SKILLED CARE DEFINITIONS continued

HOSPICE – Refers to a comprehensive program of care to patients and families facing a life threatening illness. Hospice emphasizes palliative rather than curative treatment. The dying are comforted. Professional medical care is given, and sophisticated symptom relief provided.

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.

MED-ALERT SYSTEMS – Personal medical alert products activated by pushing a button.

PRIVATE DUTY PERSONAL 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.

PSYCHIATRIC CARE – Refers to the agencies’ ability to offer services related to psychiatric support with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness. Services may include counseling or administering of medications.

SOCIAL WORKER – A clinical social worker whose purpose in health care is to enhance, promote, maintain, and restore the best possible social abilities of the patient or family. Services provided may be preventive, developmental, or remedial in nature.

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.

Occupational Therapy – Refers to services to assess and treat patients to improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working