PINEHURST, N.C.—Recovering at home after a major health event can bring comfort — and concern. For many patients and families, leaving the hospital is just the beginning of a new chapter filled with questions, uncertainty and the need for trusted support. That’s where FirstHealth Home Care makes a difference.
What a 5-Star CMS Rating Means for Home Care Patients
FirstHealth Home Care currently holds a 5-star patient satisfaction rating, the highest rating available through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), reflecting the program’s ongoing commitment to quality, compassion and personalized care delivered in the comfort of patients’ homes.
How FirstHealth Home Care Helped One Family Heal
For David Simmons of Rockingham, N.C., that support became invaluable after he suffered a heart attack last January and underwent triple bypass surgery at FirstHealth’s Reid Heart Center on the Moore Regional Hospital campus. Like many patients, Simmons was eager to return home and begin his recovery. For his wife and caregiver, Brenda, the thought of managing that recovery without professional guidance was daunting.
“God blessed us,” Brenda said. “We prayed for the best, and that’s what we got.”
She was referring to the FirstHealth Home Care team, who stepped in as soon as Simmons returned home and remained by the family’s side through months of recovery and additional health challenges. Their home care nurse, Christy Gause, R.N., quickly became a trusted advocate and reassuring presence.
Trusted Guidance During Recovery After Heart Surgery
“Having Christy took that worry away,” the Simmons family shared. “She advocated for us, reassured us and educated us every step of the way.”
Although Simmons was fortunate to have the support of his wife, their two daughters and sons-in-law, there were moments during his recovery when concerns raised by family members didn’t always resonate. That changed when Christy walked through the door.
“She could walk in and take one look at my husband and know something wasn’t right,” Brenda said. “She would immediately contact his doctors and help arrange the appropriate care and treatment. And best of all, my husband would listen to her. He trusted her. We all trusted her. She was fantastic.”
That level of attentiveness and trust is at the heart of FirstHealth Home Care’s approach — meeting patients where they are, listening closely and acting quickly when something doesn’t seem right.
Another member of the home care team who supported Simmons and his family was Physical Therapy Assistant Caryn Callicutt who made a lasting impression through her compassion, encouragement and genuine care. Her approach motivated Simmons to stay engaged in his therapy and fostered a strong sense of trust and connection with him and his family.
“Caryn was more than a physical therapy assistant, she became part of our family,” said Brenda. “She always made my husband feel comfortable, encouraged him every step of the way and truly wanted the best for him. We were blessed to have her.”
Home Health Services Across the Sandhills Region
FirstHealth Home Care serves patients throughout Moore, Lee, Richmond, Montgomery, Hoke and Scotland counties, offering a wide range of services designed to support healing and independence at home. Services include skilled nursing care such as disease and medication management and education, IV infusion therapy, wound and ostomy care, telehealth monitoring, and caregiver education and training.
Patients also have access to physical and occupational therapy, social workers who assist with long-term planning, referrals to community resources and financial concerns, and home health aides who provide help with personal care.
According to Connie Christopher, director of FirstHealth Home Care, experiences like the Simmons family’s reflect the heart of the program’s mission.
“The Simmons family’s experience reflects the dedication and compassion our home care team brings to their work each and every day,” Christopher said. “Our patients are at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to providing them with the highest quality care in the comfort of their homes.”
That commitment continues to earn the trust of patients and families across the region — and is reflected in consistently high patient satisfaction scores, including FirstHealth Home Care’s current 5-star CMS rating.
For families navigating recovery at home, that level of care can turn uncertainty into confidence, helping patients feel supported, heard and cared for every step of the way.
