July 23rd, 2010 -- Posted in Health |
Q: What is home health care?
A: Home health care is a service that permits patients to receive personalized health care, maintaining their quality of life in the privacy and comfort of their homes.
Q: Why home health care?
A: Home health care is a cost-effective option for receiving health care services. Returning to one’s home and family can quicken recovery and improve the quality of life for both patient and family or caregiver.
Q: Who pays for home health care?
A: Most health insurance companies, HMOs, PPOs and Workers Compensation cover home health care. In addition, Medicare and Medicaid pay for home care services. Some insurance providers do not cover all home health services. Our staff will verify health coverage for the patient.
Q: What criteria are required for Medicare to approve services?
A: The following criteria are used to meet Medicare requirements:
• The patient is a Medicare recipient.
• The patient must be homebound. This is defined by Medicare as “normal inability to leave the home and that leaving the home requires considerable and taxing effort.”
• The skilled care must be medically necessary as determined by the physician.
This is a preview of
Frequently asked questions about home health care
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May 30th, 2010 -- Posted in Health |
Home health care helps seniors live independently for as long as possible, given the limits of their medical condition. It covers a wide range of services and can often delay the need for long-term nursing home care.
More specifically, home health care may include occupational and physical therapy, speech therapy, and even skilled nursing. It may involve helping the elderly with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and eating. Or it may include assistance with cooking, cleaning, other housekeeping jobs, and monitoring one’s daily regimen of prescription and over-the-counter medications.
At this point, it is important to understand the difference between home health care and home care services. Although they sound the same (and home health care may include some home care services), home health care is more medically oriented. While home care typically includes chore and housecleaning services, home health care usually involves helping seniors recover from an illness or injury. That is why the people who provide home health care are often licensed practical nurses, therapists, or home health aides. Most work for home health agencies, hospitals, or public health departments that are licensed by the state.
April 1st, 2010 -- Posted in Physical Therapy |
Physical therapy and rehabilitation services are healthcare specialties which are usually employed together for treating disorders of the musculoskeletal system and physical movement. Their main function is to relieve pain, limit or prevent permanent disabilities of the patient, return injured persons to self sufficiency and productivity. Physical therapy and rehabilitation services involve evaluating, diagnosing and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal system so that patients can resume an active and healthy lifestyle.
Physical therapy is required to help victims of accidents or patients suffering from devastating conditions – to help them regain mobility, acquire flexibility and achieve balance and co-ordination. Conditions treated through physical therapy and rehabilitation services include permanent disabilities caused by accidents, strokes, traumatic brain injuries, birth defects, development delays, muscle weakness, brain injuries, post operative problems, spinal cord injuries, musculoskeletal disorders and neuromuscular disorders.
A physical therapist will use techniques such as strength training, stretching exercises, balance and coordination activities, hot packs and cold compresses, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound therapies to help the patient resume normal function. Physical therapy can be broadly classified into specialized areas such as orthopedic physical therapy, geriatric physical therapy, neurological physical therapy, cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation physical therapy, sports medicine and pediatric physical therapy.
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