What to Know About Home Health Services

By Mercyhealth

The time may come when you or a family member needs some assistance at home, but how do you choose the right type of service? Home health agencies provide skilled services. If you are looking for a caregiver to assist with daily tasks, that’s considered a support service, which generally requires out-of-pocket payment.

Mercyhealth at Home offers skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy as part of its home health program for homebound patients. A homebound patient experiences respiratory or other physical mobility issues that make it difficult to leave their home. 

Home health services require a doctor’s referral. The doctor may be a patient’s primary care provider, or a doctor may send a referral after a hospital visit. If a patient is referred by a doctor at the hospital, Mercyhealth at Home will contact their primary care provider.

After the referral, Mercyhealth at Home develops a plan of care based on an initial evaluation. The plan can include things like education about new medication, wound care or antibiotic infusions. Mercyhealth at Home nurses typically visit 1-3 times a week but adjust the care as needed.

Skilled nursing services are available 24 hours a day. If there’s a non-life-threatening medical issue in the middle of the night, the on-call nurse will triage the problem. If they can’t solve it over the phone, they may visit the patient to assist them or recommend the patient be seen in an urgent care or emergency room setting.

As the patient nears their home health discharge date, staff members will discuss that process with the patient. They’ll help coordinate appointments and ensure the patient is ready for the next stage of the healing process. 

For more information about Mercyheallth at Home, call (608) 754-2201 or visit mercyhealthsystem.org.