The Natick VNA is pleased to announce the expansion of our home telemonitoring program. Made possible in part by a grant from the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation, the agency added an additional 72 monitors to its original 31, for a total of 103. As part of this program, patients are able to monitor their vital signs from home on a daily basis, with the results transmitted to the VNA office. Since nurses are able to monitor and react to subtle changes in blood pressure, weight, blood oxygen and other vital signs, they are often able to prevent emergency room visits and hospitalization of patients who have chronic diseases, such as Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Thank you as well to the Framingham and Natick Rotary Clubs, who each granted the Natick VNA funds to purchase ultrasound equipment. By transfering sound waves into heat, the two machines will be used by the Physical Therapy staff to relieve pain, decrease muscle spasms and scar tissue, and increase joint strength and flexibility for many of our patients.