Nursing Care Services: Yes

Speech Pathology Services: Yes

Physical Therapy Services: Yes

Medical Social Services: Yes

Occupational Therapy Services: Yes

Home Health Aide Services: Yes

Quality Measures Data 1/18/05

Percentages

VHS

State

National

HIGHER PERCENTAGES ARE BETTER

Most people value being able to take care of themselves. In some cases, it may take more time for you to walk and move around yourself than to have someone do things for you. But, it is important that home health care staff and informal caregivers encourage you to do as much as you can for yourself. Your home health staff will evaluate your need for, and teach you how to use any special devices or equipment that you may need to help you increase you ability to perform some activities without the assistance of another person.

38%

39%

37%

Percentage of patients who get better at getting in and out of bed

Most people value being able to take care of themselves. It is important that home health care staff and informal caregivers encourage you to do as much as you can for yourself. If you can get in and out of bed with little help, you may be more independent, feel better about yourself, and stay more active. This can affect your health in a good way. Your home health staff will evaluate your need for, and teach you how to use any special devices or equipment that you may need to help you increase you ability to perform some activities without the assistance of another person. Your ability to get in and out of bed yourself may help you live independently as long as possible in your own home.

56%

55%

51%

Percentage of patients who get better at getting to and from the toilet

Most people value being able to take care of themselves. It may take more time for you to get to the toilet by yourself. But, it is important that home health care staff and informal caregivers encourage you to do as much as you can for yourself. Your home health staff will evaluate your need for, and teach you how to use any special devices or equipment that you may need to help you increase you ability to perform some activities without the assistance of another person.

64%

64%

63%

Percentage of patients who have less pain when moving around

Home health staff should ask if you are having pain at each visit. If you are in pain, you (or someone on your behalf) should tell the staff. Efforts can then be made to find and treat the cause and make you more comfortable. If pain is not treated, you may not be able to perform daily routines, may become depressed, or have an overall poor quality of life. Pain may also be a sign of a new or worsening health problem.

68%

65%

60%

Most people value being able to take care of themselves. In some cases, it may take more time for you to bathe yourself than to have someone bathe you. But, it is important that home health care staff and informal caregivers encourage you to do as much as you can for yourself. Your home health staff will evaluate your need for, and teach you how to use any special devices or equipment that you may need to help you increase you ability to perform some activities without the assistance of another person.

56%

61%

60%

For medicines to work properly, they need to be taken correctly. Taking too much or too little medicine can keep it from helping you feel better and, in some cases, can make you sicker, make you confused (which could affect your safety), or even cause death. Home health staff can help teach you ways to organize your medicines and take them properly. Getting better at taking your medicines correctly means the home health agency is doing a good job teaching you how to take your medicines.

38%

41%

38%

Most people value being able to take care of themselves. In some cases, it may take more time for you to dress yourself than to have someone dress you. But it is important that home health staff and informal caregivers encourage you to do as much as you can for yourself. Your home health staff will evaluate your need for, and teach you how to use any special devices or equipment that you may need to help you increase you ability to perform some activities without the assistance of another person.

67%

66%

65%

Most people value being able to take care of themselves. In some cases, it may take more time for you to bathe yourself than to have someone bathe you. But, it is important that home health care staff and informal caregivers encourage you to do as much as you can for yourself. Your home health staff will evaluate your need for, and teach you how to use any special devices or equipment that you may need to help you increase you ability to perform some activities without the assistance of another person.

91%

91%

92%

Percentage of patients who are confused less often

Some inpatient hospital care may be avoided if the home health staff is doing a good job at checking your health condition at each visit to detect problems early. They also need to check how well you are eating, drinking, and taking your medicines, and how safe your home is. Home health staff must coordinate your care. This involves communicating regularly with you, your informal caregivers, your doctor, and anyone else who provides care for you.

50%

49%

43%

LOWER PERCENTAGES ARE BETTER

A home health care provider may refer a patient to emergency care when this is the best way to treat the patient's current condition. However, some emergency care may be avoided if the home health staff is doing a good job at checking your health condition to detect problems early. They also need to check how well you are eating, drinking, and taking your medicines, and how safe your home is. Home health staff must coordinate your care. This involves communicating regularly with you, your informal caregivers, your doctor, and anyone else who provides care for you.

28%

28%

28%

Percentage of patients who need urgent, unplanned medical care

Home health staff will check you at each visit for signs of confusion. Confusion could mean you are having a reaction to a medicine or further medical problems. If you are confused, your safety may be at risk since there is more of a chance that you will take your medicines incorrectly or fall. It is important to find the cause early and treat it in the right way. If you do get confused, staff should teach you and your informal caregivers how to deal with confusion to limit its effect on the quality of your life. Usually, if you are less confused, you are better able to help take care of yourself. It is also easier for home health staff and informal caregivers to provide care to you if you are less confused.

27%

23%

21%