Home Health - a continuum of care
Reaching for something on his bed stand, Jerry lost his balance and toppled over a table lamp that was on at the time. Jerry fell on top of the lamp and became wedged between furniture, unable to free himself. He unfortunately laid on the hot, burning bulb for hours until his daughter-in-law, who visits daily, was able to help him.
Jerry recounts, “In the days following the accident, the details are pretty muddled.” He spent four days hospitalized at Firelands Regional Medical Center and then three weeks in a skilled nursing facility. Happily, he could return to his home and his dog under the continued care of Firelands Home Health Services. Jamie Walton-Ebert, R.N., was the home health nurse assigned to Jerry’s home care.
Jamie explained, “It was a terrible situation. Jerry suffered a severe burn to his lower back. In addition to my care, Jerry received treatments at Firelands’ outpatient wound care clinic.”
Your caregiver comes right to you in your home
“Jamie brought a kit to my house with everything needed to pack and dress my wound at home,” noted Jerry. “She was so easy to talk to and such a nice person. She was always concerned for my comfort.” Over the four months of care, Jamie and Jerry developed a friendship.
Jamie acknowledges, “It is nice people like Jerry who drew me to home health nursing. I love seeing the same people, which allows me to build relationships with my patients and their families.”
Who is Firelands Home Health Services?
Firelands home health nurses are all registered nurses. Patients are assigned the same nurse throughout their home care for continuity. The same applies to the rest of the patient’s care team, including state tested nurse aides, social workers, physical, occupational and speech therapists. The patient becomes acquainted with their caregivers, and nurses learn their patient’s medical history and specific needs. “Patients know who to call if matters arise,” explains Firelands Home Health Services Director Karen James, BSN, RN, CRRN.
Firelands Home Health Services can be the transition from hospital to home, wherever people call home, which might be an independent or assisted living residence. It’s unique in comparison to other home health agencies because patients can remain under the care of their family healthcare provider, allowing more individualized care.
“We are that bridge, trying to get patients to their prior level of functioning. Home health is not designed to provide 24/7 in-home assistance. Nor does it perform daily living tasks, such as cooking and cleaning. The care is intermittent. We teach patients and families how to perform required care between the home health professionals’ visits,” states Karen.
Home health care can save on cost
If a person can return home with the support of home health transitional care, the savings can be noteworthy compared to the cost of a skilled nursing facility. Firelands Home Health Services accepts most third-party insurance and Medicare, which pays 100% of eligible participants’ costs.
Karen explains, “There are requirements for a person to qualify for home health. Patients must be considered homebound and are required to be under a physician’s care, as well as meeting a certain level of skilled care.”
Over the past 20 years, Firelands Home Health Services monthly patient count has grown from 62 to over 200. Moreover, the service region grew from four to 13 counties. As of January 2024, Firelands Home Health Services is rated 95.6% in patient satisfaction on Press Ganey patient surveys. The ranking placed Firelands in the 99th percentile of hospital-based home health agencies.
Learn about Firelands Home Health Services here or call 419-557-6590.
