Article Response
Dear Editor: On the front page of Friday’s paper was an article: “Mosher Offers Help On SEARHC Issue.” Kevin Mosher said he met with Dr. Bruhl and two SEARHC directors involved in Home Health. As the result of the meeting “he believes that SEARHC is still continuing to provide Home Health services, but it is in a different format and different shape, but I do believe they are continuing to provide those services and, in some ways, even better.”
Dr. Bruhl provided two hand-outs to Kevin about the current program and number of patients and patient home visits.
They show a drastic reduction in nursing visits under the current home-based program compared to the old Medicare Certified Home Health Care department.
Dr. Bruhl’s hand-out stated that there had been 82 nurse visits, 28 of which had been for two end-of-life patients from the period October 1 through January 19. There were 19 nurse visits in October, 30 in November, 15 in December and 18 in January.
At the December 12 Assembly meeting, Dr. Bruhl provided a hand-out to Assembly members that showed nurse visits under the Medicare Certified program had averaged 80 visits per month with an average census of 20 patients. Doing the math, that means that in the same time period as the 82 nurse visits, there would have been 288 nurse visits under the Medicare Certified program. That means that home nursing visits are now just 28% of the number of visits as under the Medicare Certified program.
I attended the STA Health and Social Services committee meeting on Friday. Dr. Bruhl along with his two directors gave a presentation on Home Health. I was able to ask Dr. Bruhl whether he had noticed the drastic reduction in nursing visits. I pointed out that the data showed that previously, patients on average were receiving one nurse visit per week but now a patient was receiving around one visit every five weeks.
Dr. Bruhl also said that the nurse was able to see patients that didn’t qualify for the prior Medicare Certified Home Health program. I pointed out that SEARHC could have a Medicare Certified program and still see patients that didn’t qualify if it wanted.
Dr. Bruhl said he didn’t know why there were fewer patients and fewer visits with the new program. He did say that he guessed that “probably it was a less comprehensive program.” My guess is that Medicare Certified Home Health Care’s structure is different. When a patient is referred to Medicare Certified Home Health the patient has a complete health and home assessment, and a 60-day plan of care is implemented. The plan assures that a patient receives all the nursing visits he needs.
In any case, with nurse visits at 28% of the number of visits under Medicare Certified Home Health, the nursing care is not the same as before.
Susan Litman, Sitka
Operation Christmas Child
Dear Editor: Generosity throughout Sitka contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child. Across the U.S., the project collected 10 million shoebox gifts in 2023. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2023, the ministry is now sending over 11.3 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide, including many who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster.
Through shoeboxes – packed with fun toys, school supplies, and personal care items – Sitka area volunteers brought joy to children in need around the world. Each gift-filled shoebox is a tangible expression of God’s love, and it is often the first gift these children have ever received. Through the continued generosity of donors since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 220 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.
Across Alaska, shoebox packers often shop for deals on shoebox items throughout the year, and many serve at a deeper level by becoming a year-round volunteer. Information about ways area participants can get involved year-round can also be found at samaritanspurse.org/occ or by calling 253-572-1155.
Although local drop‑off locations for shoebox gifts are closed until Nov. 18-25, 2024, anyone can still be a part of this life-changing project by conveniently packing a shoebox gift online in just a few simple clicks at samaritanspurse.org/buildonline.
These simple gifts, packed with love, send a message to children worldwide that they are loved and not forgotten.
Jasmin Sutton, Samaritan’s Purse
PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607
