By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The closure of Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service (LAVNS) on Feb. 20 after more than 50 years of service marks the end of a significant chapter in Los Alamos.
However, it is not the end of the story; there are still options available to those who utilized LAVNS’ services.
LAVNS Clinical Manager Susan Edwards noted that there are several home health care and hospice options available.
Home Health Agencies:
- La Vida Bella Home Health & Hospice
- Presbyterian Home Health
Hospice:
- Ambercare
- Red Willow
- Roadrunner Hospice
- Del Corazon Hospice
Director of Case Management Deb Storms at Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) added that the hospital will refer patients to other providers but encourages people to either contact LAMC or their primary care providers for referrals.
Storms said there is “absolutely” a high demand for home health care and hospice services in Los Alamos. She pointed out it can range from hospice care to home physical therapy after orthopedic surgery.
Despite other available options, Storms added that the loss of LAVNS will be felt.
“They were an invaluable asset to the community for many years, especially for our aging community,” Storms said, pointing out that LAVNS helped ensure that “they could remain at home.”
Founded in 1973 by Sarah Rochester, LAVNS offered in-home skilled nursing care, hospice care, wound care and physical therapy services to patients in Los Alamos and the surrounding counties for half a century. The main culprit to its closure, Edwards said, was the nationwide trend of declining reimbursement rates for home health and hospice agencies as well as increasing healthcare costs.
On top of that, Edwards said the organization needs to offer competitive wages, deal with the expenses of traveling outside Los Alamos to care for patients and address staff leaving for other opportunities.
She added the number of patients LAVNS served was volatile; sometimes there was a waiting list and other times the number shrank. Looking back on her time at LAVNS, Edwards said she is amazed by “how much this job has given back to me in nursing.”
She added that the testimonials that patients share about how much LAVNS has helped them also means a lot.
“It’s wonderful,” Edwards said. “It’s rewarding and it’s why I got into nursing.”
While she said she is unsure what she will do next; Edwards said she does want to continue helping Los Alamos with its healthcare needs.
“It’s really special to care for your neighbors,” she said.