Nobody wants to find themselves back in the hospital right after being discharged. Unfortunately, for many, readmissions happen far too often. Sometimes hospital readmissions are due to medication discrepancies or reactions, lack of Provider follow-up care, or just not feeling confident managing their health at home. This is where home healthcare steps in.
Nearly one in five Medicare patients are readmitted within 30 days of discharge from a hospital, leading to an estimated 2 million hospital readmissions each year. This places a massive financial burden on the healthcare system, costing Medicare $26 billion annually, with $17 billion attributed to avoidable readmissions.
To help address this issue, Medicare’s Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) encourages hospitals to take action to prevent avoidable readmissions. And one of the best ways to do that? Home health care.
How VNA of Florida Home Health Care Can Help You Stay Out of the Hospital
- Unique Patient Centered Plan of Care
- The Visiting Nurse Association of Florida creates customized care plans tailored to each patient’s needs. Making sure you get the right follow-up care without unnecessary stress.
- Medication Reconciliation
- A major reason many people end up back in the hospital is due to challenges with medication management. VNA clinicians help patients take the correct meds at the ordered times, preventing dangerous errors or missed doses.
- Support for Chronic Conditions
- If you have heart failure, diabetes, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or another chronic illness, our home health care services provide monitoring and management to prevent flare-ups that could potentially cause rehospitalization. Research reveals that those with chronic illness who received care at home had fewer hospitalizations and shorter stays compared to those who didn’t get this support.
- Rehab and Recovery at Home
- Physical therapy and rehab aren’t just for hospitals or clinics. Receiving therapy at home allows patients to regain their mobility and strength in a familiar environment, making the recovery process much smoother. The same study highlighted that home care not only helps patients feel more comfortable but also significantly reduces the chances of readmission and the length of hospital stays
- Educating and Empowering Patients & Families
- Knowledge is power! VNA home health professionals teach patients and families how to recognize warning signs, manage conditions, and take charge of their health.
The Proof Is in the Numbers. Home health care isn’t just a nice option, it’s backed by research.
- A Johns Hopkins study found that hospital-at-home programs cut readmissions by 26% and lowered costs by 32%.
- Research in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society showed that home health patients had lower 30-day readmission rates than those without follow-up care.
- A Medicare analysis revealed that home health care reduced readmissions for heart failure patients by up to 25%. (Source: Medicare.gov)
Home health care is one of the most effective ways to keep patients safe, healthy, and out of the hospital. By offering personalized care, medication support, and chronic disease management, we help patients heal comfortably at home while reducing healthcare costs. At VNA of Florida, we are here for you and your loved ones, committed to providing the highest quality of care to support your journey toward recovery.
