MPMC Reaches 200 with Lifelife

6/20/2012

Maria Parham recently announced a major milestone of having surpassed the 200 mark of seniors on the Philips Lifeline service, the leading medical alert service in the industry. Philips Lifeline is a medical alert designed to reduce the risk of living alone. In the event of a fall or emergency, help is available at the push of a button   For over 20 years, Maria Parham has offered seniors the Lifeline service that gives them confidence to live independently at home.  The cost is minimal, a little more than a dollar a day.

“We are proud to have touched the lives of over 200 seniors,” says Denise Smith, Program Director for Lifeline at Maria Parham. “By offering Philips Lifeline, we give seniors in our community a meaningful and needed service.  It allows them to have the confidence to continue to live in the homes they love, knowing that help is available at a push of a button.”

What happens if the subscriber is disoriented, unconscious, immobilized or otherwise unable to push their Personal Help Button when they need it?  Recently, an enhanced option was made available to the standard Lifeline service.  It is called AutoAlert.  It offers an added layer of protection for subscribers—it is the first pendant-style help button that can automatically place a call for help if it detects a fall, and they’re unable to push the button themselves.  For a small additional monthly cost, this state-of-the-art technology is available.

Kathy Caudle, Director of Volunteer/Guest Services and Lifeline at Maria Parham is pleased that this new feature has been added.  “While the standard Lifeline is great, we sometimes had subscribers worry about getting sick very suddenly —so suddenly that they weren’t able to activate their Personal Help Button.  This enhanced service makes those subscribers feel more comfortable, knowing that if they fall to the floor quickly and aren’t able to push their button, help is still summoned,” she explains.

Smith goes on to add, “Lifeline with AutoAlert is designed to help reduce the time that a senior lies on the floor, after falling.  The more quickly they get help, the better the outcome—saving both the emotional and physical toll that a fall places on an individual.”

 Part of Phillips Home Healthcare Solutions, Phillips Lifeline is the leading medical alert service, dedicated to helping give seniors more confidence and piece of mind to live independently in their own homes.  It is also the only medical alert service that provides state-of-the-art AutoAlert technology.  Lifeline is offered by thousands of healthcare and community organizations and provides services to more than 6 million subscribers.

If you have questions about Lifeline or would like to have the service in your own home, please call Denise Smith, Program Manager for Lifeline at Maria Parham at (252) 436-1118.


About Maria Parham Medical Center, A Duke LifePoint Hospital
Maria Parham Medical Center, located in Henderson, NC, is a regional hospital serving the people of north central North Carolina and Southside Virginia.   As a Duke LifePoint Hospital, Maria Parham offers a combination of Duke University Health System’s unparalleled expertise in clinical excellence and quality care, and LifePoint Hospital’s extensive resources, knowledge and experience in operating community hospitals.  Maria Parham offers a wide range of services and the latest technology to meet the healthcare needs of the community. It is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and CMS. For more information about Maria Parham Medical Center, please call (252) 436-1800 or visit www.mariaparham.com.