The Home Health Team May Also Teach You And Your Family How To Administer Medications

Home health care is an excellent way to stay at home after a hospital stay or surgery. It enables you to receive skilled nursing and physical, occupational and speech therapy services. These are provided by an agency that is Medicare-certified and supervised by your doctor. Home health care is often less expensive and more convenient than staying in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF).

When you're discharged from the hospital, your doctor writes a plan for home healthcare services. It needs to say that you are homebound and require short-term, intermittent home healthcare. Medicare will then send you a list of agencies to choose from that are certified to provide these services. The agency will send a home health team to your house to assess your needs. The visit will include an interview with you and your family to learn about your diet, daily activities, pain level, medications and other aspects of your life. The team will create a plan of care that is reviewed and updated by your doctor.

The Northeast Ohio Home Health Care team may also teach you and your family how to administer medications, perform wound care and other tasks and keep track of your medical records. They will check your blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and breathing during visits. They will also make sure that you are eating well, taking your medications and following the doctor's orders for your daily care. They will teach you to use assistive equipment, such as a walker or wheelchair. They will also show you how to get in and out of bed safely.

In addition to the healthcare professionals, the home health agency will employ a medical social worker and a nurse aide. The medical social worker can help you find resources for other forms of healthcare and support in your community, such as meals on wheels or adult day care. The nurse aide can help you with personal care, such as bathing and grooming. The nurse aide can also check your vital signs and provide wound care.

To find a good home health agency, ask for referrals from family and friends. If possible, meet with the administrator for a friendly, getting-to-know-you interview before you choose an agency. You can find out more about their background and qualifications, and whether they have a genuine concern for the wellbeing of the people they serve. If you get the impression that money is their main motivator, it's time to look for another agency. The best directors have a background in health care administration or public health, and many are RNs who have long experience in health care. Some are also members of professional associations that promote quality standards in home health care. They are familiar with the rigors of overseeing a large organization that delivers important, lifesaving services. They are also able to navigate the regulatory requirements of their state's licensing and certification processes. Most seek additional accreditation to ensure that they meet high quality standards.