Home Helath Care
The HHC provides nursing services supported by medical care to anyone who is challenged by medical issues that prevent them from leaving home, as well as, individuals who elect to be independent of hospitals or long term facilities. The services that the HHC team provides maximize the Integration of the patient into the community.
In 2015 the HHC team provided nursing and medical care for a total of 563 patients. The majority of these patients are bedridden, has complex medical conditions including organ transplant, oncology, on home mechanical ventilation etc. and polypharmacy
The HHC has accepted 191 new patients during this year and the team conducted an overall 9677 home visits, of them 249 home visits were during out of office hours. The HHC likewise received 4823 telephone call from patients of them 275 urgent calls during out of office hours. For these groups of patients the HHC team provides integrated nursing and medical services to the patients as follow:
Nursing Care:
1- Palliative care
HHC provide multidisciplinary approach involving specialized medical care for HHC patients with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing these patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, physical stress, and mental stress of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis. The goal of such therapy is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. The HHC clinical care coordinator maintains an up to date palliative care register to facilitate first class service for this exceptional group of patients.
2- Opiates infusion
The HHC team provides subcutaneous infusions in the home for cancer population with moderate to severe pain and the enteral route is not feasible, reliable, pill burden is excessive or unpredictable escalating pain pattern in collaboration with palliative consultant. In 2015 the HHC team performed 431 days of SC narcotics infusion in the community.
3- IVAB
Via central line or peripheral line: in 2015 the HHC team performed 564 days of IVAB infusion relating to 38 patients.
4- Home mechanical ventilation:
The HHC team provides primary and continuing medical care for this group of patients in the community. In 2015 the HHC provides medical and nursing care to 31 patients on HMVP.
5- Home Enzyme Replacement therapy (HERT)
The HHC team distinguishes that home-based therapy is more comfortable, less stressful, and more effective and had less impact on patient and family life when compared to hospital-based therapy. The HERT administration can last for 6 hours requiring the HHC nurse to be present during the administration. In 2015 the HHC delivered more than 52 HERT visits to patients on HERT.
6- Parental Nutrition (PN)
Feeding a person intravenously, bypassing the usual process of eating and digestion. In 2015 the HHC delivered more than 1250 TPN care visits to patients on TPN.
7- Tracheostomy care
HHC team provides home based tracheostomy change/care. In 2015 the HHC performed 179 trach changes at patient’s own home.
8- Gastrostomy care / change
Gastrostomy is a tube inserted through a small incision in the abdomen into the stomach and is used for long-term enteral nutrition. In 2015 the HHC performed 87 GT changes at patient’s own home.
9- Wound care
Acute or chronic wounds: All patients with wounds will have their wounds appropriately assessed by HHC nursing staff within 24hours of recognition. The HHC provide Negative-pressure wound therapy to their patient whenever it is indicated. In 2015 the HHC delivered 1336 wound care visits including complex wound needing V.A.C (Vacuum-Assisted Closure).
10- Blood draw
In 2015 the HHC performed 1246 blood draw visits. These labs are not only for INR monitoring of patients on Warfarin but also are often serving to formulate management plan in clinical setting. This service is helping to increase the likelihood that the patient can continue to stay at home.
11- Other services
General nursing care, vital signs checking, POC testing, Foley’s catheter change, Central line dressing care
Medical Care:
1- Primary & medical follow-up
The HHC physician together with HHC team provides home health care patients with required primary and medical follow-up to allow for appropriate management of chronic and acute problem in the community at the patient’s own home including medication refill service.
2- Medical evaluation
The HHC physician will examine patients, conduct diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, and educate patients, families, and caregivers about management of chronic diseases.
3- Management plan
The Home health care physician also take account of physical, emotional and social factors when diagnosing illness and recommending the required treatment.
4- Referral to hospital clinics
The HHC physician will refer the patient to hospital clinics for further assessment and possibly for treatment when indicated.
5- Medical reports
The physician provides reports and updates of patient’s condition and needs to other services.
