Summit Home Health Care provides the following services:

SKILLED (MEDICAL) SERVICES

Summit Home Health Care (SHHC) is a Medicare/Medicaid certified home health care agency that provides clinical and non-clinical services to assist patients with their medical health care or non-medical home care companion needs in the privacy and comfort of their own home.

Skilled Nursing Services 

Skilled Nursing services can be provided by a:

•  Registered Nurse (RN),
•  Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or
•  Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) sometimes referred to as a Home Health Aide (HHA).

The level of nursing skill is determined by physician orders and the information obtained by the SHHC clinician at the time of the initial evaluation.

Skilled nursing services range from Assessment and Observation to Wound Care, and everything in between, including administering injections, catheter care, and ostomy care. Certified Nursing Assistants are experienced in providing bath/shower/personal care, as well as other responsibilities delegated by a registered nurse; they also assist in household tasks (meal preparation, grocery shopping, laundry, light housekeeping). Please refer to the Home Care Companion section, farther down this page, for a list of non-medical services available.

Therapy Services

The Summit Home Health Care therapy team offers many years of clinical wisdom and experience, coupled with modern therapeutic technology, that make for excellent patient outcomes. Assessments for fall risk, modalities for pain control and muscle re-education, as well as gait training, are all part of physical therapy services.

Physical Therapy specialties include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following types of patients:

•  Amputees
•  Cardio-Pulmonary
•  Geriatric
•  Neurological
•  Orthopedics

Speech Therapy specialties include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following types of conditions or disorders:

•  Developmental Disabilities
•  Dysphasia (difficulty swallowing)
•  Language Disorders
•  Non-oral Communication
•  Voice Disorders

Occupational Therapy specialties include, but are not limited to, training in the following areas:

•  Activities of Daily Living (ADL) post injury or post surgery
•  Adaptive equipment for the patient (i.e., commodes, bath benches, etc.) or home (i.e., tub/shower bars, ramps)
•  Energy conservation/Work simplification
•  Fine Motor Coordination
•  Orthotics/Splinting

Therapeutic Technology

Modern Technology, coupled with our staff's many years of clinical wisdom and experience, make for excellent patient outcomes.

•  Anodyne Therapy is used to increase circulation to tissues and nerves, decrease pain, reduce edema, decrease inflammation, increase range of motion, and can improve blood pressure. It is frequently used with soft tissue injuries and lesions, painful joint conditions, and peripheral neuropathy.

•  Electrical Stimulation is used in the treatment of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal problems, such as reduction of edema/pain, neuromuscular re-education, and facilitation of voluntary motor function by both motor and sensory stimulation.

•  Ultrasound is a deep-heating agent that, used as a therapeutic modality, increases collagen tissue extensibility, increases blood flow to promote healing, and decreases pain.

Diagnostic Technology 

•  Professional Pro-Time Microcoagulation System is a simple, easy-to-use device to measure the blood's clotting capabilities. It is quick and convenient, and eliminates the need for unnecessary physician office visits beyond regular check-ups.

•  The Mini Dopplex® is a hand-held Doppler that utilizes ultrasound waves to examine blood flow. It is conveniently portable, provides all the standard features of a traditional Doppler and provides the same level of quality, reliability and performance.

In-Home Medical Technology

•  Telemonitoring is available via a compact home monitor that features easy-to-use voice prompts to assist the user in determining daily weight, heart rate and oxygen saturation, blood pressure and temperature, all in the comfort of the home. Data is transmitted via the patient's telephone line to Summit Home Health Care for monitoring and, if necessary, early intervention.

Clinical Social Services 

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) are an important part of SHHC's services. When necessary, the LCSW can provide the following:

•  Assessment of social/emotional factors
•  Community resource planning/referrals
•  Short-term therapy

HOME CARE COMPANION (NON-MEDICAL) SERVICES

(A two-hour minimum is required)

Many families often find themselves providing so much assistance to loved ones that they begin to experience their own health issues, including a condition known as burnout. Home Care Companions help with the myriad of non-medical needs that occur throughout the day, providing peace of mind for the client and offering a cost-effective respite opportunity for the family.

Home Care Companions can:

•  Accompany the client to the doctor's office or other medical appointments
•  Accompany the client on walks
•  Assist with putting away items, stocking pantry, organizing linen closet, kitchen shelves, bookcases, etc.
•  Provide companionship to the client (for example, reading, games, cards, movies/TV)
•  Errands (picking up mail/prescriptions; grocery shopping)
•  Light housekeeping*
•  Light meal preparation
•  Medication reminders
•  Pet walking/feeding; minimal clean-up after animals
•  Stand-by assistance with bathing/showering/shaving/personal hygiene/grooming
•  Stay with ill client when family cannot be available
•  Transportation (using client's car)

*A list of light housekeeping services can be provided. Home Care Companions are not maids or housecleaners. Heavy housecleaning or household maintenance tasks should be addressed by engaging a professional cleaning or maintenance service.

ANCILLARY SERVICES

Pet Therapy Program   

Pet Partners of Colorado Springs is now offering complimentary pet visits to Summit's clients and facilities where our clients reside. Five handler-pet teams are available for visits with our clients who could benefit from an extra dose of furry love.

Spirituality and Health Program   

Chaplain Lyn Boudreau is part of Summit's Spirituality and Health Program which offers non-denominational spiritual support to our clients. Up to two free visits are available to our clients to address issues of health, aging concerns, religious values/conflicts, or end-of-life matters. Support groups are also available.