Brandywine Home Health Agency records

On April 11, 1917 representatives of various churches and women's organizations in Coatesville met at the request of Mrs. Charles F. Innis, Chairman of the Health and Hygiene Committee of the Coatesville Century Club to organize and implement a home nursing service for the area. Miss Anna Harlan, president of the Club, stressed the importance of the organization as a general philanthropy and for this reason every church denomination and women's organization in the city was invited to cooperate. The new agency would be financed by the Associated Charities, patient fees, membership dues and contributions, and be known as the Coatesville Visiting Nurse Association. Mrs. Arthur Hoopes was elected the first president and Miss Minnie Creagh, a Red Cross Nurse, was employed.

The newly founded association provided home nursing visits to tuberculosis, acute and chronic disease patients, as well as supplying maternity care and school health services. During World War I, an infant care services program was instituted for working mothers employed in industries. The national influenza pandemic of 1918/19 had a strong impact on the Coatesville area, causing the deaths of hundreds of local residents. Miss Creagh and the association's twenty nurse volunteers worked heroically to care for their affected clients. During the 1940s and 50s, the agency was chartered by the Chester County Court as a non-profit organization (1944). With the exception of the orthopedic and prenatal clinics, all other clinics were integrated into the hospital setting. An intensive home care service (1954) was organized for patients with long-term illnesses, providing a health team approach which included physical, occupational, and speech therapy as well as medical social services.

The VNA's coordination of services with other social, health, and civil organizations was seen as an important community service along with health promotion and prevention of illnesses. As needed, for instance, physicians were brought in for particular cases. The agency participated in a health week featuring health classes and a community parade. By the late 1920s and early 1930s, services were expanded to include well-baby, orthopedic, mental health, prenatal, and dental clinics. The staff increased to four nurses. Also, reflecting a national trend towards mobility, the agency acquired two automobiles to eliminate the nurses' dependence on public transportation and to better utilize their time.

Home health care became one of the fastest growing industries in the United States beginning in the mid-sixties and seventies. It grew in both size and service. It was recognized as an important factor in the entire health care delivery system following the federal government's Medicare program. Coatesville Visiting Nursing Association was certified for Medicare participation in 1966. To meet the social as well as the health needs of the elderly with acute and chronic illnesses, services were expanded to include home-health aide. Also, a licensed practical nurse was employed. Adult Health Clinics were established for health teaching and promotion for senior citizen groups focusing on preventative health care. The orthopedic clinic was taken over by Coatesville Hospital (later Brandywine Hospital).

In collaboration with the Hospice of Chester County and Home Health Services of Chester County, the agency established a home-based hospice service in 1982. Changes in federal and state health insurance laws forced hospitals and community home health agencies to evaluate service for quality and cost-effectiveness. As a result of these changes, the agency and the Brandywine Hospital agreed to merge their expertise and resources in 1984, avoiding duplication of home health service for post-hospitalized patients. The agency also joined partnership with other health agencies to form Chester Valley Health Services in 1985 in order to provide supplemental support care that is full or part time nursing or homemaking service. In 1986, the pre-natal clinic was taken over by the Chester County Health Department due to increased demand of staff’s time. Since its beginning this organization has had two name changes in order to keep abreast of trends in home health services. The first occurred in 1981 when the name Coatesville Visiting Nurse Association was changed to Coatesville-Brandywine Home Health Agency, Inc. In 1985, Coatesville was deleted from the agency's name and became Brandywine Home Health Agency, Inc.

Gift of Philippe Ouellette.

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Preferred Citation

Brandywine Home Health Agency records, Barbara Bates Center for The Study of The History of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania

Publisher

University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing

Finding aids author

Finding aid prepared by Center staff, updated by Bethany Myers

Creator

Brandywine Home Health Agency.

Subject

Community health nursing

Home care services

Nursing

Visiting nurses

Organization

Brandywine Home Health Agency.

Place

Coatesville (Pa.)

Occupation

Public health nursing

Language

English

Form

Administrative records

Photographs

Scrapbooks