West Virginia Executive Winter 2020 | Page 33

Panhandle Home Health opened its office in Martinsburg, WV, on April 1, 1976, to bring nursing services to those who needed them. At the time, the agency was set up to provide one full-time registered nurse, three part-time registered nurses, a physical therapist and four home health aides when needed. Today, the agency’s staff has grown to more than 70 staff members, including 25 registered nurses and four certified home health aides, as well as occupational, physical and speech therapists; a registered dietician; and a social worker that provide more than 34,000 home visits per year. Panhandle Home Health is a nonprofit 501(c)3 Medicare-certified home health agency that serves the residents of Berkeley, Morgan and Jefferson counties. After many years of care, the agency turned 43 on April 1, 2019, and boasts a 5-star patient satisfaction rating. “It’s our mission to provide the community with high-quality home health services and link individuals with available resources,” says Executive Director Lisa Bivens. Panhandle Home Health’s goals are to: • Provide care and compassion for patients’ physical, psychological and social problems; • Provide the most advanced technological health care available; • Meet the needs and exceed the expectations of all customers; • Address and resolve any issues that cause customer dissatisfaction; and • Develop and improve processes for providing exceptional services through performance improvement activities. “Taking care of a loved one during times of illness or injury can be mentally and physically taxing,” says Bivens. “You want to do it yourself, but it’s important to recognize when you need help. Panhandle Home Health is here for you. Home health can be a preferred way for patients to remain in the home and receive quality medical assistance at the same time.” Panhandle Home Health has always been proactive in the field of home health care services, offering programs that are unique in its service area such as the Charity Care Program, which provides assistance to patients in financial need or distress; the Advanced Wound Care Initiative, which promotes better management of complex wounds by offering care from certified wound care nurses; and the Bridge Program, a partnership with Hospice of the Panhandle that offers patients a bridge between curative and palliative care. The staff of Panhandle Home Health will continue to demonstrate its commitment and dedication to the communities it serves for years to come. Staff members are actively involved on committees and in work groups, devoting time and effort to making Panhandle Home Health strong through the development of programs and best practices that will benefit all patients served and the community at large. Those who wish to get involved with Panhandle Home Health can choose from a variety of volunteer opportunities, provide items from a wish list or support one of its major fundraising events held in the spring and fall. 208 Old Mill Road, Martinsburg, WV 25401 (304) 263-5680 | www.PanhandleHomeHealth.org