Christian Village pioneers use of nurse practitioner
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[March 06, 2012]
The Christian Village is pioneering a
new approach to keeping nursing home residents healthier -- by
having a nurse practitioner on staff.
Residents are arriving at nursing homes sicker than ever -- with
conditions that used to require longer hospitalizations, according
to Dr. Mark Canty, medical director at The Christian Village. It's
critical for these residents to have ready access to medical care,
he noted.
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Nurse practitioner Jennifer Scales began treating
residents at The Christian Village this week. She evaluates
residents' medical conditions, prescribes drugs and writes orders.
Scales earned her MSN as a family nurse practitioner from
Southern Illinois University. She has experience as a nurse
practitioner working in the cardiac care unit at Memorial Medical
Center in Springfield.
Although having a nurse practitioner on staff is common in other
parts of the country, it is rare in the Midwest, Dr. Canty said. The
Christian Village is the only nursing home in Lincoln with one.
Receiving prompt care from a physician or nurse practitioner has
always been a challenge for nursing home residents. They've either
had to travel to their doctor's office -- despite their weakened
condition -- or wait for the doctor's monthly visit to the home.
Scales sees residents at the Christian Village every Tuesday, and
Canty sees them on Thursdays. This allows residents to have their
medical problems addressed quickly. Having a relationship with
residents also allows Scales and Canty to see subtle changes in
their health, which helps in diagnosing problems more quickly
"This keeps residents healthier, because their illnesses don't
get out of hand," explained Canty. "We can nip problems in the bud."
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The Christian Village offers skilled nursing care, including
short-term rehabilitation, respite care, hospice care and the Haven
Center Memory Care Unit. Garden homes and apartments also are
available for independent older adults.
The Christian Village is one of the 14 senior living communities
of Christian Homes Inc., the second-largest not-for-profit long-term
health care provider in the U.S., with campuses in Indiana,
Illinois, Iowa and Missouri.
[Text from file received from
The Christian Village]
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