By Jill Nagy
“Patients do so much better at home” than in a hospital or other institution “and we get to see the whole patient,” often noticing things that were not obvious in the hospital, said Ann Reynolds, director of patient services for the newly formed home health care program of Fort Hudson Health System Inc. in Fort Edward.
Reynolds has been on the job for a month, setting up the program, writing policies and procedures, hiring staff, and shopping for software and supplies. She expects the program to be able to serve clients by the end of the year.
For Reynolds, a registered nurse, it is her first experience in developing a program from scratch. However, she has more than 25 years of experience in the home health care profession. She was at Fort Hudson Health System when the organization first applied for permission to offer the service.
When delays in state approvals seemed interminable, she left for a position as assistant director of Washington County Public Health, providing oversight to certified home care, long-term home health and hospice programs and administering the Good Shepard Home. She has been back at Fort Hudson for about a month.
The program, the Fort Hudson Certified Home Health Agency, will serve clients in Washington and Warren counties. It is Medicare certified and will also serve Medicaid, privately insured and private pay patients.
Reynolds said she expects most of their clients to be referred by area hospitals.
Fort Hudson Health System, Inc., is one of the largest employers in Washington County with more than 425 employees, mainly in its skilled nursing facility and an existing home care program. It also provides rehabilitation services, specialized dementia care, adult day care, community-based case management and senior retirement living.
Reynolds said she will hire another 40 people to staff the new service, mostly nurses, physical therapists and home health aides. The staff will also include occupational therapists, speech and language specialists, social workers, audiologists, dietitians, and respiratory therapists. Her first priority is to find the right software specialist.
Fort Hudson will not be the only home health care agency serving patients in Washington and Warren counties.
“The governor wants people to have choices and there will be choices,” Reynolds said. The choices will be displayed on the Home Health Compare website so that patients and their families can compare services and make informed choices. The Fort Hudson service will also have its own website and, for now, it is included in the Fort Hudson Health System Inc., website.
Andrew Cruikshank, CEO of the Fort Hudson system, is also actively involved in development of the new home health service.
“Fort Hudson’s newest home care initiative reflects our commitment to meeting the needs of the community. The appointment of Ms. Reynolds brings tremendous experience and complete knowledge of the communities we serve,” he said.
Reynolds has an office in the basement of Fort Hudson’s skilled nursing facility, along with the organization’s other community services.
“All the community services are now in one place,” she pointed out.
Reynolds lives in Lake George. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Russell Sage College.
“I’m excited to join the Fort Hudson team and look forward to developing and operationalizing this program as part of the organization’s strategic priorities,” she said. “The region’s home care needs are growing and this program will offer the community a local provider known for excellence and quality.”
Fort Hudson Health System, Inc., is located at 319 Broadway in Fort Edward. The telephone number is 747-2811.