Visiting nurse program grows with local need

Imagine having a friend with medical experience check up on you at home after a surgery or because you can’t make it to the clinic to see your provider as much as you should. That’s what a patient receiving services through North Big Horn Hospital’s visiting nurse program experiences.

The program, which started about 10 years ago through North Big Horn Hospital, began with one nurse making home visits to a handful of patients’ homes in the community. Now, three registered nurses and one licensed practical nurse and a team of backup staff serve the growing need for the highly personalized medical visits. The nurses serve patients in their homes in Lovell, Cowley, Byron, Deaver and Frannie, as well as the nearby areas of Greybull, Shell and Powell.

The program is available to patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart failure, blood pressure, memory issues and kidney disease. The experienced nurses perform wound care when needed, draw blood for lab testing and help with medication management, including supplying patients with an automated medication dispensers donated by the hospital foundation to help them stay on schedule. They remind patients of critical appointments for ongoing testing like blood draws and assist patients recovering from surgical procedures. They even help patients communicate with providers during telemedicine visits and make referrals to the emergency department when necessary.

“We know our patients like family and friends,” explained visiting nurse Tegan Lovelady, RN. “We know the names of their pets and the names of their grandkids. Since we see them often, they become like family to us.”

Lovelady, along with fellow nurses Glen Hardy, LPN; Alisa Mccoy, RN; and Deborah Salyer, RN have a combined experience of 50 plus years in nursing.

Salyer, a nurse who has worked in many facets of nursing in her 36 years of nursing, said, “In all my years of nursing, being a visiting nurse is my favorite. I love the autonomy, and I love getting to know my patients on this very personal level.”

The nurses currently serve 66 patients. Last month they performed nearly 300 visits to patients who qualify for the program. The nurses serve patients of all ages from infant to elderly. About 85 percent of the nurses’ work is conducted in the field in patient homes. A smaller percentage of their time is spent in the office creating care plans and preparing other necessary documentation connected with the service. They meet regularly to discuss individual patient’s condition and needs.

“We’re busy all the time,” said Hardy.

To qualify for the program, a patient must have certain medical needs and be, for the most part, homebound. Their primary provider must be on staff at NBHH. The service must be pre-authorized and prescribed by the patient’s provider, with the visiting nurse working closely with the patient under the direction of the provider.

“The providers really support the program,” said nurse Mcoy, an RN of 26 years. “Because of that, they have played a big part in the growth of the program.”

To determine if a patient qualifies, contact the visiting nurses directly at 307-548-5273. The nurses can help navigate the process by making referrals to other clinic staff who can help the patient determine if the service is covered by their insurance and others who can help set up appointments for patients who do not have a regular provider at NBHH.