All of us have been affected by illness either personally or with a loved one. It was once common practice to keep patients in the hospital for extended periods of time, or to transition them to a long term care facility if they were unable to be completely independent at home. However, as healthcare progressed, so did the realization that many patients could transition home even while still recovering rather than to a long term care facility. According to the Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation, home health care is effective because of three things: it improves patient outcomes, is efficient and least costly of all post-acute care, and is patient preferred.

Patient outcomes are the driving force behind most decisions made in healthcare for the obvious reason that healthcare is geared toward patients achieving the maximum level of health available to them. According to the data from Home Health Compare published by Medicare, patient outcomes improve after receiving home health care. After receiving home health care, 89% of wounds improved or healed after an operation, 67% of patients had less pain when moving around, 66% of patients got better at bathing, and 64% of patients had improved breathing.

Patient preference and patient satisfaction is the driving force behind the motivation needed for a quicker and more comfortable recovery. AARP conducted a study to determine patient preference and found that 73% of persons with disabilities prefer services at home, and among the general population of persons 50 and older, 58% prefer services at home. Among the obvious desire to be at home are other contributing factors such as less chance for infection and easier transition to normal life once healthcare has ended since all skills were taught in the patient’s familiar environment. This enforces the notion of patient-centered care, a recently prevalent term seen across many aspects of healthcare. According to the Institute of Medicine, patient-centered care is “providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values, and ensuring that patient values guide all decisions.” Providing care in a patient’s own environment could not be more patient-centered and specific to the patient’s individual needs.

Home health care is largely paid for by Medicare Part A, but many insurances will cover some if not all services depending on the needs of the patient. Under the Medicare benefit, certain requirements must be met. The patient must be homebound, they must need intermittent skilled nursing and/or therapy services, and they must be under the care of a physician who feels the patient’s needs are reasonable and necessary to warrant home care services. Some common reasons your doctor may order home care services are for wound care, patient and caregiver education, intravenous and nutrition therapy, certain injections, and monitoring serious illness and unstable health status.

If you have any questions about the services provided by home health care, please feel free to contact Baraga County Home Care and Hospice at 906-524-4663. Our staff would be happy to assist you.

Katie LaCosse is a registered nurse for Baraga County Home Care & Hospice.