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Tips for Discharging Home Successfully
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| The anticipation
of returning home is exciting. If you have been away from
home for a while, it is also understandable and natural
to be a little worried. Your health care team, including
your Experts In Home Health Management Liaison is here
to help so that the steps in your pathway towards home
will be confident ones. Here are a few tips for a smooth
pathway home: |
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Understand your discharge instructions |
| Has the physician
or the nurse reviewed with you, your recommendations for
care and recovery at home? Do you have a list of new diagnosis,
treatments, and medications to take with you? Who would
be the correct person to call if you need to clarify care
instructions or have questions about the way you are feeling
when you get home? How long should you expect to have
pain, etc.? When should you follow up with the doctor? |
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| Do you
have transportation for your trip home? |
| Will a family
member or friend bring you home or has the discharge planner
arranged an ambulance or wheelchair van for the trip home?
Do you have clean, comfortable clothing available for
the ride home? What is check out time? |
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| Have
prescriptions been called in to the pharmacy? |
| When you
are anxious to get comfortable in your own home, a wait
for prescriptions, at the pharmacy can seem like a lifetime.
Some pharmacies will deliver prescriptions to your door.
Have you asked if the pharmacy can deliver? Is a family
member or friend able to pick up prescriptions for you?
The next best thing is to have the prescriptions ready
and waiting for pick up when you arrive. Have they been
called in ahead of time? |
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| Has
your doctor ordered home health care services? |
| Home Health
Care can provide the medical support and rehabilitation
you need for a smooth pathway back to health. If home
health care is needed, call1-800-HOMECARE. The intake
staff at Experts in Home Health Management will be very
pleased to clarify any questions about coverage and services.
Medicare and many other insurances will pay for medically
necessary skilled services. |
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| Has
medical equipment been ordered? |
| If all needed
equipment has been ordered, do you know when to expect
delivery? If you feel a wheelchair, walker, or other equipment
would be helpful during your recovery, your Experts in
Home Health Management Liaison would be very pleased to
coordinate delivery for you, or, please feel free to call
House of Medical Equipment, toll free, to discuss any
questions or requests regarding medical equipment at 866-558-5298. |
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| Have
you arranged for someone to stay with you, for at least
your first night at home? |
| Family and
friends are great. If you need additional support please
feel free to contact Experts in Home Health Management
at 1-800-HOMECARE. They can assist with meal preparation,
light house keeping, grocery shopping, transportation
to appointments, medication set ups or other services
as requested. |
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| Is
there food in the house? |
| Proper nourishment
is very important to your recovery. Please be sure someone
has picked up some groceries, and perhaps assisted in
clearing old foods from the refrigerator. |
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| If
you are not yet mobile, have you arranged a comfortable
and accessible area for resting? |
| Do you have
books, the remote control, water, toiletries, etc. within
your reach? |
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Please ask your
doctor or discharge planner for Experts
in
Home Health Management, Inc. Call1-800-HOMECARE,
because not all
home health care agencies are alike.
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