- Home
care is a health care option offering a broad range of medical care and
support services provided in the home. Care can be short or long
term.
Home care is a cost effective alternative to hospital and nursing home
stays. This form of health care must be under the direction of a
physician. [Top of Page]
- Many
medical conditions that previously required hospitalization can safely
be treated in the home. Infusion therapy and
pharmacy services along with skilled high-tech nursing visits are part
of the baseline services. An experienced pharmacist and nurse work with
your physician administering care while in the comfort and security
of your home. [Top of Page]
- It
is always a good idea to start with an opinion from your physician,
discharge planner, case manager or pharmacist. They will be familiar
with home care companies suitable for your needs. After you obtain a
short list of candidates, it's time to call these companies and see how
they answer your questions. Below are some representative questions you
need to be comfortable with the agencies' answers:
- Is the
company accredited by either JCAHO or ACHC?
- How long
have they been in business?
- Are the
services you need provided?
- What
qualifications do the caregivers have?
- Is there
enough staff to meet your level of care needed?
- Has the
company worked with your physician before?
- How do
they protect your privacy?
- What
forms of insurance do they accept and do they take care of billing?
- What
cost will you be responsible to pay? [Top of
Page]
- If
you are in the hospital and your physician believes it a appropriate, a
discharge planner usually can assist in getting such services started.
Otherwise, your physician or the office staff will order the services
directly. [Top of Page]
- If
your IV is 3 inches long or shorter, it should not be left in for
longer than seven days. This type of IV is
referred to as a peripheral IV and will usually be changed every three
to seven
days. It should be changed at the first sign of any complications, such
as
redness, pain or drainage. If you notice any of these symptoms,
immediately call
the nursing agency that is visiting you. [Top
of Page]
- A midline
is 3 to 8 inches
long and is usually inserted near the bend of the arm and the tip of
the
catheter ends before the shoulder. This type of catheter does not
require
an X-ray after insertion and can be used for most antibiotics and other
therapies lasting two to four weeks.
A
PICC (peripherally
inserted central catheter), is also inserted in or near the bend of the
arm, but
its tip goes past the shoulder and stops just outside the heart. A PICC
requires a chest X-ray after insertion to make sure that the tip is in
the
correct place. This type of catheter can be inserted by a nurse or a
doctor. A PICC can remain in place for a year
without complication. There is no maximum time that they can
remain inserted, as long as there are no complications with the
insertion site
or the catheter itself. They are used for Total Parenteral Nutrition, a
very rich liquid nutrient), IV antibiotics that may be irritating to a
smaller vein, chemotherapy and any other therapy lasting longer than
four
weeks. Hickman
catheters are surgically inserted by a
doctor into a patient's chest. Approximately 4 to 6 inches of catheter
are
visible outside the patient's chest. This type of catheter is more
risky to
have inserted. Hickman catheters can remain in longer than
PICCs, and are preferable for patients who may need IV therapy for an
indefinite period of time. They can and do remain in for years without
any
complications.
A
port (often referred to by brand
names such as Port-a-Cath
or
MediPort) is a central venous line that does not have an
external connector; instead, it has a small reservoir implanted
under the skin. Medication is administered intermittently by placing a
small needle through the skin into the reservoir. Ports
cause less inconvenience and have a lower risk of infection than PICCs,
and are therefore commonly used for patients on long-term
intermittent treatment. [Top of Page]
- Any
time anything such as an intravenous catheter penetrates the skin,
there is a break in the
skin's protective barrier. The possibility exists the catheter
area,
another affected area or blood may become infected. Organisms
that
ordinarily live on the skin can become harmful if they enter the body.
Most
infections are spread by hands and fingers which carry the most
organisms. Your IV catheter and IV site need to remain as clean as
possible,
so everything touching them must be clean. This is why you must wash
your hands
before you put on gloves to change your dressing or perform other IV
site care. It is equally
important to
wash your hands thoroughly afterward so you do not spread any
potential infection to other people or other parts of your body. [Top
of Page]
- A red sharps container is
given to any patient who will be disposing of specific waste that is
regulated
by the government or local authorities. When needles (called
sharps) are
required, these must be dropped in the sharps container after
use. [Top of Page]
- Referrals
come from a variety of
sources. Typically, these include the person who needs care, a family
member, family physician, hospital personnel, insurance case
management, friend, or clergy. All services must be ordered by a
physician. A simple phone call to the closest Ambient pharmacy branch
can start your referral process. We look forward to serving your health
care needs. [Top of Page]
- Our
clinicians are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After hours
calls go directly to a staff member not an answering service. This
insures you get immediate personal attention. [Top
of Page]
- Providing
continuous, quality care to our patients is paramount. All patients
receive a patient satisfaction survey that can be accessed on this
web site or found in their admission packet. This one of our ongoing
evaluation processes to improve patient satisfaction. New programs and
procedures are developed from the feedback we receive and integrated
into our course of business as needed. [Top of
Page]
- Yes, home health care is an
extension of medical care and requires physician supervision of the
outcome. It's advantage is you can be at home while therapy proceeds. [Top
of Page]
- You can discuss this
concern with
us or any provider you have chosen. We have a flexible payment plan
and accept major credit cards. [Top
of Page]
- This web
site
is best viewed at a minimum of 800x600 resolution (best 1024x768),
JavaScript enabled and using browser derivatives from Mozilla or MS
Internet Explorer. [Top of Page]
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