Tending the flock in rural northwest Iowa is an award-winning home health team from the Good Samaritan Society.
“Everybody works really hard,” says Jean Petitti, Good Samaritan Society - Spirit Lake Home Health administrator. “Almost anything that can be done in the hospital, we can do in the home."
On this day, the “Jean Team,” featuring Petitti, RN, and Jean Kies, RN, is caring for residents at Good Samaritan Society – Heritage Landing in Milford, Iowa.
“Every year we come over to Heritage Landing and provide them with the flu vaccine,” Petitti says.
The Spirit Lake home health crew provides nursing care along with physical, occupational and speech therapy in nine counties.
“I love nursing. I love helping people. It’s just part of me I guess,” Kies says.
Resident calls home health care 'wonderful'
Their services are also on display often at this independent living location.
“We do love it here,” resident Jim Dellinger says.
Jim and his wife Karen moved to Heritage Landing two years ago.
“They’ve been really good about giving us any information we want. They get us our shots when we need them and come in monthly and check our blood pressures and that’s wonderful,” Jim says.
Married more than 60 years, the couple came from Ottumwa after Jim had an aneurysm in his aorta.
“If it went to my spine, it would paralyze me. If it went for my brain, it would kill me,” Jim says.
A few stents helped bring healing. Living at the Society and being closer to family is bringing peace of mind.
“We feel like over time we’ve made good friends," Karen says. "It’s been welcoming and we’re very comfortable here."
'Fabulous team' providing care in rural area
Quick access to home health nurses, therapists and aides in this rural setting is a big benefit.
“It’s huge. Really huge. We’re really lucky that Good Sam is here,” Petitti says. “We have nurses that will travel 20 miles to go see someone in their home. Maybe it’s not very easy for them to get out. Maybe they don’t drive anymore. They have access to this health care."
Care that's getting recognition for patient satisfaction locally and nationally.
“It’s sincerity of the caregiver to the person getting the care," Kies says. "All my coworkers are very caring people that are in it for a reason. They love people."
Petitti jokes, “I have a fabulous team. Makes my job super easy. Maybe you shouldn’t put that part in there."
Put into every interaction with clients and residents is the faith-based mission of the Society.
“They (clients) are looking for that too. They don’t only want to be healed physically but also spiritually,” Kies says.
Petitti adds, “Our staff is just very mission driven. They care for people so much that it just infuses into all the work that we do."
Work taking place at home, wherever that is.
The Home Health Care Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey (HHCAHPS) is a national standardized and publicly reported survey of home health care patients' perspectives of their skilled home care. In addition to Spirit Lake being an HHCAHPS HONORS Elite 2020 Award Recipient for patient satisfaction, the Society's staff in Franklin, West Virginia, is also receiving the same national honor.
