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Patient Resources

What should I expect from my home health care?

Doctor’s orders are needed to start care. Once your doctor refers you for home health services, the home health agency will schedule an appointment and come to your home to talk to you about your needs and ask you some questions about your health.

The home health agency staff will also talk to your doctor about your care and keep your doctor updated about your progress.

It’s important that home health staff see you as often as the doctor ordered.

home health staff help you

  • Check what you’re eating and drinking.

  • Check your blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and breathing.

  • Check that you’re taking your prescription and other drugs and any treatments correctly.

  • Ask if you’re having pain.

  • Check your safety in the home.

  • Teach you about your care so you can take care of yourself.

  • Coordinate your care. This means they must communicate regularly with you, your doctor, and anyone else who gives you care.

What should I expect from my initial visit?

During your first visit, the Registered Nurse or Physical Therapist will do an assessment, which can include checking your vital signs, reviewing your medications, and determining on what your health care goals are.  After the assessment the staff member will discuss their recommendation for treatment and support services, if applicable, with you and your primary care giver and relay the plan with your doctor.  This initial visit usually takes about an hour.

How do my team members help me?

Skilled Nursing

Registered Nurse 

RNs establish a care plan or contribute to an existing plan that is developed by the physician. Plans may include numerous activities, such as teaching self-monitoring techniques, administering medication, including careful checking of dosages and avoiding interactions; starting, maintaining, and discontinuing intravenous (IV) lines for fluid and medication; administering therapies and treatments; observing the patient and recording those observations; and consulting with physicians and other healthcare clinicians.

Licensed Vocational Nurse

LVNs care for people who are sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled under the direction of physicians and registered nurses. They care for patients in many ways. Often, they provide basic bedside care. They can also measure and record patients' vital signs such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. They also prepare and give injections and enemas, monitor catheters, dress wounds, and give alcohol rubs and massages. To help keep patients comfortable, they assist with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene, moving in bed, standing, and walking. Experienced LVNs may supervise nursing assistants and aides.

Physical Therapy

PTs examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. Common occupational therapy interventions include providing supports to regain skills for people experiencing physical and cognitive changes who are recovering from injury.

Speech Therapy

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.

Medical Social Worker

They determine what psychological, social or financial problems a patient is having due to their medical condition.  After assessing the patient’s needs, the social worker will intervene as needed. The assistance needed may vary depending on the patient’s needs. Social workers also provide patient education on treatment options and help coordinate services needed after discharge, such as medical equipment. Medical social workers also arrange grief counseling or other mental health services for patients.

Home Health Aide Services

Home health aides (HHAs) assist patients with completing important personal tasks such as dressing, bathing and a variety of hygiene needs. Additional aspects of this position include assisting clients to remain safe in their own homes by providing a higher level of assistance with minor cleaning and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as preparing meals, light housekeeping, and laundry.

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