HOME HEALTH DEFINITIONS
HOME HEALTH DEFINITIONS
HOME HEALTH DEFINITIONS 24 HOUR CARE – Refers to “round the clock treatment” in a home environment. The care may be shared by multiple caregivers or by a single caregiver.
Hospice emphasizes palliative rather than curative treatment. The dying are comforted. Professional medical care is given, and sophisticated symptom relief provided.
CARDIAC CARE – Refers to services including patient assessment, specific diet information, and management of the disease process, medication management and education. Cardiac care is a program designed to help a person with heart disease return to health. Cardiac care may consist of exercise, modifying risk factors to prevent further heart damage, or psychological rehabilitation.
INTRAVENOUS THERAPY (IV) – Refers to any medical treatments/medications that need to be introduced into the body via a patient’s veins. Numerous IV Therapies can be provided in a patient’s home under supervision of a MD. Some of these include: inter-infective/ antibiotic therapies, hydration therapy, pain management, chemotherapy and central line care and maintenance.
DIABETIC CARE – Refers to services including patient assessment, specific diet information, management of the disease process, medication management and education on all the above. Services are provided by Registered Nurse under the supervision of a M.D. Some agencies may have certified diabetic nurse instructors or cardiac care specialty RN’s in their employ. ENTERAL FEEDING – Enteral feeding, or tube feeding, is a way to deliver nutrients through a tube if you cannot take food or drink through your mouth. HOUR MINIMUM – The least number of hours a Non-Medical Home Care Agency will be available for hire. Medicare certified Home Health Agencies are not on a specified time frame. HOSPICE – Refers to a comprehensive program of care to patients and families facing a life threatening illness. 128
GREATER PITTSBURGH AREA - FALL 2021 - WINTER 2022
NON-MEDICAL HOME CARE – Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s), homemaking, companionship and other non-medical in home care. These services are available for hire after, or in conjunction with, Medicare certified services. Private payment, Medicaid and Veterans Benefits are a few of the ways personal care can be paid for. THERAPY SERVICES (ST, PT, OT, RT) – Speech Therapy – Refers to services to assess and treat speech and swallowing disorders. Speech therapy can treat speech, language, cognitive skills or swallowing. Physical Therapy – Refers to services for the treatment and the rehabilitation process where a physical therapist will often stretch, strengthen, facilitate muscles, challenge balance, test coordination abilities, teach home exercise programs and enhance basic mobility skills.
