We want to say more than just Happy National Doctor’s Day. We want to be the resource to connect the dots between doctors and patients. That’s because at Family Resource Home Care, our purpose is to improve more lives.
How Is My Doctor Involved in My Home Care?
Transitioning from full independence in your life to requiring home care is experienced differently for everyone depending on age, living arrangements, health status, and personal preference. To make sure every patient receives services that best suit their needs, licensed home care service agencies to involve primary care physicians and other types of health care professionals to develop care plans for their patients.
A Patient’s Relationship
Physicians work with patients, home care agencies, and families to appropriately determine which services are needed, how many hours a week a patient would benefit from, and how the care should be delivered. If there is a change in health status, such as surgery, new medications, and treatments, or a new diagnosis, doctors are instrumental in making sure the care plan is modified to accommodate any new medical need, including short-term support and rehabilitation services during recovery. Doctors work together with the patient’s home care agency to integrate clinical needs as they arise, including scheduled lab draws, injections, wound care, and assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs).
Working Together
Home Care services are a vital part of the patient’s overall health picture. Because home care staff visits clients frequently between doctor appointments, their reports help doctors understand how well the patient’s treatments and medications are working, and alert them to make changes or adjustments before significant problems arise. Home health caregivers do more than just assist with bathing, medication, or fall prevention; they monitor and assess client function with every visit, and relay changes or concerns to doctors when necessary.
Close collaboration between doctors and home care agencies allows clients to benefit the most from their home care while maintaining the highest possible level of independence. Having doctors closely involved with a patient’s home health care plan allows the plan to reflect the client’s unique clinical needs, functional capacity, and maximum potential to maintain their health. The focus of home health care plans is the patient’s health and safety; the doctor’s role is to provide the critical clinical information and medical judgment that provide the foundation for a successful plan.
Is a referral needed to obtain in-home care?
No. A physician’s referral is not needed to receive personal care or companion care services, which include assistance with daily activities such as homemaking, bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and companionship, among others. However, a Physician’s order or prescription is necessary if you require private pay “skilled care” which requires a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse, and includes services such as medication management, wound care, or medical treatment of any kind.
Start a conversation with your doctor today and take the next step forward in your home health care needs. To learn more about the different types of home health care, contact us to find out what services will best suit you or a loved one.
