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Human touch is essential

12/3/2011 4:28:22 PM by Administrator Account

Home Care by David DiFilippo

Q: What’s the difference between private duty care and ordinary home health care? ~ Melissa M., Hope

    A: When private pay or private insurance pays for care, service and support for an individual in their home, it is considered private duty home health care. Non-private home health care is for Medicare or Medicaid patients who need intermittent skilled care for a limited period of time. That type of care is reimbursable by the government if the individual is homebound and qualifies for the skilled home health benefit.
   Q: What is a home health care case management nurse? ~ Sarah G., Warwick
   A: A case management nurse in home health care is in charge of a patient's overall home health services and coordinates the care between all provider disciplines such as therapy and nursing. They will also help coordinate care with payment options and benefits.
   Q: I have been looking into home care for an elderly aunt. One of the companies I called is touting their electronic monitoring system. How important is that? Should I worry that they’ll use the system to replace in-house visits? ~ Devon W., South Kingstown
   A. Electronic monitoring is a highly effective way of keeping track of vital signs in order to alert a medical professional if anything needs attention. It monitors vital signs such as oxygen levels, pulse rate, weight loss or gain and glucose level. Monitoring systems should not replace a home care agency’s scheduled in-house visits but rather act as insurance to alert professionals about changes in a patient’s condition. Such systems are often used with patients with unstable cardiac conditions.

   David DiFilippo is the owner of Concord Home Health Services, which specializes in in-home personal assistance such as errands and medication management, as well as skilled nursing services and rehabilitation. Submit questions to kparkcompass@trmcomm.com.

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