Post-Hospital Care Can Make a Difference

Research indicates that 20% of Medicare patients are readmitted to the hospital within a month of discharge, and that repeat hospital stays costs billions of dollars a year.  The study from the New England Journal of Medicine, April 2009, found that approximately 20% of 11.9 million patients were readmitted to the hospital within a month of discharge and as many as a third were back in the hospital within three months.  These unplanned return visits were estimated to cost $17.4 billion of the $102.6 billion that Medicare paid to hospitals in 2004.  It has become such a problem that it is receiving attention from the Obama administration and hospital executives and health care leaders around the nation.   

Eric Coleman, MD, from the University of Colorado in Denver, explains that many patients have an unrealistic view of how things will be once they get home.   However, the truth is problems can start quickly as patients (especially the elderly) may become confused about how to take their medicine and/or run into other problems.  This is the point where they head back to the hospital as they do not know where else to turn. 

Getting the proper home care services once a patient is discharged can help to prevent many of these problems and improve transitional care for the patient.  For someone living alone, studies show the need for home care is even higher as they have a 50 percent chance of readmission when compared to those living with others.  Home care is a low-cost alternative and can act as a link between health care providers as well as an effective way to detect problems earlier. 

Home care agencies provide a wide range of services to help ensure a speedy recovery at home.  Services include things such as personal care assistance, medication reminders and transportation to follow-up doctor appointments as well as light housekeeping and meal preparations.  Contact SYNERGY Homecare to learn more about our compassionate, professional Recovery Assistance services.

*Our post is for information purposes only and not a substitute for seeking medical advice.

At SYNERGY HomeCare, we are one of the most trusted names in home care in Colorado serving the front range since 2006. We have grown to 5 offices and will be adding 2 more locations in 2015 and our successful growth can be summarized by one word, "Service".   Our mission is to ensure that every client is treated with the upmost respect and dignity, and we strive to incorporate those beliefs into all of our home health care services. We are available 24/7 to listen to your unique story and provide you answers to all your questions.