February 2009 marks the 25-year anniversary of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare (GVMH) Home Services. In 1983, Golden Valley Memorial Hospital decided to add a skilled home health agency to their services, and negotiations were completed with Nevada City Hospital to purchase their satellite office, Clinton Home Health.  GVMH hired Marlene Miller as the director of the new agency and Ann Wheeler (Maloy) as administrative secretary/receptionist.  Clinton Home Health opened its doors as GVMH Home Health Agency on February 23, 1984.

 Pictured are Director of Home Services, Cheryl Foster RN, BSN, HCSD and Marlene Miller RN. Marlene is the former Director of Home Services and is currently the Assistant Director.

Employed at GVMH Home Services for 25 years: Ann Maloy, Secretary of Home Services and Marlene Miller RN. 

The infant agency began with 94 patients being provided nursing, aide, physical therapy and speech therapy services. Services were expanded to include social work and occupational therapy.  In the last decade, a pediatric program was added and remains the only one in the area. 

The agency’s first location was at 1500 North Second Street in Clinton, but the offices were soon moved to the GVMH campus. After residing at multiple locations within the hospital, GVMH rented and later purchased the drive thru bank facility across the street from the main campus.  After renovations, GVMH Home Health Agency took possession of what is now the current location.

The agency extended their visit boundaries twice due to requests by patients and physicians.   Each time, Clinton remained the center of the territory.  The present territory includes all of Henry and Benton counties, and portions of Pettis, Saint Clair, Bates, Cass and Johnson counties.

Director Marlene Miller continued to be very active in state associations and helped keep GVMH Home Health Agency at the forefront of changes in home health regulations, laws, procedures, and technology.  Her commitment is one of the reasons GVMH Home Health Agency became one the first home health agencies in a rural area to maintain patients at home on IV therapy, nasogastric feedings, and parenteral nutrition.

In 1998, agency staff realized the need for home care services in the area. Home Care services to provide housekeeping, personal care, cooking and to run errands for in-home services recipients was added on December 1, 1998. Marlene Miller served as director and Roni Dennison as supervisor. GVMH Home Care now averages 70-75 clients with a support staff of licensed practical nurses and nurse aides.

A private pay program, GVMH Custom Care, was added in 2004. This program provides phlebotomy (blood draw for lab), bathing, medication assistance and other limited services.  With this addition, the agency name was changed from GVMH Home Health to GVMH Home Services. This change was made to include all three separate services under one name.

Throughout the past 25 years, the agency has been blessed with some of the best personnel in the business. They are well respected by their peers and loved by their clients and patients. They work hard and love what they do.  They are like the “old time visiting family doctors” of the nursing and therapy field who, regardless of new improved equipment, must still rely mostly on their own knowledge and skill alone in the home environment. The support team is outstanding and without their ‘behind the scenes” work, the nursing and therapy staff could not provide the excellent patient care that they are well known for.

In planning for retirement, Marlene Miller stepped down to assistant director in 2007. Cheryl Foster RN, BSN, HCSD was hired as the new director.

In February 2009, GVMH Home Services is proud to celebrate 25 years of service to the area.  The agency is hosting Business After Hours on Monday, February 2 at 5:00 p.m. An Open House is planned for Monday, February 23, 2:00-4:00 p.m.  The public is invited to attend.