by Amanda Rink, Editor
In Wright County, a new healthcare initiative led by Iowa Specialty Hospitals and Clinics is making a significant impact on the lives of homebound residents.
Registered Nurse Cyndi Rector has stepped up to head the newly established program to provide crucial in-home nursing care for those who need it most. The Visting Nurse Services’ main goal is to ensure that homebound residents continue to receive the care and attention they need but the program has become more than that.
Great ideas are often born once a problem is recognized. Amy McDaniel, CEO of Iowa Specialty Hospital in Belmond, saw the gap left by the removal of the county home health services. Without in-home nursing care, many residents, mostly the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, struggle to maintain their health.
Iowa Specialty Hospitals and Clinics were determined to change that and pursued the necessary certification to launch the new Visiting Nurse Services in Wright County. Thanks to their efforts, homebound people once again have access to professional and caring health professionals right at their doorstep.
The Visiting Nurse Service program exists to enhance the quality of life for those who are homebound. It provides healthcare tailored to their needs. But beyond the medical benefits, it also offers peace of mind to patients and their families.
When a Visiting Nurse steps through a patient’s front door, they bring with them a wealth of services, including medication management, wound care, chronic disease assessment, and education, bloodwork services, care coordination, specialized medical needs, and even personal hygiene assistance.
By providing these services at home, the program reduces hospital visits while improving their clients’ overall comfort and quality of life.
Though still in its early stages, the Visiting Nurse program has already started making a difference, serving six so far.
“Beyond receiving care—which is, of course, the primary goal—many patients also appreciate the companionship,” Cyndi Rector told The Wright County Monitor. “Some individuals live alone, and our visits bring not just medical support, but also a much-needed personal connection.”
Cyndi Rector, who earned her Associate in Nursing from Iowa Central Community College, is an experienced healthcare worker. When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her family, Eric, Mackenzie, Madison, Maycie, and Mason.
The response from the community about the new program has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I’ve received so many encouraging comments,” Rector shared. “People are truly excited to have these services available in Wright County again.”
Could this program serve as a blueprint for other rural areas struggling with home healthcare access? Rector thinks so.
“Other communities would need to meet the requirements set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, but I highly recommend looking into it—for the betterment of their residents,” she explained.
Healthcare access in rural areas remains a challenge, but programs like the one led by Rector prove that solutions do exist. She encourages local leaders and policymakers to support health initiatives.
The team behind the new Visiting Nurses services didn’t just solve a community-wide program; they re-established a lifeline.
“They [Iowa Specialty] don’t just have the motto of ‘consistently exceeding expectations’—they truly live it,” Rector shared. “I’m proud to work for Iowa Specialty and to bring these essential services to our community.”
For many in Wright County, the services are more than healthcare, it is a powerful reminder that even in rural areas, no one is forgotten, and everyone deserves care.
