December 9, 2005

PHD's Home Health Division Earns Quality Improvement Award

Study to Assist in Providing Quality Care for Clients

Panhandle Health District's Home Health Division is one of just 11 home health agencies in Idaho to be recognized by Qualis Health for the agency's participation in the 2005 Acute Care Hospitalization Project.

Qualis Health is the quality improvement organization contracted by Medicare to assist home health agencies in improving the outcomes for home health care. Medicare has identified the prevention of acute care hospitalization as an area of national focus for home health agencies across the country. The results of this study will assist agencies in developing tools and resources to better identify clients at risk.

"One of the goals of home health is to reduce the rate of avoidable hospitalizations and emergent care," PHD Home Health Division Director Mary Detienne said. "As caregivers, our ongoing efforts are directed at improving patient outcomes.  Results of studies such as the Qualis study will help us to better serve our clients."

Home care often results in earlier hospital discharges and lower health care costs. For many people, home care is the ideal transition between institutional care and independent living.

PHD's Home Health services include professional nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and care provided by medical social workers and home health aides. The availability of home health care allows an individual who still needs some skilled care to return home from the hospital sooner. In-home services can lessen the burden of a prolonged illness and teach the patient, family or friends how to care properly for a medical patient at home.

One of the first Medicare-Certified home care agencies in North Idaho, Panhandle Health District's Home Health Division has been providing quality care in the community since 1966. Today, the program serves people of all ages in the five northern counties.

PHD's Home Health professional nursing services offer many services including wound care, assessment of acute and chronic health care conditions, medication instruction, pain management and IV therapy.

Through technological advances, home-delivered health care has grown far beyond basic professional nursing and home care aide services. Today's modern home care agency offers a wealth of nursing, physical, occupational, speech therapies, counseling, dietary consultation, medical equipment/supplies and personal care.