Our Practice Model

VPASJ receives referrals from a variety of sources, including families themselves. We accept patients into our practice with traditional Medicare as their primary insurance. Our office staff will explain our practice to you and complete the referral process. Click the (Contact Tab) for more information and a patient care representative from VPASJ will contact you.

Within 7-14 days of a referral, Dr. Reaves will visit the new patient and complete a comprehensive geriatric assessment, which will be reviewed with the patient, family and caregivers. An individual plan of care is established and medications are reviewed. Our practice includes many physician extenders known as nurse practitioners and physician's assistants. These professionals are licensed to provide ongoing comprehensive care of our patients. A nurse practitioner/physician's assistant is assigned to each patient, generally based on geographic location. VPASJ is proud of its staff of professionals that include wound care, geriatric and mental health specialists.

The VPASJ professionals are experts in bringing care into the home. Nearly everything a patient needs, including X-rays, lab work, assistive devices and durable medical equipment (oxygen, wheelchairs, etc.) can be brought directly to the patient. In addition, Dr. Reaves has established relationships with quality companies that provide physical therapists, speech therapists, podiatrists, audiologists, optometrists, and home health and hospice care to ensure that all the needs of the patient are met. Our office staff is resourceful and eager to provide assistance in finding just about any service required. Some of the services we have found include hairstylists, elder care attorneys, and shopping and other chore service providers.

Typically a patient is seen by the nurse practitioner on a monthly basis, but based on the needs of the patient, visits may be more frequent. Monthly visits allow VPASJ to actively monitor the patient's progress, identifying problems early and averting unwanted hospitalizations. Frequent assessments prevent serious acute illnesses such as pneumonia or the exacerbation of chronic illnesses such as congestive heart failure, chronic lung disease, or uncontrolled hypertension. The benefits of this approach are decreased cost, decreased hospital admissions and readmission, and most importantly, improved quality of life for the patient.

Once in the home, VPASJ will address many geriatric syndromes such as urinary incontinence, pressure ulcers, declining function, increasing disability, memory loss, depression and anxiety, chronic pain, failure to thrive, palliative care, and end of life care.

It is important to stress that VPASJ has collaborations with physicians in the community. VPASJ is entirely dedicated to the care of our patients where they reside, not in hospitals, emergency rooms, the office setting, or nursing homes. Other physicians in the community will care for patients in these settings. In the event a patient must seek one of these alternative settings, we will endeavor to work with a collaborating physician who will provide the care until the patient returns home, and VPASJ resumes geriatric house calls.