What is skilled home health care, and who needs it?

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Jul 21, 2022

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Florida - Sarasota, Bradenton & Charlotte Counties , Florida - Southwest

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Home health can be complicated, but it is important for potential patients and families to understand what it is, who qualifies and what services may be included.  

Skilled home health care can provide a wide array of services to a person who has been certified as homebound and requires skilled healthcare due to an illness or injury. This specialized care or treatment can be performed by licensed nurses; physical, occupational and speech therapists; medical social workers; and home health aides. A patient must have orders from a physician stating the need and dictating services.

Some examples of the types of care a skilled home health patient could require is:

·    Post-surgical care

·    Wound care

·    Patient and caregiver education

·    Enteral nutrition

·    Infusion therapy

·   Behavioral health

·   Diabetic care

·   Cardiovascular care

Home health services may be covered by Medicare and other insurance providers. Most providers follow Medicare guidelines for home health services, which are listed below. Talk to your provider about 
specific requirements.

  • Patient must be homebound (leaving home for short periods of time requires “considerable and taxing effort”).
  • Care must be deemed medically necessary.
  • Care must be intermittent.
  • Patient requires at least one skilled professional service.
  • Physician directs care in collaboration with home health agency.

Call Empath Home Health today or visit EmpathHomeHealth.org to learn more about how our skilled nursing services can assist you. Call (855) 203-2273 for care in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties.

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