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Month: September 2022

Nurse in blue scrubs helping at home patient walk

Boardman, Ohio (September 20, 2022) — For over 25 years, Southwoods Health has focused on delivering important healthcare services to the tri-county area through its growing network of facilities and providers. We are proud to announce that many of those services will now be conveniently available in your home, and delivered with the same Southwoods quality and care you have come to know and trust.

Southwoods Health at Home is skilled care delivered directly to you. Services include physical, occupational and speech therapy, skilled nursing and social work services.

“We all know the best place to recover from an illness, injury or procedure is in the comfort of your own home,” explained Ed Muransky, Southwoods Chief Executive Officer. “Our goal is to provide patients with expert care done the Southwoods Way – offering compassionate support, encouragement and genuine peace of mind for you and your family.”

Additional benefits of home health care include:

  • Improving or maintaining a patient’s current condition and/or level of function
  • Helping manage medications
  • Assessing current living environments for safety
  • Recognizing signs and symptoms, which can reduce avoidable hospital re-admissions and expensive hospital bills
  • Understanding how to appropriately manage chronic conditions
  • Regaining independence (over time)
  • Assistance following discharge instructions and/or physician orders

“Home health services are so very important to the overall continuum of care for patients,” said Muransky. “We are providing care that lets patients safely remain at home – helping them recover faster, with fewer complications.”

To learn more, visit www.SouthwoodsHealthAtHome.com.

The fall season is upon us which means it’s time for crisp mornings, football games, falling leaves and pumpkin spice everything. Unfortunately, it’s also the time when we see an increase in flu cases. Flu season starts in early autumn and can last through spring, with the peak being sometime between December and February. While anyone can get the flu, there are steps we can take to minimize risk of illness and prevent getting it. Keep reading to learn how to protect yourself from the flu this year.

Get the Flu Shot

The most important step to protecting yourself and others from the flu is getting your annual flu shot. The CDC recommends anyone 6 months and older get the influenza vaccine once every year in September or October. Flu vaccines are offered at physician offices, clinics, pharmacies, health departments, schools and many more locations. The vaccine takes two weeks for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the flu virus.

Stay Home when You’re Sick

Even if you haven’t been tested for the flu, if you’re experiencing flu symptoms it is best to stay home from work, school or social events. The most common symptoms are fever, headache, dry cough, body aches, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose. If you’re experiencing any of these, it’s best to practice social distancing.

Practice Healthy Habits

While healthy habits are important all year round, they are especially crucial during flu season. Keep your hands clean by washing them with soap and warm water after using the restroom and regularly throughout the day. Germs are most likely to enter your body through the eyes, nose and mouth, so to reduce infection it is important to keep your hands away from your face and avoid touching these areas. If you do get sick, be sure to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing to prevent your germs from spreading to others.

Go to the Doctor

If you think you have the flu, you may want to make an appointment with your doctor. Your physician will be able to test you, identify any potential risks, and determine whether or not you should take antiviral medication.

Know Your Risks

While anyone can get the flu, there are certain people who are at a higher risk for getting severely ill or having complications. Adults 65 and older, children under 5, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions can be at higher risk. If you suffer from any chronic health conditions, talk to your doctor to see if you are at risk for complications from the flu.

If you need a flu shot or think you may already have the flu, Southwoods Express Care is here to help. With convenient walk-in service, shorter wait times, and lower costs than an ER visit, Express Care is open 7 days a week in Boardman, Campbell and Columbiana.

After a procedure or suffering an injury or illness, the best place to recover is in the comfort of your own home. It is where you feel safest, the surroundings are familiar and where you spend the most time with family and friends. For over 25 years, Southwoods Health’s focus has been on the needs of the communities it serves. We’ve continued to expand clinical offerings to ensure patients have access to the important care they need, while providing an exceptional patient experience. We are proud to offer a new service with that same focus, in Southwoods Health at Home. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of home health care.

Faster Recovery

One of the biggest advantages of home health care is a faster recovery time. When you’re in the comfort of your own home, you can truly relax, which helps speed up your recovery and healing time. Hospitals can be noisy, temperatures can vary, and you may have a roommate – all factors that can make you uncomfortable and lead to a longer recovery.

Improving or Maintaining Level of Function
While a stay in the hospital is often necessary, it can sometimes lead to a decline in levels of function. Spending a prolonged period of time in a hospital bed can lead to muscle loss, weakness and loss of normal function. While you’re at home, you can receive personalized care and attention that will help you improve or maintain your level of function.

Medication Management

After an illness or procedure, you may be given new medications. With a home health care provider, you can avoid harmful drug interactions, make sure you are taking the correct doses and never miss a dose. When you aren’t feeling your best or sleeping more than usual, it can be easy to lose track of medication – Southwoods’ Health at Home professionals can ensure this doesn’t happen.

Living Environment Assessment

When you are back home after a stay in the hospital, it is important to make sure your home is safe for you to recover in. Steps without railings, slippery rugs, hard to reach cabinets and many other factors can all be a hazard to someone recovering from illness or surgery, and home health care professionals can help identify these issues.

Regaining Independence

It can be hard to admit you need help in your own home, however, having someone there to can put you on track to regaining independence over time. You can slowly start to do everyday tasks like cooking, bathing, getting dressed, taking out the trash and more as you continue to improve. A home health care provider can bring you peace of mind knowing that you have a set of helping hands.

Relief for family

Not only will home health care benefit you, it will also help family caregivers. It can be tough for family members to care for someone, especially if they do not have any medical or healthcare background. A home health care provider can assist with bathing, dressing, medical care and other tasks.

Whether you need help at home or are a family member or doctor assisting a patient, Southwoods can help. Our goal is to provide expert care, the Southwoods Way, offering compassionate support, encouragement and genuine peace of mind for you and your family. To learn more, visit www.SouthwoodsHealthAtHome.com.

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