I was talking with a good friend recently who was soon to have major surgery. She and her husband are both in their seventies and I was concerned about what plans were being made for her care after the surgery. I knew her husband was a good cook and usually did most of the shopping and errands, but who would be there to look after his wife when he was out of the house? I suggested they insist their surgeon write orders for Home Health Aides to come in after her discharge. The couple had not been told that these could be paid for by Medicare or that they were even available. In the past, we always had a discharge conference when a patient was ready to leave the hosptial. That way everyone involved who was caring for the patient could have input. This sadly seems to have gone by the wayside.
I explained to my friend that Home Health Agencies can provide RNs, physical therapists, individuals to cook, clean, or grocery shop. These aides can also be paid for by Medicare, many health insurance plans, and even Medicaid. However, in this day and age, a patient or their family have to push the doctors to be sure an Rx is written and faxed to the Home health Agency in the area where the patient lives. I have done this many times for my older neuromuscular patients, many of whom had little in the way of a support system. I kept checking about aides with my friend and her husband and when she was discharged, the woman said the surgeon finally wrote the prescription but he wasn't happy about it. How is that possible? Does the doctor really want his patient to land back in the hosptial because of complications? I was astounded!
I was talking with a good friend recently who was soon to have major surgery. She and her husband are both in their seventies and I was concerned about what plans were being made for her care after the surgery. I knew her husband was a good cook and usually did most of the shopping and errands, but who would be there to look after his wife when he was out of the house? I suggested they insist their surgeon write orders for Home Health Aides to come in after her discharge. The couple had not been told that these could be paid for by Medicare or that they were even available. In the past, we always had a discharge conference when a patient was ready to leave the hosptial. That way everyone involved who was caring for the patient could have input. This sadly seems to have gone by the wayside.
I explained to my friend that Home Health Agencies can provide RNs, physical therapists, individuals to cook, clean, or grocery shop. These aides can also be paid for by Medicare, many health insurance plans, and even Medicaid. However, in this day and age, a patient or their family have to push the doctors to be sure an Rx is written and faxed to the Home health Agency in the area where the patient lives. I have done this many times for my older neuromuscular patients, many of whom had little in the way of a support system. I kept checking about aides with my friend and her husband and when she was discharged, the woman said the surgeon finally wrote the prescription but he wasn't happy about it. How is that possible? Does the doctor really want his patient to land back in the hosptial because of complications? I was astounded!