agencies in the same service area lack speech pathologists. IHHC has 3 full time speech pathologists ready to take referrals. While many others do not employ medical social workers, Independent Home Health Care has them on staff.

3. A Willingness to Take All Referrals
Where medical necessity exists, no case is too intensive or too small for IHHC. Whether the doctor prescribes BID visits or q month visits, IHHC graciously accepts them all and delivers the optimal level of care. Independent Home Health Care does not inconvenience doctors or their staff by picking and choosing cases based upon profitability.

4. Diabetes Management
Independent Home Health Care sees 62% more diabetes patients than the average home health agency. Effectively teaching geriatric patients sometimes requires repeated visits and a significant time investment. Again, IHHC does not pick and choose. We accept all referrals and can assist diabetic patients in the following areas:

A. Teaching newly diagnosed diabetics and caregivers Teaching will include:
· preparing and administering insulin injections
· preparing and following a diabetic diet
· observation and foot care precautions
· observation and understanding s/s of hyper/hypoglycemia
· glucose monitoring

B. Insulin Injections - When patients are unable and caregivers are unavailable, IHHC nurses will provide insulin injections. In some cases, IHHC nurses give insulin injections twice daily, seven days a week.

C. Diabetic Foot Care - A patient's home health benefits usually do not cover cutting or removal of corns, removal of calluses, trimming of problematic nails, and other preventative foot care. However, when a patient is under the care of an MD or DO for a metabolic disease such as diabetes mellitus and routine foot care represents an unusual hazard if performed by the patient, doctors can order these services from a home health nurse.

D. Reinforcement and Monitoring - In situations where blood glucose levels or blood pressures begin fluctuating abnormally, it may be appropriate for doctors to order a home health episode. Nurses can investigate compliance with special diets and reinforce teaching. They can monitor blood pressure levels and report to the physician for medication changes. Nurses can also teach diet and exercise intervention to better control fluctuating glucose levels.

5. Professionalism
The real difference lies in professionalism. To IHHC, professionalism means:

Caring for the patient with a dedication that exceeds momentary financial considerations.

Professionalism also means competently providing every service possible in the home environment and serving as the physician's number source for home health.