Agency Assessment And Case Study: Woodland Healthcare Home Health

Agency Assessment

1. What are the mission, vision, and purpose of the organization or agency?

Woodland Healthcare Home Health (WHCHH) shares the same mission, vision, and values as Dignity Health. According to the WHCHH’s patient handbook, the mission statement indicates, “The mission of home care to ensure healing; wellness and quality care within our communities while working together with physicians, other healthcare members, the patient, and their families. Our primary goal is to provide compassionate, quality care that is also realistic and cost-effective. Care will focus on the needs of the patient and be given with concern for the dignity of all patients, but especially for the poor and under-served.”

According to the Dignity Health’s

Another misinterpretation of Home Health (HH) is that they are used as long-term care when in fact HH is considered a short-term care service. In order for HH RNs to make any home visits, they must apply for certification with Medicare to get approval of a specific number of visits per patient’s condition. If the patient’s condition requires more visits, the RNs must apply for recertification with Medicare for an additional number of visits. It is unfortunate that many people in the community do not realize the full benefit and purpose of having HH RNs manage their care. However, after the RNs complete the initial home visit, the patient’s outlook on HH completely changes. During the initial visit, the RNs explain their roles as case managers, inform about the services that the agency provides, and emphasize how HH is a great alternative option for patients that are considered homebound

She explained that the agency serves anyone that meets the criteria for HH. The criteria entails the patient must be referred by a physician, must be homebound, have medical insurance coverage, live in a safe home environment, and require skilled nursing assistance with their illness at home. For HH, some clients quality for Medical, some chose private insurance with copayments, but the majority of WHCHH’s clients are 65 years and older thus they qualify for Medicare coverage with HH. There are criteria that Medicare requires in order for the patient to be considered homebound status for HH. Medicare requires that the patient must either have an illness that medically contraindicates them leaving home or they have condition that requires supportive aids (walkers, canes, crutches, and wheelchairs), special transportation, or assistance by someone in order to leave home. As regard to being insured, patients are require to be covered either under Medical or Medicare PPS or Medicare HMO in order for services provided by HH to be billed. The agency also gives priority to patients that are under the care of a WHC provider over patients that under a different hospital provider. Gail mentioned they do not have a waiting list for HH. When WHCHH receives a referral, they must see if they have room and enough RN staff to take on a new case. If the agency decides to accept the