Watching hurricane Ian this week as it approached Florida, I was reminded of the difficult task assisted living communities (ALF) and skilled nursing facilities (SNF) face when having to evacuate their residents. With the complicated logistics and physical hardship of moving residents into unfamiliar accommodations, there is also the consideration of how to provide for their ongoing medical needs, including medication management during the evacuation.

Palliative Care is specialized medical care providing relief from pain and other symptoms of a severe illness. The idea of palliative care grew out of the hospice movement and is focused on improving a patient's quality of life. Counseling, a critical component of palliative care, is vital in helping both patient and family members set realistic goals based on desired outcomes.

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), a technology that allows for the daily monitoring of a patient's vitals in the home and then transmits those readings to a central location to be analyzed by licensed professionals, shows remarkable results for reducing unnecessary hospitalizations.

One of the exciting technologies utilized by SC House Calls (SCHC) in 2020 to improve patient Care was Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM). The technology, which allows healthcare professionals to monitor a patient's vitals remotely.

South Carolina House Calls (SCHC) is piloting a new care initiative for Assisted Living communities designed to provide the same patient care model used for private residences. The model has successfully eliminated unnecessary hospitalizations by increasing patient visits through both face-to-face and telemedicine visits.

A company's value is found within its personnel's experience and skills, and that is undoubtedly true of South Carolina House Calls (SCHC) Nurse Practitioner Selina White. Selina, who today serves her patients in the Pee Dee region, can still remember her first exposure as a healthcare industry volunteer.

There are numerous advantages for assisted living communities and nursing facilities for partnering with a medical provider like SC House Calls. Nursing staff within communities see a primary benefit as the relationship and knowledge clinicians develop about their resident's medical issues and the consistency of care that familiarity fosters.

There is light on the horizon as COVID 19 infection rates and hospitalizations are on the decline nationwide, and vaccinations are projected to be completed sometime this summer. People are starting to imagine a world with a brighter future and the promise of a return to normalcy.

Ijan House, FNP SC House Calls, received a BSN from the University of South Carolina, an MSN from South University, and an FNP Certification in 2012 from the University of South Carolina. Ijan began her medical career at South Carolina Oncology Association (SCOA) in Columbia and worked as an RN from 2001 to 2012 for the infusion department.

Every June 23, in the United States, is National Hydration Day (NHD). Unfortunately, proper hydration is often overlooked as one way to maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially among our senior population.

There is an intricate daily dance behind the scenes within the South Carolina House Calls (SCHC) Center for Telehealth. The Center comprises multiple disciplines, working together to provide in-home and telehealth patient care to South Carolina residents.

Hillery Dolford, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, started her career as a Certified Medical Assistant (CNA) and always loved providing personalized attention for her patients. Continuing her healthcare career path, she obtained her Associate Degree in Nursing from Florence-Darlington Technical College in 2003.

Imagine making one of the most critical decisions in a person's life with no input from that person. That is the reality people face daily in hospitals across the US when loved ones fail to make their healthcare wishes known.

While writing articles about South Carolina House Calls (SCHC), I have had the privilege to interview many practitioners. Those conversations invariably turn toward the provider's experiences and beliefs about the care provided. One common thread is an overwhelming sense about the difference they make in people's lives—for example, some talk about their ability to reach an underserved population who otherwise have limited access to healthcare.

You don't have to talk with Nurse Practitioner Cherie Reese for long to understand how much she cares about her patients. For 19 years with Palmetto Health, Cherie, an RN, specialized in acute and surgical care and developed an instinct about a patients' needs.

Attention all providers, the Fifth Annual Provider Conference, Optimizing Patient Care, sponsored by SC House Calls, Main Street Physicians, and Georgia House Calls is scheduled for October 8-10, 2021, in the heart of downtown Columbia.

Robert started his career in healthcare in 1995 and had 25 years of experience in direct patient interaction as a Paramedic/EMT. Deciding to advance his medical career into the nursing field, Robert obtained an AS in nursing from Trident Technical College North Charleston in 2015, a BA in nursing from Walden University Minneapolis in 2019, and a Masters in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from Walden University in 2020.

The team-based model of care employed by South Carolina & Georgia House Calls (SC & GA HC) meets needs by actively engaging patients and having their providers practice to the full extent of their education, certification, and experience.