Friday, May 31, 2013

A Certified Home Health Aide Provides Valuable Services

By Audrey McGuire


A certified home health aide is an individual who offers medical care to injured or ill patients in their home environment. They provide basic care that is not intended to be a substitute for medical evaluation from a physician or other licensed practitioner. Over the past decade, the demand for such positions has increased substantially, which is a trend experts anticipate will continue until 2016.

The goal of acquiring such care in an in-home environment is to delay or eliminate the need for the person to be placed in a long-term care facility. The latter is not the preferred choice of most individuals. Home health aides can help clients with all of their daily living activities, and subsequently assist them to maintain their independence.

Certified aides are trained to perform a broad range of services. Some examples include taking the client's vital signs, administering oral medications, helping him or her with dressing and bathing, and assisting the person to ambulate or exercise. Depending on the state regulations in the area where the care is being given, some aides are also allowed to perform massages, change dressings, or operate ventilators.

Home health employees are always supervised by a registered or licensed nurse, or a physician. They cannot treat or diagnose a disease, or provide medical advice. However, they are instructed to report any unusual changes regarding the patient to one of the professionals listed above.

Because many individuals depend on their insurance companies to pay for such care, it is essential for the aide to maintain appropriate records concerning the care offered. These records are then used by the agency to bill the proper party. However, even those who pay themselves for their care must have a file in which the details of their case is recorded with the health agency. Privacy is maintained regarding such records, and each patient is given a copy of the care that was administered at each visit.

A written exam and 75 hours of field training is typically necessary in order for a person to become certified in this line of work. The skills learned include lifting techniques, a thorough understanding of every facet of personal care, and good communication skills so that one can work effectively with a network.

When looking for personal care for a homebound individual, whether the latter is ill or disabled, one must carefully select a health agency. Most establishments of this type are legitimate; however, anyone who will be coming into a person's dwelling should be carefully screened in advance. This can be accomplished by asking for licensing information on the company, and checking the background of each agency one is considering.

After selecting a certified home health aide, the client and his or her family should make an evaluation of the person's performance after two or three weeks of scheduled visits have been completed. If the person is performing to the satisfaction of the patient and his or her loved ones, they can proceed to make long-term arrangements. If the client is not pleased with the individual, a new person should be requested. If one follows the suggestions outlined above, it will likely not be difficult to locate the best person for the position.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment