Press Release

Burgess Home Health Leader Heads State Council

Sherri Johnston, director of Burgess Home Health and Hospice, has been elected president of the Iowa Hospital Home Care Council, an affiliate group of the Iowa Hospital Association. She took office last January and recently addressed the membership at its annual spring meeting and educational session.

Johnston served on the steering committee that started the group 15 years ago. Today the council’s 76 Iowa members – which include managers, directors and supervisors in home health care -- address hospital-based home care agency needs and solutions to challenging issues.

The home care council shares information with the Iowa Foundations for Medical Care, (IFMC) the Iowa Association for Home Care, the Department of Inspections and Appeals and other organizations.

Johnston, a registered nurse, has served as Burgess home health director since March 1987
and has been with Burgess nearly 30 years. She started the Hospice program at Burgess in 1995.

Burgess Home Health is currently one of 30 home health agencies participating in a three-year quality improvement program with the IFMC to improve quality of life and care for home health clients and reduce hospitalizations.

“Quality improvement programs help us support staff development in our efforts to improve patient outcomes and decrease hospitalizations,” says Johnston.

Burgess Home Health Care employs some 25 caregivers involved in providing nursing care, physical, occupational and speech therapy, medical social services and home aide services. In her role as council president Johnston will attend the National Association for Homecare meeting in Denver in next October.

For more information on the system call Johnston at Burgess, 712-423-9324.