Western Reserve Services
Complete Primary Care
The principal focus of Western Reserve Senior Care is to provide high quality, evidence-based primary care to homebound seniors. By providing home visits, we can spend more time with each patient with multiple complex medical problems than office-based practitioners. We treat innumerable conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, kidney problems, arthritis, dementia, mood disorders, Parkinson’s Disease, diabetes, and many others. When needed, we also perform a multitude of procedures such as skin biopsies, vascular access, joint injections, fluid aspirations, etc. When needed, our patients have full access to a plethora of world class specialty physicians at affiliated hospitals.
Hospital Care
While our group of providers work to keep patients out of the hospital, we also have expertise in caring for hospitalized seniors. In fact, our physicians typically serve as attending hospital physician for our patients who need hospitalization, and are well trained and experienced in hospital care. Our physicians have many years of experience in care of the hospitalized patient, and know that elderly patients have special needs that are often under recognized. We also make it a policy to communicate to family frequently as we understand that having an elderly parent or spouse in the hospital is quite stressful.
Care Transitions
We also pride ourselves in leading transitions in care—ensuring that upon hospital discharge, patients are placed in the appropriate level of care, have all needed services arranged including visiting nursing, physical therapy, PCP follow up, etc. We believe that leading each phase of the care continuum minimizes errors in medication, enhances our understanding of each patient’s unique medical history, and facilitates an expeditious return to home when possible. Our practice’s 30-day hospital readmission rates are far below national, state, and local averages due to our post-discharge follow up (below 7% in 2010, compared with local and national averages of 20%).
Dementia Care
Western Reserve Senior Care physicians, nurse practitioners and staff are well experienced in caring for the special needs of patients with cognitive impairment and dementia. We utilize a friendly, integrated approach to care that utilizes state-of-the-art medical therapy, but also focus on cognitive, exercise and nutritional therapies and family support.
Optometric Care
Low vision is a common and difficult problem in the elderly, and we have a dedicated Division of Optometry that brings full-service optometry direct to homebound residents. Dr. Craig Smargiasso, who directs the division, uses a friendly approach and state-of-the-art equipment to care for the ocular health of seniors. Eyeglass sales are also available for home fitting and delivery.
Podiatric Care
We can provide complete visiting podiatric care for seniors, for whom foot ailments are a common problem.
Palliative Care
Some elderly patients do not wish to have aggressive medical care, but rather focus on comfort and symptom relief. Palliative care focuses on the relief of pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness. The goal is to prevent and relieve suffering so patients can have the highest quality of life. Palliative care can be offered at various stage of illness, and patients can still receive medical treatment alongside a palliative approach. Dr. Steven Robertson directs the Division of Palliative Care, and he provides compassionate medical and palliative care for patients and families who elect this approach.
