America has a highly developed health care system, which is available to all people. Although it can bevery complex and frustrating at times it has come a longway from the health care organizations of yesterday.Previously most health care facilities were a place wherethe sick were housed and cared for until death. Physiciansrarely practiced in hospitals and only those who werefortunate could afford proper care at home or in privateclinics. Today the level of health care has excelledtremendously. Presently the goal of our health care is tohave a continuum of care for the patient, one which isintegrated on all levels. Many hospitals offer a referralservice or discharge plan to patients who are beingdischarged. Plans for the patient are discussed with adischarge planner. The discharge planner is a person who istrained in assessing what the patient's requirements forhealth care will be after discharge from the hospital. Thisenables the patient to continue ! their care at a level whichis most appropriate for them. Items reviewed for dischargeplanning include but are not limited to therapies, medicationneeds, living arrangements and identification of specificgoals. A few of the options that are available for personsbeing discharged from an acute care hospital can includehome health care, assisted living facilities, long term care orhospice Home Health Care According to Growing Old inAmerica (1996), "Home health care is one of the fastestgrowing segments of the health care industry" (p. 114).Alternatives for home care can meet both the medical andnon-medical needs of a patient. These services areprovided to patients and their families in their home orplace of residence. Home care is a method of deliveringnursing care and other therapies as required by the patient'sneeds. Numerous alternatives are available for personsseeking health care at home. With transportabletechnologies such as durable medical equipment, oxygensupply and intravenous fl...
