Studies show that regular Home Visits every 1-3 months decrease the incidence of both Emergency Room visits and hospitalizations for chronic disease complications. Home Visits after a hospital discharge have also shown to decrease the rate of medication management errors and readmissions. Establishing follow up care in the form of Home Health, Physical Therapy and Specialist referrals all lead to a more positive health outcome for you and/or your loved one.

Anyone who is eligible for Medicare and has 1 chronic illness (diabetes, heart disease, dementia, osteoarthritis, kidney disease, etc) will qualify for Home Visits. If you qualify for Home Health, then you automatically qualify for Home Visits. Also, any caregiver who should not leave a loved one unattended, may also qualify Home Visits.

Home Visits are based on the patient's level of need. Home Visits are designed for people who have difficulty leaving their home, either due to illness or transportation issues. We encourage anyone who needs frequent office visits for medication refills and lab tests to call us to discuss the option of Home Visits.

Yes, the names can be confusing, but the services are very different. Home Visits are like an office visit, but in your living room. Doctors, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners are the only approved providers to perform Home Visits. They will discuss your current situation, check you for any new illnesses and keep your medical records up to date. They will listen to your heart and lungs and refill your medications. They can draw blood work, and give injections such as steroids and antibiotics. If needed, they can perform joint injections such as knee, hip and shoulder. They can order tests and send referrals for mobile imaging for x-rays and ultrasounds, They will request referrals to specialists like the cardiologist, nephrologist, pulmonologist, etc. You should be seen every 1-3 months for regular follow ups and sooner if you get sick.

Home Health companies are the eyes and ears of doctor's offices. They will visit you 1-3 times a week, sometimes daily. They will take your blood pressure, temperature, and weight. They make sure you and your family are comfortable with your healthcare plan and answer any questions you might have. They can assist in wound care, bathing and other activities of daily living. They will help you with planning your everyday tasks, and many times become a member of your extended family. We can't do our jobs without each other!

A Board Certified Nurse Practitioner from our office will come to your home at a time that is convenient to you. We see patients Monday through Friday and Saturday as necessary. A Nurse Practitioner is someone who earned a degree as a registered nurse, then worked a minimum of 3 years in a challenging field such as ICU or the Emergency Room. Afterwards, they decided to go back to school for a minimum of 2 years to complete their Nurse Practitioner degree. In Texas, a Nurse Practitioner must practice under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor. With home visits, that doctor must be located in the same area of the Nurse Practitioner. Our team is led by Dr. Jared Petty, a Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician who has been practicing in Winnsboro since 2009. You will get the best of both worlds!

We thought of that too! Winnsboro Health Services has been offering Telemedicine and Home Visits since 2019. If you are sick and need to speak with someone the same day, we will accommodate you by offering either a same/next day Telemedicine Visit or giving you the option to see one of our Nurse Practitioners within 2-3 business days. If you need to be seen urgently, but do not feel that it warrants an ER visit, you can always be seen in person at one of our local clinics.