Home Health & Hospice Week

Check out these valuable tips from other providers on how to get involved. It's a classic case of "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" -- when home care providers become actively involved in their communities, everybody wins. Clinicians should be active in something other than their home health agencies, experts say. "Step out ... and be visible in your community," advises Vicki Tilley, president of ElderFit Physical Therapy & Consulting in Hillsborough, NC. Being involved in the community "sends a message to your patients that you care about more than just your business. They get to know you better and they trust you more," Tilley points out. As citizens, clinicians should be involved in their communities because we should all be giving back, says Angela Phillips, president and CEO of Images & Associates in Amarillo, TX. Besides fulfilling a civic duty, participating in community events is a great way to gain name recognition with potential patients and referral sources, Phillips points out. Further, it's a chance to promote your profession in general. Try this: Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas your colleagues have shared with Eli: Participate in health walks and other fundraisers.
Get involved with senior groups and other community groups, such as the rotary club; they often need volunteers to speak about health care issues.
Sponsor a community sports team.
Volunteer with your local Adopt a Highway program.
Lend a hand to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, or those involved with adapting houses for disabled people who couldn't afford to do it otherwise.
Participate in programs to help people with disabilities participate in a more active lifestyle. For example, Shelda Matthews with Mountaintop Therapy Service in Show-shoe, WV is involved with an adaptive ski program. Where to look: You can find out what's going on in your community through the local Chamber of Commerce, Phillips reminds providers. The Chamber should be able to provide you a list of all community groups, and you can choose which ones are best for you. "The opportunities are endless," Matthews concludes.