With the acquisition of Alternative Home Health by Wheeling Hospital, even more patients in Eastern Ohio can be served by Visiting Nurse Services of Wheeling Hospital-Belmont.

The wide variety of services provided by VNS can assist many with day-to-day health care and therapy needs.

VNS of Wheeling Hospital-Belmont serves all of Belmont County and parts of Harrison, Jefferson and Monroe counties. Sheila Smith is the director of the Ohio office, located at 280 W. Main St., St. Clairsville.

“If you’re homebound and require medical care, we provide highly skilled professionals to meet your needs,” Smith said. “Our experienced staff includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, therapists, social workers and home health aides.”

Services provided include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social services and home health aides.

The staff can help determine the extent of a patient’s insurance coverage. Services covered by insurance will be billed directly to the insurance company. The cost of services may be covered totally or in part by Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance plans.

To obtain VNS services, a person must: be under a physician’s care; be referred by a physician; have a face-to-face visit with physician if patient has Medicare, Ohio Medicaid or certain commercial insurances; be homebound; require the skills of a registered nurse, physical therapist or speech therapist; require only intermittent care because it does not cover 24-hour care or supervision; live within the service area.

With a phone call from their physician’s office, patients can begin receiving care at home. The medical staff makes visits from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A registered nurse is on call after hours for emergencies.

VNS of Wheeling Hospital-Belmont is hospital-based, nonprofit, Medicare certified and Joint Commission accredited. It is a member of the Ohio Council for Home Care and Hospice. For more information, call 740-699-7000.

In West Virginia, VNS of Wheeling Hospital serves all of Ohio, Marshall and Brooke counties. That office is located in Wheeling Clinic, 16th Street. The director is Paula Singer.

For more information, call 304-243-4663.