St. Vincent's Hospital Launches Senior Health House Calls
St. Vincent's Hospital's Senior Health Outpatient Center has launched a visiting doctors program designed to serve the homebound elderly living in lower Manhattan. Called 'Senior Health House Calls,' the program addresses the needs specific to older patients including prevention, coordination of care, family member involvement, quality of life issues, and caregiver concerns.
To care for the growing number of homebound elderly living within the community it serves - people who cannot get to a physician's office because of physical or cognitive limitations - St. Vincent's Senior Health has put together a geriatric health care team, consisting of a physician, a nurse practitioner, a social worker and a coordinator - all of whom have expertise in addressing the complex needs of older patients, needs that often go beyond treatment of medical problems.
The St. Vincent's Senior Health House Calls team evaluates the broader aspects of a patient's care. In addition to evaluating chronic and acute medical problems, the team assesses the patient's environment, medications, need for social services, and need for referral to other community agencies. The team works closely with home health and other health care and social service agencies within the community to ensure that patients receive the care and support they need to remain in their own homes.
St. Vincent's Senior Health House Calls is located at 275 Eighth Avenue, at the corner of 24th St., on the lower level of St. Vincent's Senior Health. For referrals, please call 212-206-1299.
