Providing a Continuum of Care
By Graciela Sholander
Meeting the needs of the community is what Mountain Valley Health Care is about, providing services in home care, hospice, and rehabilitation.
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“There are very few agencies out there that do both home care and hospice. To be able to provide care under home care and then make the transition to hospice is unique. We have a lot of different resources to access for each patient.” - James Contos, President, Mountain Valley Health Care
It’s not unusual for a nurse or therapist from Mountain Valley Health Care to drive up to Wyoming or venture deep into Northern Colorado’s foothills to assist a client. From the chaplain to medical specialists to administrators, every staff member here puts the well-being of the patient first, regardless of how long and windy the car drive to reach the person might be. It’s part of the holistic approach the agency embraces to give patients and their families quality individualized care along with spiritual support.
“Our philosophy is twofold,” says Larry Kilpatrick, chaplain for Mountain Valley Health Care. “The home care side deals with people who are expected to recover. With a hospice diagnosis, the focus is on quality of life and helping someone live life to the fullest to the end. What ties these two together is the emphasis on going through it with dignity. We’re here to help patients and their families who are going through a rough time.”
James Contos, who has led the Northern Colorado agency as its president since 2004, emphasizes what sets Mountain Valley Health Care apart: “There are very few agencies out there that do both home care and hospice. Many of our people are cross trained. To be able to provide care under home care and then make the transition to hospice is unique. For example, a dying person might need physical therapy. We have a lot of different resources to access for each patient.”
Home care addresses the needs of individuals who are chronically ill, disabled, or recovering from injury or illness. A staff member or team visits the patient at his or her place of residence, providing everything from therapies and treatments to personal care assistance. Often, therapies are combined for better results. One example is the merging of music therapy with physical therapy.
Neurologic Music Therapy
Mary Koopman, MT-BC, NMT, is a board certified music therapist specializing in neurologic music therapy. She often accompanies a physical therapist on a home care visit to enhance the session, bringing her autoharp, a portable stringed instrument that allows her to play a wide range of music. “I use music therapy to facilitate the efficiency of motor movements. The physical therapist works on specific movements, and the music adds to the efficiency by cueing and prompting neurons. New motor neuron pathways are created along the length of a song.”
Neurologic music therapy works well for patients of all ages, particularly those dealing with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, stroke, or brain injury. By introducing external stimulus in the form of music that engages the patient, a physical therapy session becomes more effective. Koopman customizes her research-based therapy to meet the specific needs of individuals affected by nervous system diseases.
She’s seen significant improvement in balance, coordination, and endurance, as well as in the person’s mood, when music therapy is included. Applied in a hospice setting, special memories are created. “Music therapy supports the family in addition to the patient,” notes Koopman. “When I’m playing a favorite song or hymn, it can create a powerful bond between everyone present.”
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy
Another specialty Mountain Valley Health Care offers is vestibular rehabilitation therapy, which deals with the human balance system that depends in large part on the inner ear. Symptoms such as vertigo, dizziness, ringing, nausea, and a number of balance issues can result from vestibular disorders. “The eyes, inner ear, and nervous system work together to regulate balance,” explains physical therapist Jenny Scarpulla, MSPT. “The vestibular system is located in the inner ear.”
Vestibular rehabilitation involves a thorough evaluation and, whenever possible, treatment of the cause of the symptoms, followed by therapy sessions designed to retrain the brain to process signals more effectively. “The first step is to determine why the person is dizzy,” says Scarpulla. “The second step involves exercises to retrain the eyes and ears to work together. The last step is doing therapy strength exercises for balance.”
She recalls the case of a woman who traveled extensively by plane and had been experiencing significant dizziness and repeated falls for the past 15 years. Through vestibular rehabilitation therapy, her dizzy symptoms disappeared. “I saw her twice, and in only two treatments she was back to normal,” says Scarpulla. Balance and strength retraining completed the therapy for this patient.
Mist Therapy
Some wounds take longer to heal than others. Mountain Valley Health Care offers a relatively new therapy that can accelerate healing and benefit both chronic and acute skin wounds. Called Mist Therapy, the system uses acoustic pressure to clean the wound, remove bacteria, and stimulate growth of new, healthy cells. It works through ultrasound and can complement any existing wound care regimen.
Kathy Rodriguez, RN, has used the system extensively with home care patients. “I’ve seen dramatic results. The technology is low-frequency ultrasound, and the device does not come into direct contact with the wound. It penetrates deeply and jumpstarts cell reproduction. We see an increase in healing with this supplemental, add-on therapy.”
Non-contact ultrasound waves deliver a sterile saline mist. The treatment is painless and easy to administer. Cleared by the FDA to promote wound healing, the Mist Therapy System is customizable, with a typical session lasting three to five minutes. It can be used twice a week or in conjunction with a scheduled dressing change.
“Getting out to a clinic may be difficult for skin wound patients,” notes Contos. “So making this therapy available by coming out to the person’s home to treat a chronic wound makes it more convenient.”
Care Continuum
These are just some of the many services Mountain Valley Health Care brings directly to the homes of Northern Colorado and Wyoming residents, including nursing homes and respite care. Other services include occupational therapy, social work, bereavement counseling, spiritual care, massage therapy, and pet therapy. Two facilities, one in Windsor and one in Louisville, serve as coordinating stations that send specialists out where they are needed. With its dedicated staff, diverse skills set, and emphasis on treating the whole person, Mountain Valley Health Care is ready to bring quality healthcare services to your doorstep. +
To learn more about Mountain Valley Health Care visit their Website at: www.mountainvalleyhealth.com or call them at 1-800-368-7137.
Graciela Sholander is a Fort Collins-based writer and author of Dream It Do It, www.dreamitdoit.net.