There are many concerns and worries when it comes to a major healthcare procedure like surgery. Most find themselves concerned with the surgery itself and everything going well, but neglect to think of the recovery. Those that do think about the post-surgery recovery often focus on making sure they aren’t bored in the days and weeks of recovery to come. However, proper post-surgery care and recovery is critical to patient health. That’s when home health care becomes important. Home health care can help you recover faster by ensuring your recovery plan is followed and reduces the risk of re-hospitalization.
One of the first things a person looking to recover from surgery at home should do is prepare their home.
Prepare Your Home for Surgery Recovery
If you are lucky enough to schedule your surgery, preparing your home for recovery is much easier. The first step is working with your doctor or care coordinator about what medical equipment you may need. Bathroom aides like medical toilet seats and shower chairs should be purchased and installed in advance whenever possible. You should also ask about mobility assistants like crutches, a walker, or a knee scooter.
If your surgery will reduce your mobility there are some things you should do around the home to prepare. You or your loved ones should move any bedding or personal items downstairs. Also, you will want to provide a clear and easy pathway between your kitchen, bed, and bathroom to reduce the risk of tripping and falling. You may need to move furniture to create additional space to maneuver mobility aides like crutches or a wheelchair.
Ask your doctor or care coordinator about any special dietary needs for your post-surgery recovery. Surgery recovery can leave patient energy levels drained for days or weeks, so going grocery shopping after your surgery is not encouraged. Home health care agencies like Provista Healthcare offer home health aides as part of your home healthcare recovery plan. These non-medical assistants can help you with ADLs (Activities of Daily Life). They can assist you with meal preparation, light housework, errands, and medication reminders. A home health aide may be the right solution if you aren’t able to plan for your surgery recovery beforehand or are undergoing outpatient surgery and headed straight home. They can help you make the necessary changes to your home to make your recovery a success.
Surgery Recovery Plan & Appointments
Surgery can make traveling an uncomfortable inconvenience. Even if you can sit in a car, the movement can agitate your wound and driving may be impossible due to the nature of the surgery or the influence of medication. This can leave you to rely on family and friends to meet the crucial medical appointments needed for your recovery. Provista Home Health Care offers Telehealth and home appointment solutions to make your life easier. Additionally, Provista provides a care coordinator who will help coordinate your calls and home visits. The care coordinator keeps your recovery plan on track and helps your care team work closely with physicians following customized protocols to speed your recuperation.
With home health care through Provista Healthcare, medical professionals come to you for appointments. For the safety of immunocompromised patients (especially in the current health crisis) Provista Healthcare uses Telehealth and Telemonitoring to reduce the risk of infectious disease. In addition to follow-up appointments with physicians, home health care also offers physical rehabilitation services at home. Provista Healthcare provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy services to patients at home.
Medical Supervision and Reducing Re-Hospitalization
Some patients recovering from surgery need more active care than what is offered by home health aides and home appointments. As part of your surgery recovery, you may require medical attention such as post-operative wound management, medication administration, or IV therapy. Provista Home Health Care offers nurses (RN/LVN) to track your post-operation surgery recovery. A primary benefit of medical home health care is the personalized attention. Unlike in-facility recovery, home health staff see fewer patients and can provide you more personal attention. In addition, home health nurses can provide direct coordination with your physician and ensure discharge orders are being followed properly to reduce re-hospitalization risk.
The primary focus of home health care is to provide patients with quality surgery recovery and reduce the risk of re-hospitalization. Re-hospitalization often happens as a result of discharge orders not being appropriately followed. Many patients return home from surgery and begin neglecting their recovery instructions, eager to return to normal life. This can lead to issues that can cause you to be re-admitted to the hospital. Having the support network of home healthcare professionals helps keep your recovery on task and you out of the hospital. Provista Home Health Care prides itself on its 2% re-hospitalization rate.
Thanks to advances in Telehealth and Telemonitoring, home health care is able to provide care at the same level as in-facility recovery options. Provista Home Health Care offers 24/7 availability to patients. And, home health care is often less expensive and more personal than in-facility recovery. Allowing you to recover appropriately in the comfort of your own home.
How to Involve Home Health Care
If you are undergoing elective or outpatient surgery, speak with your physician or hospital discharge planner before your surgery. The earlier the better. They can help get a home health care agency like Provista Healthcare involved before your surgery date to create an easy transition of care from hospital to home.
Speak with your physician about what services you will need for your post-surgery recovery. Take that information and speak directly with the home health care provider about your needs. This is the best course of action. Unfortunately, physicians often assume what services home health agencies offer. If those assumptions are incorrect and you don’t speak with the home health care provider, you could be left with a care gap in your surgery recovery.
But, together with your physician and home health care provider, you can look forward to a fast and easy surgery recovery from the comfort of home. A home health care provider like Provista Healthcare can help you recover properly, quickly, and reduce your risk of re-hospitalization. You can learn more about Provista Home Health Care services HERE or contact Provista directly with your questions through our Contact Us page.
