This week, in between seeing patients, coordinating with caregivers and managing caseloads with local hospitals, award-winning home care company Peninsula Home Care (PHC) will celebrate a major milestone: 30 years of service on the Lower Shore.
“Thirty years is a very important anniversary for us,” said Nancy Bagwell, Branch Manager for PHC in Maryland. “So many people have placed their health care in our hands; it is both a gratifying and a humbling experience to be responsible for a patient’s care in their own home. We are thankful to be the choice of so many patients, their families and their doctors, and we are working hard to continue to provide the best care available – here or anywhere.”
Home grown and locally operated, the company, founded in 1985, started as Peninsula Regional Home Care. Through the years, the agency has helped more than 42,000 patients recover from illness and injury, surgery and stroke. PHC’s practice includes skilled nursing and medical social work; physical, occupational and speech therapy; and certified nursing assistants and home health aides.
Congratulations have begun pouring in to Peninsula from local, state and Federal sources. To start the week, Tuesday, March 3 will be proclaimed “Peninsula Home Care Day” in Wicomico County by the Wicomico County Council. On Tuesday, March 10, Peninsula Home Care will receive 30th Anniversary proclamations from the Sussex and Somerset County Councils. Additional announcements will be made as further recognitions are received.
Peninsulahomecare.com: A Gift to the Community
In recognition of the milestone, Peninsula has completely renovated its website (www.peninsulahomecare.com). The site provides access to healthcare resources, educational materials and the full scope of skilled services provided by Peninsula Home Care.
The new “Live Well” section is packed with resources and information for patients, caregivers, physicians and medical practices. Content includes information, checklists and resources on a wide range of topics, from cancer to heart conditions, immunizations for the elderly to stroke awareness. A new calendar showcases health fairs, seminars for seniors and other health-related activities on the peninsula.
“As we developed the website it was exciting to review the scope of services we provide and continue to expand to our patients on Delmarva,” said Nancy Bagwell, Branch Manager for PHC in Maryland. “It really put things into perspective because it offered an opportunity to look back at our successes and plan ahead for the years to come.”
Peninsulahomecare.com also offers information about the company, its team of leaders, new technologies, insight on state (DE and MD) health systems, Medicare and insurance. Visitors will also find resources for physicians and caregivers and employment opportunities within the company. Numerous testimonials, from patients, staff and caregivers attest the company’s impact on the health of the community they serve.
Firsts in Home Care
PHC’s approach to home care blends locally based, highly personalized care with a commitment to bringing cutting edge technology to Delmarva. This ‘hi-tech/hi-touch’ strategy has resulted in PHC being the first to bring many advances to the region.
During the last five years, PHC has been the first to introduce several techniques and services to in-home care across the region:
- 2014 – Became the first in the State of Maryland to offer in-home Wound Care e-STIM (electronic stimulation), a process that helps chronic wounds heal up to 40% faster than with traditional wound care alone.
- 2014 – Launched the Maryland Eastern Shore’s first Community Health Workers program in partnership with Peninsula Regional Medical Center. The program, free to seniors ages 65 and older, adds an additional level of care by serving as a liaison between healthcare, social services/resources and the community.
- 2014 – Introduced Saebo Neurological Orthotic Devices to Delmarva. The devices help reprogram the brain after a stroke or traumatic brain injury to help patients recover their health more quickly and to recover more control over their lives.
- 2012 – Became the first home care on the Lower Eastern Shore to offer in-home chemotherapy treatment for breast and colon cancer.
- 2010 – Launched the region’s first Point of Care electronic medical records program for home care, allowing all professionals working with a patient to update records in real time.
- 2010 – Introduced the area’s first home care-based e-STIM physical therapy program, offering electronic muscle stimulation to help with pain prevention and mitigation, muscle spasm relaxation and muscle toning.
Locally Founded – Locally Operated
PHC has two offices in Maryland (Salisbury and Ocean Pines) and one in Delaware (Seaford.) The company employs 50 people on staff in Maryland and 21 employees in Delaware.
That in stark contrast to when the company began 30 years ago as Atlantic Visiting Nurses Association (AVNA). The small start-up had a single office and a handful of staff. Known for its homegrown approach of “neighbor serving neighbor,” AVNA was purchased by Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) in 1999. After assimilating the business, PRMC sought a partner that could lead home health care in the new millennium. In 2004, PHC became a joint venture between Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) and CHMG Solutions of North Carolina.
Carol West, vice president of Home Health for CHMG recalls that “from the beginning there was something special about the people of PHC. Everyone was dedicated to remaining on the cutting edge of home health care without losing our commitment to providing highly personalized service. It’s been a unique and satisfying partnership.”
About Peninsula Home Care
Peninsula Home Care ensures that all patients are involved in their plan of care and strives to give them every opportunity to maintain their independence in the home. The agency has served more than 42,000 patients on Delmarva and has been named to the “Home Health Care Elite” three times in six years. For more information, visit www.peninsulahomecare.com.
The new Peninsula Home Care website was written and designed by a team from a.s.a.p.r. integrated marketing, Two Rider Design and Spotlight Web, all of Salisbury, MD.
