Getting Started – Salem Home Health

Healthcare can be unclear and complicated at times, and it can be difficult to know what the next steps are. Salem Home Health could be beneficial to you if you have had a recent hospital stay, see your primary care physician frequently for uncontrolled medical conditions, or are seeing a specialist related to acute or chronic illness that requires management or oversight.

Talk to your doctor about home health when:

You have been prescribed new medications or diagnosed with a new illness
You have had a recent fall
You had an emergency room visit in the past six months
You need assistance getting to a doctor’s appointment or when leaving the home is a taxing effort
You are feeling weak from a recent illness or hospitalization
You are in need of therapy to aid in healing from a fall or surgery
You have a chronic disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure
You have a wound that requires care

What to Expect From Our Team

Once your physician refers you to Salem Home Health, our team will contact your insurance provider to verify coverage and discuss any out-of-pocket responsibilities. In most cases, homecare services are fully covered by Medicare.
One of our highly skilled nurses or therapists will schedule a home visit to assess your skilled needs, such as nursing or therapy care. If you do not meet the requirements for this level of service, you will be assisted in finding the appropriate care for your current needs.
We will work closely with your doctor to develop a plan of care customized to your needs and set up steps to reach the goals outlined in your plan.
A nurse or therapist will visit you in your home to conduct a full assessment focused on preventing falls and helping you more easily perform the activities of daily living.
We will work with you to set up a visit schedule from our care team of nurses, aides, therapists and/or social workers in the coming weeks.
Our team will teach you and your loved ones about your disease process, including medications and their affects, daily self-monitoring of your condition, nutrition, planning for an emergency, safely getting into and out of a chair, bed and/or vehicle, and more.
Once our team helps you achieve your goals set forth by your plan of care, you will be discharged from homecare services.

How We Work With Your Doctor

The physicians in our community are a vital part of our care team. We work closely with them in your overall care plan to:

Establish a plan of care that includes your participation, customized to your specific needs
Communicate and update you on medications, changes, side effects, and pain levels
Communicate and update you on your condition and progress
Ensure that you call us first rather than your primary care doctor when you have a question, need, discomfort or change in your condition. Working as a team, we aim to make it easy and effortless to reach out.
Provide an emergency plan for you and/or your caregiver so you know what to do when emergency care is needed.

Let Salem Home Health Help You

Our dedicated team is comprised of:

Skilled nursing care, Certified home health aides, Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, Speech therapy, and Medical social workers.

How do I know if Salem Home Health is right for me?

Your condition is unique – and so is your treatment plan. At Salem Home Health, our professionals are specially trained to deliver high-quality care that helps patients to recover and regain their strength, health, and independence.

Our professional nurses, therapists, and social workers treat a wide range of medical conditions, allowing you to rest and recover in the comfort of home.

We can teach you to better understand your disease or condition, and how to manage things like medications and nutrition for the best quality of life.

A skilled team of home health clinicians will be your on-site healthcare champion – available 24/7 to address whatever symptoms or concerns you may encounter.

The emotional support, companionship, and expertise of our clinicians help to reassure you and your family as you progress through recovery or manage your chronic condition.

With Salem Home Health, you can trust that your doctor’s plan of care will be followed thoroughly and accurately, and that you will receive the high-quality, compassionate care you deserve.

Salem Home Health can help if you or a family member:

Has a new diagnosis or an exacerbation of an existing diagnosis
Has a new medication
Requires teaching on a disease process or medication
Is at risk for, or is experiencing complications requiring labs
Requires other skilled nursing services (wound care, teaching, observation, and assessment)
Requires frequent follow-up from a physician’s office
Has frequent re-hospitalizations
Exhibits behaviors that indicate risk for falls
Needs physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or medical social services.

If any of the above indicators apply to your situation, Salem Home Health might be the answer

Salem Home Health offers many treatment programs such as, but not limited to:

Wound care
Orthopedic rehabilitation
Heart disease and management
Pain management
Fall risk assessment and prevention
Preventing pressure sores
Immunization assessment
Medication education
Depression assessment
Diabetes education and management

Home Health FAQ

How does the process for receiving home health care services typically start?

Anyone can refer a patient for home health care, but since a physician is required to facilitate orders, most patients are referred by their physician during an office visit. However, it is likely that some may be referred by a facility such as a hospital after an unexpected visit (i.e., the emergency room) or a planned surgery.

Who pays for home health care services?

Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurers. In most cases, it may be necessary for patients to self-pay and arrange payments with their home health agency.

What does “Homebound” mean?

Homebound means leaving your home is not recommended because of your current condition. Medicare further describes a person’s homebound status to mean that leaving the home for necessary reasons is a “taxing effort” on behalf of the patient; your condition keeps you from leaving your home without assistance.

What kind of services are provided?

A team of skilled professionals provide a multitude of services right in the home, but most common are: skilled nursing care, home health aide (bathing, dressing, grooming), medical social worker services, and physical, occupational and speech therapies.

How long does home health care last?

The length of service depends on each patient’s diagnosis and needs as directed in their physician’s plan of care. Some patients require several weeks of care while others may remain on service for several months. Patients are discharged from home health care services when the individual goals on the care plan are met.

How often will someone from the home health care agency come to see me?

The frequency of visits from the home health care team will vary for each patient as it relates to their diagnosis and specific needs. The home health care team, along with the patient’s physician, develop a plan of care that assigns which team member will visit that patient and how often to provide the care required. The plan of care is often revised as patient progress is noted.

How do I choose the right home health care agency?

Home health agencies should provide the services that the patient requires in the area the patient resides, as well as work with the patient’s insurance provider. They should be accredited, licensed, and certified. Our agency is licensed, Medicare/Medicaid certified, and accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP).

Home Health Quiz

How do I know if I qualify for Home Health Care?

Have you been to the emergency room or been hospitalized one or more times in the past three months?
Have you fallen recently or feel that you are at risk for falling again?
Are you making frequent visits or phone calls to your physician or multiple physicians?
Are you having difficulty performing the activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing and making meals?
Have you recently been diagnosed with one or more chronic illnesses such heart disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, arthritis, or pneumonia?
Are you experiencing pain that is difficult to control and/or have you had many changes to the medications you take?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may qualify for home health care services. Please do not hesitate to give us a call, and our Patient Care Coordinator can answer any questions that you may have.