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Life Care Physician Services, LLC, a subsidiary of Life Care Centers of America, recently placed Brian Wagstaff, M.D., as a full-time, on-site physician at Darcy Hall of Life Care in West Palm Beach.
In this position, Wagstaff is providing patient assessment, diagnosis and treatment. He works with the Darcy Hall of Life Care team of nurses, dieticians, therapists and caretakers on behalf of each of his patients. His presence in the nursing home enhances external physician accessibility to patients and families. He aids in hospital transitions and pharmacy communications, and being on-site allows him to personally respond to medical changes or emergencies in a timely manner.
“One of the frequent issues I hear from my patients and their families regarding rehabilitation centers is that they would like to have more immediate and direct access to their doctor and more ongoing communication about the patient’s progress,” said Wagstaff. “Working at Darcy Hall full-time enables me to provide this kind of service to my patients and be a resource to the community of local physicians.”
Before entering this new role, Wagstaff was a staff physician with Alliance Care Physician Housecalls in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for more than five years. He also worked for US Healthworks in Boca Raton, Fla., for two years.
In Cleveland, Ohio, Wagstaff spent seven years as an assistant professor on the clinical faculty at Case Western Reserve University Department of Family Medicine. In that capacity, he won the Distinguished Teacher Award in 2004.
Wagstaff earned his doctor of medicine degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine and is registered in the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration. He is also a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Florida Academy of Family Physicians.
Following the Trend in Improved Patient Outcomes
Darcy Hall of Life Care, located at 2170 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., is one of 21 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in Florida operated or managed by Life Care Centers of America. With the recent placement of Wagstaff as the facility’s on-site physican, the facility follows suit in a recent trend of on-site physician staff set by other Life Care facilities in Florida which report significantly reduced hospital readmissions within a year of establishing the in-house physician program.
In-house physician programs have been endorsed by many skilled nursing care specialists across the nation: “The most important factor for high-quality, cost-effective care is dedicated on-site physicians,” notes Marcia Naveh, M.D., F.A.C.P., in a 2006 article in For The Record magazine. She goes on to write, “The traditional nursing home model, which allows for weekly or monthly doctor visits is no longer adequate for patients whose condition may change daily.” This is especially true of individuals recovering from complex procedures including joint replacements, stroke or heart surgery.
David Smith, D.O., an in-house physician with Life Care Physician Services at the Melbourne, Florida site, expounds on the importance of timely patient care delivered by on-site doctors. “I have been more involved in the transition of care from the hospital to our facility,” says Dr. Smith. “I can see patients as soon as they arrive and immediately address any transition issues.”
Aside from the benefit of simply having a physician in the facility more frequently, the increased personal involvement of these full-time physicians also improves the doctor’s ability to meet with patients’ families and the entire care team when making decisions. Dr. Smith says he feels his patients benefit especially from his ability to “meet with family members and talk through expectations and health issues.”
Founded in 1976, Life Care is a nationwide health care company. With head-quarters in Cleveland, Tenn., Life Care operates or manages more than 220 nursing, post-acute and Alzheimer’s centers in 28 states.
For more information about Life Care, visit LCCA.COM.
With Prior Authorization, Darcy Hall of Life Care can now Accept the following Insurances!!!
. Aetna
. Cigna
. Beech street
. CHCS
. Multi-plan/PHCS
. Wellcare
. Medicare and Medicaid
Services:
Darcy Hall of Life Care offers a number of services for the comfort and convenience of our patients and residents. These services include:
. Skilled Nursing Care
. Rehabilitation Services (Physical, Occupational and speech therapy)
. On-site Physician
. Inpatient and Outpatient rehabilitation
. Stroke Rehabilitation Program
. Biodex Balance System
. Biodex Unweighing system
. Lee Silverman Voice Treatment
for Parkinson’s disease
. Lymphedema Therapy
. Wound Care with Closed pulse Irrigation
. Suction Therapy
. IV Therapy
. Respite Services
. Hospice
. Alzheimer’s Secured Unit
Amenities Include:
. Private room with flat-screen television’s
. Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the facility
. Library
. Facility Bus Transportation
. Courtyards
. Cable Television
. Beauty/Barber Salon
. Restaurant-style dining
. Facility Laundry service
. Ready …. Set… GO!! Rehab apartment
