Franciscan Visiting Nurse Service

Visiting Nurse Services

Since 1913, Franciscan VNS has been taking care of our local community in their homes. Home care is funded through a number of sources, including Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurers. The Franciscan VNS team is still the first choice in the field.

Our home care professionals bring commitment and compassion to the care of their patients. After a rigorous screening process that ensures only the most qualified have been selected, the Franciscan VNS team members receive ongoing training on the latest medical technologies and care techniques. The result is superior home health care services from the finest providers in the profession.

Our staff is highly qualified to provide Franciscan Health's world-class evidenced-based care in your home. We offer a wide range of services, including:

• Skilled nursing care
• Social work services
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Infusion (IV) therapy
• Wound care with specially trained nurses
• Home health aides
• Medication education
• TeleHealth
• Coaching programs

Telehealth

Telehealth units are small devices, including touch-screen tablets, used to collect health information while in the comfort of home. Voice, text, and video prompts guide the user through the simple three-minute process of collecting their vital signs (heart rate, weight, blood pressure, etc.) and answers to patient specific yes/no questions.

The data is automatically sent to our agency via a secure cellular connection for clinical review and trending. If the data collected indicates a need for intervention or if the patient fails to collect their vital signs when prompted, our clinical staff takes appropriate action. Daily monitoring allows us to detect even small changes in health status, preventing a chronic condition or an acute episode from escalating into something more serious.

Health Coaching

A nationally certified RN Health Coach will visit the patient in the hospital or their home to discuss the benefits of the program and to identify potential patient needs. A plan is developed and then an additional home visit(s) scheduled to help implement the plan. The Coach’s primary role is to empower the patient or caregiver to assert a more active role in their health care and to develop lasting self-management skills. Coaches encourage patients to keep their own Personal Health Record of information, aid patients in managing a daily medication regimen, provide disease and life style specific education and answer any questions regarding the doctor's instructions.