Greene County Medical Center’s Public Health Department is transitioning out of home care services.

Staff members are working with patients to UnityPoint at Home or to another provider of their choice.  More than a year ago, the medical center started offering UnityPoint at Home as part of its overall partnership with UnityPoint Health.  During the transition period, the changeover has allowed for centralized billing and coding processes, moving towards an electronic health records system for home care services and an enhanced care coordination between patient, physician, hospital and home care nurses.  Linda Smith and Kim Clark, public health nurses have also joined UnityPoint at Home.

UnityPoint at Home provides nursing, rehabilitation therapy, palliative care, infusion therapy, hospice care and other similar services that the public health department cannot provide.

Public health will continue to provide immunizations, maternal-child health, communicable disease surveillance, health education, community health needs assessments and the HOPES in-home parenting program. Additionally, homemaker services, such as basic housekeeping and personal errands, will continue to be provided by public health aides.

Public Health Director Becky Wolf says public health will focus mainly on those services that benefit the community at large and having UnityPoint at Home on board is a win-win for Greene County.