Health Care Essay Research Paper America has

Health Care Essay, Research Paper

America has a highly developed health care

system, which is available to all people. Although it can be

very complex and frustrating at times it has come a long

way from the health care organizations of yesterday.

Previously most health care facilities were a place where

the sick were housed and cared for until death. Physicians

rarely practiced in hospitals and only those who were

fortunate could afford proper care at home or in private

clinics. Today the level of health care has excelled

tremendously. Presently the goal of our health care is to

have a continuum of care for the patient, one which is

integrated on all levels. Many hospitals offer a referral

service or discharge plan to patients who are being

discharged. Plans for the patient are discussed with a

discharge planner. The discharge planner is a person who is

trained in assessing what the patient’s requirements for

health care will be after discharge from the hospital. This

enables the patient to continue ! their care at a level which

is most appropriate for them. Items reviewed for discharge

planning include but are not limited to therapies, medication

needs, living arrangements and identification of specific

goals. A few of the options that are available for persons

being discharged from an acute care hospital can include

home health care, assisted living facilities, long term care or

hospice Home Health Care According to Growing Old in

America (1996), "Home health care is one of the fastest

growing segments of the health care industry" (p. 114).

Alternatives for home care can meet both the medical and

non-medical needs of a patient. These services are

provided to patients and their families in their home or

place of residence. Home care is a method of delivering

nursing care and other therapies as required by the patient’s

needs. Numerous alternatives are available for persons

seeking health care at home. With transportable

technologies such as durable medical equipment, oxygen

supply and intravenous fluids there are countless

possibilities for treatment within the home setting. As stated

in The Continuum of Long Term Care "Home health

programs range from formal organizations providing skilled

nursing care to relatively informal networks that arrange

housekeeping for friends" (p. 185). This has allowed for

home care to quickly become an essential component of

the health c! are delivery system in the United States. In a

home health care situation the primary care giver is usually

not the physician. The physician is communicated with by

phone and with documentation from the caregivers. The

primary caregivers are usually the nurses and other team

members who are involved directly with the patient’s care.

Although, the original order to begin home care must be

initiated by the physician if skilled care is to be obtained.

According to the 1995 Guide to Health Insurance for

People with Medicare "Medicare pays the full cost of

medically necessary home health visits by a

Medicare-approved home health agency" (p. 5). This

coverage must meet specific criteria, but it can be a relief to

family members to know that their loved ones can be taken

care of at home without worrying about the expenses.

Unfortunately, if the care to be given within the home is

termed "not medically necessary" the expense is not

covered. This can include items such as meal and

medication delivery, a percentage of necessary durable

medical equipment, personal care and homemaker

services. My employment within a home health care agency

has allowed for review of services that are not covered by

Medicare and/or private insurance. Health care services

that are not included can become quite numerous. It is

often difficult for family members to understand why

specific services are not covered especially when they

appear to be necessary for the care of the patient. These

costs can add up quite quickly and the impact of the cost

can become quite distressing for family members and

patients on a limited budget. In these cases a Social

Worker is usually provided to help the patient and family

explore other avenues which may enable them to cover

their health care costs. Assisted Living Assisted living is an

arrangement to residents of a facility that enables them to

complete certain daily activities while remaining

independent. The services provided enable the resident to

achieve maximum function of their activities of daily living.

The services are unskilled and non-specialized personnel

provide the activities essential to the care of the resident.

These services help assist the aged, blind, disabled,

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