FRANKLIN –  Staff and local health providers turned out for the Franklin VNA & Hospice Meet & Greet Wednesday January 31, 2018. Local health clinics, doctor’s offices, long term care centers and care managers from the nearest hospitals were invited to attend and meet the staff of the Franklin VNA & Hospice face to face.
Communication between multiple health care providers is critical in excellent patient care. The last thing any person wants is for details about their health needs to fall through the cracks as they pass from hospital to rehabilitation facility to home. The American Academy of Family Physicians recognizes this and states, “Continuity of care is facilitated by a physician-led, team-based approach to health care. It reduces fragmentation of care and thus improves patient safety and quality of care.”
“We talk with so many of these providers every day,” notes Barbara Normandin, Executive Director of the Franklin VNA & Hospice, “But so often they are only voices on the end of the phone line. Meeting face to face helps to create a stronger connection and can help make communication about patient needs easier.”
The event featured a “Go Local” theme with food from local small businesses including Kettlehead and Ciao Pasta in Tilton, Chubbles, and May Garden in Franklin and favors from Central Sweets in Franklin.
“We are your local VNA,” says Normandin, “That means a referral to us helps us support the free care in your own community, the programs and clinics we provide helps to create a stronger safety net in your own neighborhood. It was important for us to support our local businesses for the event and also to spread the word that all VNA’s are not the same. If you need home care, you have a choice of who comes to see you. We want people to know they should request Franklin VNA & Hospice so they are truly getting their local VNA.”
Attendees had a chance to meet with the nurses and therapists as well as managers, intake coordinators and even people from the business office.
Normandin cheerfully adds, “We had a great time and made some very meaningful connections. We hope to hold this event again to continue to strengthen the care network that supports our patients.”
Looking for quality, local home care or hospice service? Franklin VNA & Hospice is an independent, non-profit organization established in 1945 to serve the Home Health care needs of the community. They provide home care, Hospice, clinic and community education services to Andover, Belmont, Boscawen, Canterbury, Franklin, Hill, Northfield, Sanbornton, Salisbury, Tilton, Webster and surrounding towns, as requested. For more information, call Franklin VNA & Hospice at (603)934-3454 or visit www.FranklinVNA.org your local VNA.