On-site medical center, pharmacy, fitness center, activities, and more.
Ann’s Choice on-site medical center staff provide televisits as well as in-person, in-home, and phone consultations
There’s no better place to live in retirement than at an Erickson Living-managed senior living community like Ann’s Choice in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. You’ll enjoy a vibrant, maintenance-free lifestyle, state-of-the-art amenities, hundreds of clubs and activities, and a choice of beautiful floor plans. Add exceptional health care to that impressive list. The Erickson Health Management Group (EHMG) is a fully integrated health and wellness system that provides a range of medical services to residents at the on-site medical center, rehab facilities, and pharmacy.
The medical team is comprised of Board-certified physicians, nurses, physical, occupational, and speech therapy professionals, and social workers, all of whom specialize in geriatric medicine. Care is available 24/7/365.Residents not only have doctors experienced in the nuances of senior health, they benefit from daily engagement with fitness experts, nutritionists, professional chefs, medical specialists, and dozens of other experts working to help them live a healthy lifestyle.
This integrated, team-based approach also features the latest tools and technologies, like a proprietary patient portal with convenient access to electronic medical records, and telehealth options. The combination of expertise and accessibility enables Ann’s Choice to provide the highest quality, personalized care to residents.
“Residents and their families find great value and peace of mind knowing that our full-time doctors, who are among the best in the retirement health care industry, are on site and available whenever needed,” notes Erickson Living’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Matt Narrett. “Our integrated approach is unmatched in the senior living industry.”
Patient-centered Care
“Caring for seniors is, by nature, high-touch,” says Dr. John Marcelis, a Board-Certified Internist and Geriatric Medicine physician who has been Ann’s Choice Medical Director since 2003. “We know our residents well and work closely with them and their families to manage chronic conditions and monitor medications. Our goal is to keep people healthy and to avoid or limit hospitalizations, because serious consequences can arise with each admission.”
Time spent with patients far exceeds national averages: Initial visits last 60 minutes, and follow-ups last 30 minutes. When residents can’t come to the medical center, the staff provides in-home visits, televisits, and phone consultations.
“We treat the whole person: the physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, and social components of their lives,” notes Dr. Marcelis. “We address important wellness factors, like diet and exercise. All of these things play a critical role in overall health and well-being.”
After hours, 98.6 percent of calls are answered within 10 minutes. All Security personnel, who are on campus 24/7, are trained EMTs, so medical emergencies can be handled quickly.
Because of those fast responses and longer, more comprehensive visits, nearly 80 percent of Ann’s Choice residents use the medical center for primary care. “Accessibility and our focus on senior health set us apart,” notes Dr. Marcelis. “General practices are simply not equipped to deliver the same level of service.”
Resident Lois Pisacane, a retired physician who serves on the community’s Resident Advisory Council, agrees that the quality of health care at Ann’s Choice is unsurpassed. “As a doctor I have high expectations for my care, and I’m extremely satisfied with the medical center. This is more extensive, personal care than we have gotten from our off-campus primary care doctor. Residents are consistently appreciative because the level of care is impressive.”
That kind of personal attention extends to every department at Ann’s Choice. The staff know the residents well; if they see something amiss, they alert the medical center immediately. “We can check on those residents and address emerging conditions before they become serious,” notes Dr. Marcelis. “It’s another advantage to living at Ann’s Choice: Everyone participates in keeping residents healthy.”
Planning Ahead
Early in the Covid-19 outbreak, Ann’s Choice imposed measures to ensure residents’ safety. Staff delivered meals, restricted campus access, and brought health care to residents’ apartment homes. Many of the community’s amenities have safely reopened, and residents are enjoying clubs, activities, the fitness center, indoor pool, walking paths, billiards, gardening, and more, with distancing and other precautions in place.
This year, more than ever, it’s important to get the annual flu vaccine. The medical team is being proactive, going door-to-door to offer residents a flu shot. “While visiting residents in their homes is a huge undertaking, we recognize that this preventive measure is one of the best ways to protect the wellbeing of those who live and work on campus,” says Dr. Marcelis.
Given the quality and scope of care, the focus on seniors, and emphasis on wellness, it’s no wonder that 85 percent of Erickson Living residents, across 20 campuses, use Erickson Health Medical Group. The system is consistently rated among the highest quality when compared to other senior communities and stand-alone care, giving residents the access and peace of mind they need to live healthier lives.
To learn more about Ann’s Choice, visit annschoicecommunity.com.
Ann’s Choice, one of 20 continuing care retirement communities developed and managed by Erickson Living®, is situated on a scenic 103-acre campus in Warminster, Pennsylvania. The not-for-profit community of more than 1,900 residents and 1,000 employees is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, who provide independent financial and operational oversight of the community. Additional information about Ann’s Choice can be found at AnnsChoiceCommunity.com.
Written by Dorrie Anshel
