If you are facing an illness or disability, or require care after surgery, home healthcare may be your best bet. It’s often less costly than hospital care and often safer too.
Medicare, Medicaid and some private insurance plans cover the cost of home health services. To get started, you’ll need a doctor’s approval and collaborate with an agency in developing your care plan.
Home health care is a broad term
Home healthcare is an umbrella term for medical and assistive services provided in a patient’s home setting. These can be provided by nurses, therapists, social workers and other trained professionals.
Typically, this type of care is more cost-effective and convenient than hospital or long-term nursing facilities. Furthermore, it allows patients to live comfortably and independently in their own homes.
Medicare covers home health coverage for people who require skilled services like nursing, physical therapy and occupational therapy. On the other hand, you can utilize home health care if all that’s necessary are non-skilled services like social services or assistance with daily living from a qualified home healthcare aide.
Home health agencies must develop new capabilities to reach their full potential as high-quality providers within the Medicare APM framework. Furthermore, they need to construct systems for managing care across all stages of a patient’s journey – medical and nonmedical – for seamless management.
It is less expensive than hospital care
Studies have consistently demonstrated that home healthcare costs are much more affordable than hospital care. This is likely due to lower labor costs, fewer lab visits from specialists and the fact that patients spend less time in the hospital.
Hospital care can be costly for patients or their loved ones, placing a strain on savings. Home health is often the better option, particularly for seniors needing end-of-life care.
Johns Hopkins Medicine’s hospital at home program allows patients who meet certain eligibility criteria to receive medical services and support at home. After an emergency department or community physician assesses their condition and checks that the home meets certain suitability standards such as air conditioning, heat, running water, and safety features – these patients can then be accepted.
It is more convenient
Home healthcare patients do not need to travel to a hospital or skilled nursing facility, as they can receive all of their care right at home. This allows them to spend more time with family and keep up with daily tasks from the comfort of their own homes.
Furthermore, a patient’s home health team can periodically evaluate their living situation and detect factors that impact health. This helps increase patient satisfaction and promote adherence to treatment plans, according to CMS.
People living with chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease should prioritize regular visits from a healthcare provider who may also provide medication via infusion at their home.
Home care can also save patients and their families money by preventing hospital readmissions or emergency room visits. On average, Medicare beneficiaries who switch from skilled nursing facilities to home health typically spend $4,514 less per post-acute episode compared to those discharged to the latter. These savings can be significant for those with high copays or major out-of-pocket costs.
It is safer
Home healthcare offers patients a safe and familiar setting that helps reduce the risks of falls, infections, and adverse drug events. Furthermore, it allows family members and friends to spend more quality time with their beloveds.
Home health care is becoming a more and more popular treatment option, yet safety issues still need to be addressed. This is particularly true for home care workers who experience higher injury rates than their hospital counterparts.
It is an issue of great concern due to the hazardous nature of their jobs. They visit homes of people with varying needs, from elderly individuals to those recovering from illness or injury.
Home healthcare providers must utilize a combination of safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) procedures, as well as other strategies, in order to be safer. These include preventing animal attacks and excretions, using sterile drainage bags, and having animal control policies in place.