Home care

Abstract

Home-based health care has grown over the past years and may continue to grow, especially if payment models change from fee-for-service to Accountable Care Organizations as care will be organized to reduce hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and nursing home placements for patients with complex medical needs. Home care includes personal care services and professional services, the latter of which can include the provision of care from physicians; advance practice practitioners; nurses; physical, speech, and occupational therapist; and social workers. Programs in the community can increase support for patients at home. Home-based medical care provides professional clinical services that include single consultative assessments, disease-specific care, primary care, and palliative care. Quality metrics have been established for home-based primary and palliative care.