SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN — Patients living in southwest Michigan now have the option to choose home care services provided by Saint Joseph Health System VNA Home Care in-home skilled nursing and therapy beginning Aug. 20. These communities include Niles, Buchanan, Edwardsburg and Cassopolis.

Because of Indiana state regulation, home care agencies in Indiana are limited to providing services solely within their state borders, leaving patients living in southwestern Michigan without many options, Saint Joseph Health System officials said. VNA Home Care however, and its sister Trinity Health at Home agency in Michigan, found a solution to meet the needs of the community.

“It became apparent to us that this area was in desperate need of home care options,” said Karen Joyce, executive director, West Region, Trinity Health at Home. “Because of state regulations however, we knew we needed to find a creative solution to make sure these patients had the care they needed to live at home while still being connected to the hospital and providers closest to them.”

This solution meant patients could choose the Trinity Home at Health agency in west Michigan and care would be provided by the visiting nurses, therapists and social workers who also serve Indiana patients via VNA Home Care in Mishawaka. To do this, the care team had to join the Michigan agency team and become dually certified in Michigan and Indiana to provide services.

“We understand how important seamless care from hospital to home is when healing,” said Joyce. “We are privileged to care for these patients and help them get back to what is most important in their lives.”

Patients residing in southwest Michigan in need of home care services can call (574) 335-8600 or visit sjmed.com for more information. VNA Home Care provides skilled nursing, occupational, physical and speech language therapy and social work services in the comfort of home.

Saint Joseph Health System is a nonprofit healthcare system located in north central Indiana that offers acute-based hospital care and post-acute services including: community wellness, physical rehabilitation, home care, physician clinics, outpatient services, independent and assisted senior living, memory care and affordable senior apartments. SJHS includes: Mishawaka Medical Center; Plymouth Medical Center; Rehabilitation Institute; Outpatient services of the Elm Road Medical Campus; Health Insurance Services; Saint Joseph Physician Network; VNA Home Care; the Senior Living Communities at St. Paul’s, Holy Cross and Trinity Tower; and Saint Joseph PACE. SJHS serves more than 200,000 members of the Michiana community annually. SJHS is a Regional Health Ministry of