Home health care is a formal, regulated program of care provided by a variety of health professionals in the patient's home. It's also a Medicare benefit, as long as certain requirements are met. For many reasons, the need for Home Care in St. Paul MN has grown rapidly over the past decade (Table. Between 1980 and 1996, the number of patients who received Medicare-sponsored home care in St. Paul MN increased by more than 400 percent, and the number of agencies providing that care increased by more than 200 percent (picture).
The demand for home health care is expected to increase as more people live longer and because older adults rely on home health services to a greater extent than any other population (CDC, 2000). This document provides an overview of the home health care needs of older adults, as well as guidance on possible interventions related to human factors to reduce medical errors and improve the quality of care and independence of older patients. Among the factors analyzed are the reduction of transition and transfer errors, the assurance of the proper use of medical devices, the administration of medications and the optimization of home health environments. It highlights the importance of considering the role that normal age-related changes in abilities play in evaluating patients' needs.
The objective of this analysis is to provide guidance for interventions related to human factors in home health care. Another method for minimizing these types of errors is the implementation of technology (Singh, Naik, Rao, and Peterson, 200), such as electronic systems for prescribing and documenting home health care. For example, electronic medical records could improve communication and reduce transition and transfer errors (for example, in the case of home health care, research on human factors related to improved communication could have a significant impact on reducing errors when moving patients from the hospital to the home, as well as between different providers who enter the home).We highlight the need for training programs and assistive devices designed to take into account the decreases in vision and memory associated with aging. It's important to keep in mind that assistive devices and training programs can be beneficial for older adults compared to assistance from a healthcare provider, as they promote independence and reduce the burden on caregivers. However, home health technologies are underused by older adults (Mann, Belchoir, Tomita and Kemp, 200), as are technologies as a whole (Czaja et al.
Future research is needed to better understand the factors that contribute to the acceptance of healthcare technologies by older users, as well as to investigate in greater detail other types of interventions related to human factors that may facilitate home health care. While these estimates are based on studies of hospital settings, a significant number of people are also likely to die from errors made in home health care settings. Experiencing a health emergency, such as an injury caused by a fall or a heart attack, often requires hospitalization. The agencies that offer these services are called home care agencies and should not be confused with home health agencies that offer home health care services.
When evaluating home health care, it's important to understand the specific needs of older adults, as they are the majority of consumers of such care. Of Health and Human Services, 2000) provide detailed information on the characteristics of the home health patient population. Non-specialized home health care providers can only be allowed to transfer a medication from a container to the patient. Not only do home health care providers help directly with ADL and IADL, but they also provide training so that home health care patients can increase their ability to perform ADL and IADL independently. Interventions related to human factors can be particularly beneficial in training and ensuring the appropriate use of medical devices used by healthcare providers and patients themselves to treat chronic diseases. Durable medical equipment (Table) is covered by home health care benefits, although the beneficiary is responsible for 20 percent of the cost.
If you are homebound due to injury or illness or have recently been hospitalized, you may need home health care services. Medicare rules are often considered the standard of care for all interactions with home care agencies, even when the patient doesn't have Medicare insurance. Under Medicare Part B, you are eligible for home health care if you are homebound and need specialized care, even if you haven't been hospitalized before. Implementing training programs and assistive devices can do just that and reduce future needs for home health care services.
