Garrett County Home Health Provides for Patients Seven Days a Week

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department

The Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration expired in early May, and in much of the U.S. it’s back business as usual. However, for the nurses, aides, and physical therapist who work in Home Health at the Garrett County Health Department, COVID-19 only meant taking extra precautions, not isolating. They continued to serve their clients who depended on home health services for their medical and personal care needs.

For many patients, home health care is an alternative to lengthy hospitalizations or nursing home placement. 

“The job of everyone in our agency is to make sure our patients receive quality care and proper attention,” said Cheryl Scheffel, a Registered Nurse who is Director of Garrett County Home Health. “When it comes to providing for our patients, weekends, holidays, snowstorms, and even pandemics don’t keep us from the patients who need us.”

This program provides medical needs assessment, and case management/coordination of in-home services so that medically fragile persons can remain at home. 

Home health services include:

• Skilled Nursing Care
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Home Health Aide Services
• Medical Social Services
• Telehealth Services

To access home health care, the services must be ordered by the patient’s healthcare provider. For more information about home health services, check with your primary provider, visit garretthealth.org/home-health/ or call 301-334-7750.