Services Offered

Home Visits - Certified Home Health Agency (CCHA)

Public health nurses make home visits to perform skilled nursing assessments on the patient and provide health education and the necessary physician-ordered medical treatment. If required, she will also coordinate schedules and manage other in-home services such as physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational CHHA therapy, medical social worker services and a home health aide.

The Public Health Nursing Division of the Niagara County Health Department also offers home care visits to provide specialized treatment or services such as:

Infusion Therapy
Enterostomal Therapy
Tuberculosis treatment follow-up
CHHA/MOMS Program
PRI & Screen Completion for Nursing Home Placement

Infusion Therapy

A high-tech team of infusion therapy nurses provides all aspects of home infusion therapy, including PICC line insertion and maintenance. Treatment is provided to patients requiring home care for a variety of illnesses, including multiple sclerosis, cancer, diabetes and cardiac follow-up. The home care nurse works closely with the physician and pharmacy to provide the prescribed infusion medication and supplies..

Enterostomal Therapy

The nursing division has an Enterostomal Therapy (ET) nurse who specializes in the treatment of wound care resulting from pressure ulcers, stasis ulcers and draining wounds. She also provides home visits for follow-up teaching, treatment and management of ostomies; wound care and incontinence care in the home.

CHHA/MOMS Program
(Certified Home Health Agency & “MOMS To Be” Program)

The goal of the CHHA/MOMS program is to improve birth outcomes of perinatal women by ensuring access to comprehensive prenatal services. The program is a preventive health service that supplements obstetrical services provided by private medical practitioners through the provision of health supportive services including nutrition, psychosocial assessment and counseling, health education and coordination of other services through our Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA) as needed by eligible women during pregnancy and for a period of up to 60 days after delivery.

The CHHA/MOMS medical provider (physicians) will provide the clinical aspect of obstetrical care in their office while a public health nurse provides the supportive services in the client’s home. During home visits the public health nurse discusses pregnancy issues, signs of complications and fetal development, relaxation techniques, the coach’s role and signs and symptoms of labor and delivery and the mom is referred for childbirth classes if needed.

Toward the end of the pregnancy, the nurse will educate the client on infant care and. Family planning, growth and development of the infant, immunizations and a review of the post partum period will be addressed during the post partum visit.

If you are pregnant and would like a nurse to assist you, talk to your physician and ask that he contact the nursing division of the NCDOH to refer you to the CHHA/MOMS program.

PRI & SCREEN COMPLETION FOR Nursing Home Placement

In order for an individual to be placed in a nursing home or adult care facility, a Patient Review Instrument and assessment of the patient’s health status (PRI and Screen) must be completed to determine the needed level of care and type of residence they should be admitted to.

There is a fee for the home visit and processing of the paper work and the fee is not covered by insurance. However, if the patient is on public assistance or receiving Medicaid through the Department of Social Services, ask the caseworker to submit a referral to the Health Department’s Nursing Division. If the Department of Social Services requests the home visit for completion of a PRI and Screen, they will pay the fee.

For more information on nursing homes and long-term care in Niagara County and New York State go to http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/nursing/ltcr.htm.

To find adult care facilities in Niagara County and throughout New York State go to
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/acf/map.htm.

For more information about the home care programs and visits provided through Niagara County Health Department’s Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA) or to make a home care referral, call (716) 278-1900 for Niagara Falls and the Western Niagara County area. For visits to North Tonawanda, Lockport and Eastern Niagara County area, call (716) 439-7470. A nursing supervisor will assist you.

To make a referral to the CHHA/MOMS Program for a pregnant mom residing in any area of Niagara County, call the Niagara Falls office at (716) 278-1900 and a nursing supervisor will assist you in setting up services.