In Hospital«, Homes
Metrolina Healthcare Service
Provides Nursing Care To Patients
By Teresa Simmons
Foot Managing Editor
As M year old Odessa site in her
chair watching cars go by, she
wonders when her next visitor will
come. A car finally pulls into the
driveway and out steps an attrac
tive lady with 14 yean of nursing
experience.
“Hi, Mrs Odessa," the lady
smiles. “I’m from the MetroUna
Healthcare Service. I’m Shirline
Smith, owner of the service.”-■
Thus, another borne will take ad
vantage of the many services of
fered by the MetroUna Healthcare
Service, located at 2909 Beatties
Ford Road (Dalshrook Pharmacy).
Usually the case may be that an
elderly person, somewhat incapaci
tated, needs someone to stay with
them eight hours a day. “But this
service is not only for the elderly,"
Mrs. Smith stresses. “We can send
someooe out for a few houn (usu
ally not leas than four;) or some
one to stay overnight. Our services
include nursing care to patients in
hospitals, homes, or other medical
facilities, aid with newborns, aid
with maintaining the home such as
housework, shopping, child care.
You can also receive live-ins... when
the mother and father have to tra
vel, there can be a substitute
mother there to take care of the
children and to take them to their
various activities." The service is 24
hours and can provide emergency
care when needed.
employs Registered Nurses, Cer
tified Nunes, and medical assist
ance, and Licensed Practical
Nurses for nursing care. The ser
vice can also be wed by physi
cians of hospitals in need of skilled
Homemaker assistants or com
panions are hired by Mrs. Smith for
qualified child care and general
housekeeping tasks.
“All of our employees are care
fully selected Most have experi
ence in home care and some Just
have that special touch and feeling
for people.”
Mrs. Smith evaluates the needs of
dona of the workers are asked for,”
■he continued, “and each employee
is required to keep a daily diary of
the activities of the elderly includ
ing what medications they have
taken. The assistants or nurses taka
bring the report of the doctor back.
They are also required to observe
the correct diet for the client” Mrs.
Smith goes into each home weekly
far routine checks.
Workers are insured and bonded,
which means that if the employees
resorts to stealing from the home of
a client, the stolen goods are co
vered. “But we have been in busi
ness over a year...since November,
1983, and we have not had ooe
incident of theft” Mrs. Smith
revealed.
The service also provides equip
ment for in-home care of patients.'
“Home respirators, wheel chairs,
etc., the latest equipment in person
al care will be provided by our
service.”
It is also important to know that
child care can also include bouse
care. “If we have a person sitting for
your children, why shouldn’t they
start a load of clothes In the
washing machine for you or start
cooking dinner. Our clients leave
instructions as to what they want
done and what they want touched or
not touched.” In this way, the
privacy of each client is not dis
turbed.
With all of these services and
advantages, the question of cost can
CPCCs Illiteracy
Program Receives ,
Commendation
Central Piedmont Community
College’s program for fighting adult
illiteracy has received a certificate
of recognition from the Adult
Literacy Initiative of the U.S.
Department of Education.
Adult Basic Literacy Education,
or ABLE, is a free program using
ooe-oo-one tutors and computers for
teaching some of Charlotte’s 90,000
adult illiterates to read. ABLE
centers are located at Freedom
Mall, Double Oaks Community
Canter, and Holy Trinity Lutheran
Church in the Plaza-Midwood area.
The Adult literacy Initiative was
established by President Reagan
last year to raise public awareness
of the Ulilaracy problem and to
encourage participation in literacy
activities.
The group alao acknowledges sign
ificant contributions of time, talent
and Other resources to fighting adult
illiteracy.
"It's significant that the literacy
initiative has been established In the
first place,” said ABLE director
Cindy Wilson. “And It’s a real honor
that wa were nominated.”
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Shirline B. Smith, R.N.
.Agency owner
often scafe prospective clients
away. “The prices are reasonable,’*
Mrs. Smith states. "When you think
of what you are receiving...the
relief...you can’t put a price on
that.” Various forms of Insurance
can help with this service as well.
As soon as the health care agency
becomes certified with a Certificate
of Need (CON) from the Depart
ment of. Human Resources in
Raleigh, Mrs. Smith will be able to
take in Medicaid and Medicare
clients. According to Mrs. Smith,
there has been a freeze on cer
tifying businesses such as hers. The.
freeze will be lifted in January.
from Columbia Hospital in Colum
bia, S.C., attended Central Pied
mont Community College and the
University of S.C. (Spartanburg).
She has worked in the CBSrtett* area
for the past 14 years in various
capacities from bead nurse to su
pervisor. She is the mother of three *
an attends Prince of Peace Luthe
ran Church.
In essence, Mrs. Smith's agency -
provides care for the elderly, home
maintenance, child care assistance,
in hospital, medical facility and
private duty for the sick as well as
updated equipment for the ill and
companions for the elderly or
others.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority members prepare to release
balloons containing messages of love. From left to
right are Maxine Davis. Dorothy Allison. Barbara
Hendricks, Nettle Myrick, Emma Wade, Joyce Bal
lard, Sadie Crawford, Madle Simpooa, Sarah Scho
field, Angela Taylor aad Heiea Kirk.
“Ill be home for Christmas! a
Our Holiday wish for you and your family.
3__m