Patient care service and Home Health care services
Home health care is clinical medical care provided by an registered nurse, occupational therapist, physical therapist or other skilled medical professionals, and is often prescribed as part of a care plan following a hospitalization. Home health care services include: Therapy and skilled nursing services.
Home care is care that allows a person with special needs stay in their home. It might be for people who are getting older, are chronically ill, recovering from surgery, or disabled. Home care services include
Personal care, such as help with bathing, washing your hair, or getting dressed
Homemaking, such as cleaning, yard work, and laundry
Cooking or delivering meals
Health care, such as having a home health aide come to your home
You can get almost any type of help you want in your home. Some types of care and community services are free or donated. Many other types you have to pay for. Sometimes government programs or your health insurance will help cover the cost of certain home care services.
Home health nurses provide one-on-one care for patients in their homes. Patients who need home health nursing may be elderly, disabled, or terminally ill, but they may also be recovering from an injury or accident or living with a chronic disease. Some home health nurses also work with pregnant women and new mothers to provide ongoing care, education, and support.
Home healthcare may involve assisting patients with basic needs such as bathing and dressing, as well as more specialized services such as wound care, medication management, and IV therapy.
A home health nurse job description may include any of the following:
Make an initial health evaluation and individualized plan of care
Administer medications and assist with pain management
Clean and dress wounds
Document symptoms and vital signs
Monitor patient health and update care plan accordingly
Instruct patients and their families on proper home care
Provide suggestions to improve safety at home
Detect early symptoms that could lead to a hospital visit
Supervise home health aides
Communicate with physicians, social workers or other health advisors
Provide encouragement and support
Successful home health nurses must be organized, detail-oriented, and possess effective communication and problem-solving skills. Because the home environment can often be unpredictable, a sense of humor and a positive attitude can come in handy as well.
Home health nurses may specialize in one area, or integrate several specialties into their line of work, including:
Gerontology
Pediatrics
Community/public health
Psychiatric/mental health
Medical/surgical
A variety of employers hire home health nurses, including home health and hospice agencies, insurance companies, retirement communities, hospital systems, medical centers, and government organizations.