Patient Knowledge and Understanding of Home Health Services Criteria

Context: This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of patients’ understanding of homebound criteria and house call eligibility. Objective: To date, little empirical data exists assessing patient knowledge of home health care services. This study is designed to examine patients’ understanding of home health care services, eligibility criteria, costs, and interest in house calls. Methods: This study used an anonymous survey developed by the researchers and provided to patients in four separate office locations at a large academic Family Medicine practice. Questions about homebound criteria, eligibility, out of pocket cost, and patient interest were asked. Results: In total 393 surveys were collected. Approximately 47 percent of all respondents in the survey showed interest in having a home care visit by a healthcare professional, while only 59.6 percent were able to accurately identify the definition of homebound status. Approximately 60 percent of all respondents believe that they will have to pay more out of pocket for home visits, and the subgroup of respondents who have an interest in home visits showed that 63.4 percent of that group think that they will have to pay more out of pocket for such visits. Conclusion: These data have the potential to inform medical providers of a lack of understanding among patients regarding homebound criteria and home health care in general. While further studies could examine more specific details of this potential knowledge gap, the information provided by this study could prompt providers to begin educating patients on the possibility of home care.

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An Exploratory Analysis of Patient-Provider Language-Concordant Home Health Care Visit Patterns

Home Health Care Management & Practice ◽

10.1177/1084822317696706 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 161-167 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Allison Squires ◽

Timothy R. Peng ◽

Yolanda Barrón-Vaya ◽

Penny Feldman

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Home Care ◽

Home Health Care ◽

Limited English Proficiency ◽

Health Care Services ◽

The United States ◽

Home Health ◽

Care Services ◽

Health Care Visit ◽

The Right

Approximately one in five households in the United States speaks a language other than English at home. This exploratory, descriptive study sought to examine language-concordant visit patterns in an urban home health care agency serving a diverse and multilingual population. Patient care record data combined with administrative data facilitated the exploratory work. In a 2-year period, results showed that among the 238,513 visits with 18,132 limited English proficiency patients, only 20% of visits were language concordant. The study suggests that home health care services may not be meeting the demand for language services, but more research is needed to determine the right “dose” of bilingual home care visits to optimize home care outcomes and establish a standard for care.

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A qualitative study of home health care experiences among Chinese homebound adults

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-021-02258-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rui Zhou ◽

Joyce Cheng ◽

Shuangshuang Wang ◽

Nengliang Yao

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Home Care ◽

Home Health Care ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Technical Skills ◽

Home Health ◽

Care Services ◽

Homebound Older Adults

Abstract Background Home health care services (HHC) are emerging in China to meet increased healthcare needs among the homebound population, but there is a lack of research examining the efficiency and effectiveness of this new care model. This study aimed to investigate care recipients’ experiences with HHC and areas for improvement in China. Methods This research was a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data were collected from homebound adults living in Jinan, Zhangqiu, and Shanghai, China. A sample of 17 homebound participants aged 45 or older (mean age = 76) who have received home-based health care were recruited. Conceptual content analysis and Colaizzi’s method was used to generate qualitative codes and identify themes. Results The evaluations of participants’ experiences with HHC yielded both positive and negative aspects. Positive experiences included: 1) the healthcare delivery method was convenient for homebound older adults; 2) health problems could be detected in a timely manner because clinicians visited regularly; 3) home care providers had better bedside manners and technical skills than did hospital-based providers; 4) medical insurance typically covered the cost of home care services. Areas that could potentially be improved included: 1) the scope of HHC services was too limited to meet all the needs of homebound older adults; 2) the visit time was too short; 3) healthcare providers’ technical skills varied greatly. Conclusions Findings from this study suggested that the HHC model benefited Chinese older adults—primarily homebound adults—in terms of convenience and affordability. There are opportunities to expand the scope of home health care services and improve the quality of care. Policymakers should consider providing more resources and incentives to enhance HHC in China. Educational programs may be created to train more HHC providers and improve their technical skills.

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A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Experiences Among Chinese Homebound Adults Receiving Home Health Care Services

10.21203/rs.3.rs-79311/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rui Zhou ◽

Joyce Cheng ◽

Shuangshuang Wang ◽

Nengliang (Aaron) Yao

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Home Care ◽

Home Health Care ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Technical Skills ◽

Home Health ◽

Care Services ◽

Homebound Older Adults

Abstract Background: Home health care services (HHC) are emerging in China to meet increased healthcare needs among the homebound population, but research examining the efficiency and effectiveness of this new care model is rare. This study aimed to investigate care recipients’ experiences with HHC and areas for improvement in China.Methods: This research was a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data were collected from homebound adults living in Jinan, Zhangqiu, and Shanghai, China. A sample of 17 homebound participants aged 45 or older (mean age = 76) who have received home-based clinical care were recruited. Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenological method was used to generate qualitative codes and identify themes.Results: The evaluations of participants’ experiences with HHC yielded both positive and negative aspects. Positive experiences included: 1) the healthcare delivery method was convenient for homebound older adults; 2) health problems could be detected in a timely manner because doctors visited regularly; 3) home care providers had better bedside manners and technical skills than did hospital-based providers; 4) medical insurance typically covered the cost of home care services. Areas that could potentially be improved included: 1) the scope of HHC services was too limited to meet all the needs of homebound older adults; 2) the visit time was too short; 3) healthcare providers’ technical skills varied greatly.Conclusions: Findings from this study suggested that the HHC model benefited Chinese older adults, primarily homebound adults, in terms of convenience and affordability. There are opportunities to expand the scope of home health care services and improve the quality of care. Policymakers may consider providing more resources and incentives to enhance HHC in China. Educational programs may be created to train more HHC providers and improve their technical skills.Trial registration: Not applicable

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From village health volunteers to paid care givers: the optimal mix for a multidisciplinary home health care workforce in rural Thailand

Human Resources for Health ◽

10.1186/s12960-020-00542-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nonglak Pagaiya ◽

Thinakorn Noree ◽

Penapa Hongthong ◽

Karnwarin Gongkulawat ◽

Pagaluk Padungson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Home Health Care ◽

Health Workforce ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Home Visits ◽

Home Health ◽

Care Services ◽

Care Givers ◽

Rural Thailand

Abstract Background Thailand is a rapidly aging society, which places high demand on home health care services for the elderly. The shortage of health care workforce in rural areas is a crucial obstacle to the delivery of adequate home health care services. The appropriate skill-mix between multidisciplinary health team and care givers (CGs) is an attractive solution for improving home health care services in rural Thailand. This study assessed the potential of trained CGs to provide home health care services and projected what the optimal mix for a multidisciplinary home health care team in rural Thailand would be in 2030. Methods Eleven pilot districts in Thailand were recruited for the study. Secondary data were collected along with surveys of home health care providers. A total of 130 care managers (nurses) and 351 care givers (CG) were recruited for the survey. Workload, skill-mix potential, and acceptance of care givers were assessed in the surveys. The results from secondary data and the survey were used to project the health workforce requirements in 2030. Results It is projected that in 2030 the number of elderly living in rural areas will be 7,156,700 (27% of the projected rural population). Of this, 20.3% will be home-bound, 1.1% will be bed-ridden and 1.6% will need rehabilitation. The main members of the multidisciplinary health workforce involved in home health care were nurses, doctors, and physiotherapists. The home health care services that were provided by the multidisciplinary health workforce included patient assessment, development of a care plan and case conference, home visits, and teaching and supervision of CGs. The CGs were village health volunteers trained to carry out regular home visits to patients. The CGs provided assistance with the activities of daily living, basic health services, moral support to patients and relatives, and surveillance of the home environment during home visits. CGs were well accepted by both the health professionals and the patients. Projections showed that 16,094 nurses, 1,542 doctors, 1,022 physiotherapists and 50,148 CGs will be required in 2030 to meet the needs of the dependent elderly for home health care in rural Thailand. Conclusion With the increased need for home health care services in the future, appropriate team work between the members of the multidisciplinary health team and the CGs in the community is the appropriate solution for likely shortages of health professional workforce.

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An Overview of Home Health Care Programs

Journal of Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.1177/089719009000300102 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 4-10

Author(s):

Kate O'Neil ◽

Leslie LaBelle ◽

Caryn M. Bing

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Home Care ◽

Home Health Care ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Home Care Services ◽

Home Health ◽

The Public ◽

The Past ◽

Care Services ◽

The Impact

Home-care services have expanded greatly over the past several decades. Many pharmacy practitioners have little or no exposure to the vast majority of home-care programs. This article provides an overview of home health care services, traces the evolution of these programs and the public policy that has directed that change, and outlines the regulation governing the home-care industry. A synopsis of traditional and nontraditional home-care services precedes a brief review of other specialty services. A summary of the impact of quality management programs and some future trends for home care are presented.

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Timing of Home Health Care Initiation and 30-Day Rehospitalizations among Medicare Beneficiaries with Diabetes by Race and Ethnicity

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18115623 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 5623

Author(s):

Jamie M. Smith ◽

Haiqun Lin ◽

Charlotte Thomas-Hawkins ◽

Jennifer Tsui ◽

Olga F. Jarrín

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Home Health Care ◽

Race And Ethnicity ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Propensity Scores ◽

The United States ◽

Home Health ◽

Medicare Beneficiaries ◽

Timely Initiation ◽

Care Services

Older adults with diabetes are at elevated risk of complications following hospitalization. Home health care services mitigate the risk of adverse events and facilitate a safe transition home. In the United States, when home health care services are prescribed, federal guidelines require they begin within two days of hospital discharge. This study examined the association between timing of home health care initiation and 30-day rehospitalization outcomes in a cohort of 786,734 Medicare beneficiaries following a diabetes-related index hospitalization admission during 2015. Of these patients, 26.6% were discharged to home health care. To evaluate the association between timing of home health care initiation and 30-day rehospitalizations, multivariate logistic regression models including patient demographics, clinical and geographic variables, and neighborhood socioeconomic variables were used. Inverse probability-weighted propensity scores were incorporated into the analysis to account for potential confounding between the timing of home health care initiation and the outcome in the cohort. Compared to the patients who received home health care within the recommended first two days, the patients who received delayed services (3–7 days after discharge) had higher odds of rehospitalization (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.25–1.32). Among the patients who received late services (8–14 days after discharge), the odds of rehospitalization were four times greater than among the patients receiving services within two days (OR, 4.12; 95% CI, 3.97–4.28). Timely initiation of home health care following diabetes-related hospitalizations is one strategy to improve outcomes.

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