Mid-Delta Home Health & Hospice

When Clara T. Reed opened the doors in 1978 to her home health agency in the small town of Belzoni, Mississippi, she had no idea how instrumental she would become in meeting the health care needs of the Mississippi Delta. As a Humphreys county native concerned about the health problems and needs of her community, Mrs. Reed opened and organized in March 1978, Mid-Delta Home Health. She has developed Mid-Delta Home Health over the past 30 years into one of the most active modern home health delivery agencies in the state.

Mrs. Reed began her nursing career after graduating in 1963 from Mississippi Valley State University's Licensed Practical Nurses Program. She later entered MVSU's Registered Nurses Program and graduated in 1970 with an associate degree in nursing. She received her in Gerontology from MVSU in 1990. Mrs. Reed is the wife of former Sunflower County schoolteacher, Henry Reed, Jr., of Belzoni. Mr. Reed is a local farmer and he serves as President of the Board, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, and Vice-President of Physical Facilities at Mid-Delta Home Health. He serves as Humphreys County Supervisor of District I. They have two children, Pamela and Henry Reed, III. Mr. and Mrs. Reed are proud grandparents. Mrs. Reed accepted her call to the ministry in December of 2000. She has worked as a Minister, Missionary and Teacher. She has completed all prerequisites for Ministry license through the United Methodist Church. In July 2005, she established The Upper Room Fellowship Ministries and is currently serving as Pastor. Upper Room held its first Order of Service on Sunday, July 24, 2005. The mission of The Upper Room Fellowship Ministries is to make disciples as mentioned in Matthew 28:19-20. She believes that every individual should experience the grace, mercy and joy of serving our Savior Jesus Christ. Her Pastor Ordination was completed in December 2005.

According to Mrs. Reed, Mid-Delta Home Health is not only one of the greatest resources for providing complete health care needs in Mississippi, but employment as well. Other than the mere satisfaction of providing quality focused, cost-effective, comprehensive health care services to home bound patients, Mrs. Reed says her most rewarding experience is the fact that she began Mid-Delta Home Health over 30 years ago with five employees and now has employed up to 750 dedicated professionals. Mid-Delta Home Health has grown to 17 offices and serves over 30 counties throughout Mississippi. The agency offers a wide range of health care services and programs. Mid-Delta proudly includes psychiatric nursing services; hospice services; occupational, speech, and physical therapy; diabetic foot care; enterostomal therapy; durable medical equipment; and full-time registered dietitian services in its diverse list of services offered to clients. Mrs. Reed continues to increase Mid-Delta's high-tech nursing procedures in the home. She acquired Americare Home Health Agency in December 2003. Americare is located in Memphis, Tennessee. Mid-Delta has also expanded to the following areas in Alabama: Mobile and Fairhope.

Mid-Delta Home Health became the first and only home health agency in Mississippi to become dually accredited from both the Community Health Accreditation Program, Inc. (CHAP) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). CHAP is a New York City based Community Health Accreditation Program that sets the highest standards of quality for home health organizations in the nation. According to Mrs. Reed, "Recognition from CHAP means a lot to us, and it will mean a lot to our clients and to the public at large. To earn CHAP Accreditation, we voluntarily completed an intensive process of self-study, together with unannounced site visits and client interviews conducted by CHAP's expert representatives. "As a way to increase goals and accreditation standards during 1995, Mid-Delta Home Health decided to also undergo a rigorous evaluation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Mid-Delta Home Health received Accreditation with Commendation in August 1995. This is the highest level of accreditation awarded by the Joint Commission, which is the nation's oldest and largest accrediting body. "We are extremely pleased to have achieved this designation, which now makes us dually accredited by both Joint Commission and CHAP," said Mrs. Reed. "Receiving Accreditation with dation recognizes the quality job our employees strive toward and accomplish on a day-to-day basis. It demonstrates the fact that we have achieved excellence in our operations and services, and it tells our clients that we put consumer concerns first."