Home Health Agencies Nationwide Celebrate National Home Care Month
Baltimore, MD - Home health agencies across the country are preparing to celebrate National Home Care & Hospice Month in November. The 2007 Home Care Month theme is "Preserving Health Independence and Freedom" -- a message that is especially pertinent this year.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, the Home Health Quality Improvement Organization Support Center, launched the Home Health Quality Improvement (HHQI) National Campaign on January 11, 2007. Currently more than 5,500 (approximately 65 percent) of the nation's home health agencies are participating in the HHQI National Campaign, an initiative that has united the home care community under a shared vision of reducing avoidable hospitalizations to improve patient quality of care.
Home health agencies that are a part of the HHQI National Campaign are learning ways to improve the quality of care they give to their patients in certain key areas. This improvement in care will help prevent patients from having to go to the hospital, thus "preserving health independence and freedom." To help home health agencies reach the goal of improved patient care, they are being provided with tools, guidelines, resources, and information on how they can help their patients stay healthy and out of the hospital. Each state's Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) is assisting the agencies with their efforts.
In Maryland, Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care, Inc. is working with 46 home health agencies to assist them in the HHQI Campaign. This represents 98% of Maryland's Medicare-certified home health agencies. In the District of Columbia, Delmarva is working with 20 home health agencies representing 91% of the District's Medicare-certified home health agencies.
National Home Care Month is celebrated each year by groups such as the National Association of Home Care and Hospice (NAHC). "Home care professionals and volunteers, along with modern medicine and technology, make it possible for sick citizens to be cared for in their homes where they can be surrounded by loved ones and precious mementoes as they live their best quality of life," said Val J. Halamandaris, president of NAHC.
"The great response to the HHQI National Campaign is indicative of the dedication of our nation's home health agencies to providing the right care at the right time for every patient," said Barry M. Straube, MD, CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Office of Clinical Standards and Quality. "CMS is confident that the diligent work being done by these agencies will contribute to a reduction of avoidable hospitalizations which will improve quality outcomes, patient and family satisfaction while avoiding unnecessary complications and costs."
The Home Health Quality Improvement National Campaign was founded by key home health stakeholders: National Association for Home Care and Hospice; American Association for Homecare; Visiting Nurse Association of America; American Telemedicine Association; Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association; Care Transitions Program, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; American Occupational Therapy Association; American Physical Therapy Association; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; Gentiva Health Services; Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Center for Home Care Policy and Research; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and its contractors, the Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs); and The Remington Report. More information about the campaign can be found on the official Web site, http://www.homehealthquality.org.
SOURCE: Home health agencies