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by Karen Fetter
The aging community in
Westmoreland County does not
have to fear losing their
independence because of
requiring extra care. The
Thorne Group is a
large-scale provider of home
health services that makes
it possible to receive care
in the comforts of home. As
a result, more people can
live independently and
happily thanks to a staff of
experienced professionals.
And most notably, the Thorne
Group has been named in the
top five health care
agencies in Pennsylvania and
in the top 100 agencies
nationwide.
“Our aids are visiting
angels to most of our
patients,” said Rebecca
Thorne, president of the
Thorne Group. “We have a
group of dedicated and
loving aids that really care
for our patients.”
Since the agency’s beginning
in 1995, the Thorne Group
has expanded to include
skilled and non-skilled
care. Services include
nursing, therapies, social
services, telehealth
monitoring, home care,
private duty, geriatric
care, personal care
services, and home
psychiatric care. The Thorne
Group helps over 900
patients each year in some
type of home health care.
The facility is located in
Greensburg and serves
Westmoreland County, Indiana
County, Allegheny County and
Southwestern PA. The agency
is locally owned and
operated, which guarantees
quality control of services.
In addition, the Thorne
Group is Medicare certified
and state licensed.
Furthermore all caregivers
are screened with background
checks, employment
verifications, references,
and skills tests. Also, all
staff is supervised by a
registered nurse with over
20 years of experience in
home health care.
“Because we believe in the
value of home health
services and because our
services always bear our
name, we are committed to
high quality in our service
delivery. We achieve this
through our carefully chosen
professional staff and close
attention to quality control
of all aspects of our
agency,” said Rebecca
Thorne.
Rebecca emphasizes how much
the Thorne Group knows the
importance of having the
comforts of home. That is
why it has such a wide range
of services available.
Better yet is that clients
can customize their own
services to meet their
needs.
A new component of the
Thorne Group that has become
increasingly popular is
telehealth monitoring. It
has been proven to reduce
unnecessary visits to the
physician, emergency care,
and hospital readmissions.
Candidates who would do well
with this service are those
with repeated
hospitalizations and any
condition that needs
frequent monitoring. The
Thorne Group staff sets up
an interactive monitor in
the patient’s home, which is
remotely connected to a
computer in the agency
office. Staff also instructs
the patient on how to use it
correctly and enter in
information. The information
is transferred through a
toll-free phone number,
which is no charge to the
client.
Once the equipment is set up
the patient’s data can be
reviewed daily by skilled
nurses and concerned family
members (under permission of
the patient). Information
that can be collected is
heart rate, blood pressure,
weight, oxygen saturation,
body temperature, and blood
glucose levels. In addition
to these statistics there
are several questions that
can be answered that also
helps the skilled nurses
assess the patient’s health
status. The monitor may also
be programmed to announce
medication reminders for the
patient.
Telehealth monitoring gives
family members peace of mind
and it encourages the
patient to manage their own
care and reinforces positive
behavior and lifestyle
changes. This is just
another way in which the
Thorne Group enables people
to live independently and in
the comforts of home. If you
would like more information
on any of the services
provided by the Thorne
Group, please visit
www.thethornegroup.com
or call 724-832-6842.
Common unskilled services
available are personal care,
companion services, and
homemaker services. Personal
care services offer bathing,
dressing, and personal
grooming. Companion services
offer social interaction for
lonely clients and can act
as an escort for
appointments, etc. Homemaker
services and light
housekeeping help clients
keep up with duties around
the home such as laundry,
shopping, and meal
preparation.
Some of these services are
arranged into program
packages. The Rise and Shine
service is a one-hour
morning bath and breakfast
service. The Tender Tuck is
a one-hour evening bedtime
and preparation visit. And
Helping Hands is a temporary
assistance for those
recovering from an illness,
surgery, or for new moms.
The bottom line is that the
Thorne Group wants you to be
healthy, safe, and satisfied
says Rebecca.
Skilled services are needed
for health issues that a
doctor may order for you to
have at home. Skilled
nursing includes Registered
Nurses (RNs) and Licensed
Practical Nurses (LPNs).
These professionals can care
for a wide array of needs
such as wound care, IV care,
medication, and monitoring
vital signs and oxygen.
There are many other forms
of care that the Thorne
Group can accommodate. For
instance in-home
rehabilitation therapists
helps people overcome
limitations that can help
make them as independent as
possible. Medical social
service professionals help
individuals, couples, and
families to cope with the
social, psychological,
cultural, and medical issues
resulting from an illness.
Professionals in medical
social services also help
patients fully utilize
medical care and services.
Geriatric care management is
assistance from a licensed
social worker for elderly
citizens who need help with
medication management,
management of finances, home
safety and modifications,
and a variety of other
services, including
connection to community
resources. Frequently an
elderly patient will utilize
a geriatric care manager
when there is no family
nearby.
If you would like more
information on any of the
services provided by the
Thorne Group, please visit
www.thethornegroup.com
or call 724-832-6842. |
