Home Health, Medical Equipment Home Health, Medical Equipment and Hospiceand Hospice

Environmental Analysis

Internal Environment

External Environment

Long Term Objectives

The industry Continues to change and evolve

Greatest current changes are technological

The next decade will bring greater change, and in other areas: Aging baby boomers

Obesity and diabetes epidemics are expanding

Technology will continue to advance

Every field of health care will be affected

Rising Costs Demand for home health care will increase The ongoing nursing shortage continues to inflate

costs of salaries and recruiting

Uninsured Patients 46 million Americans currently uninsured, up from

20 million in 2004 Increase in service jobs indicates that the number

will continue to increase Government funds and VA budgets face

increasing stresses

Rising Costs Health care spending currently 16.2% of GDP

Expected to increase to 20% by 2015

Will be more difficult to secure third-party payments (insurance and Medicare)

Aging Population >60% of home health patients are over 65

Demand will increase as baby boomers enter retirement

Coming changes will reverse former trends

Home Health Care Patients, 1992 – 2000

(National Home and Hospice Care Data, 2004)

Diabetes Epidemic CDC: diabetes now a general epidemic, no longer

localized to specific areas One-third of Americans born in 2000 can expect

to develop diabetes

Blindness, kidney disease and amputations are common complications

Diabetics are poor healers and can require home health care for months

Obesity – the leading risk factor – also is epidemic in the US

Two major changes: Increased numbers of people reaching retirement

age Changes in Medicare, VA and private insurers’

willingness to pay for home health care

Home care is more cost effective for insurers than hospital care

TCB Caring Hands must be prepared to meet future demand for home care, medical equipment and hospice services within the veterans groups it serves

Home Health,Medical Equipment and Hospice Services

Home Health Routine in-home assistance at the nurse’s aide, CNA

and LPN levels, with oversight by an RN Contracted home health services in the veteran’s

local community

Medical Equipment This is for equipment and support not provided by

other sources. Example: the ramp that VA does not include with the wheelchair it provides

Hospice Contracted licensed care and volunteer visits within

the veteran’s local community

Home Health and Hospice Benefits

Home is important, especially when other aspects of life are uncertain

Home health patients need assistance, not institutionalization

Home healthcare encourages individuals to do as much for themselves as they can

Home healthcare promotes faster return to health

Home hospice supports both the patient and the family

Physical Services Helper Services

Companionship and conversations

Monitor diet and eating Assist with evening tasks,

preparing for bed Help with morning tasks Prepare medications Assist with transportations

to and from appointments Assist with walking Assist with clothing

Provide light housekeeping Assist with laundry Change linens Plan, prepare and clean up

after meals Pick up prescriptions Assist with any pets Care for Alzheimer’s and

dementia patients Attend appointments with

the patient Outings

Eligibility extends to any veteran who has been honorably discharged

Home healthcare, medical equipment and hospice care must be ordered by a physician Home health proceeds according to physician orders

TCB Caring Hands’ involvement in medical equipment applies to filling in the gaps left by government agencies and insurance companies

Hospice care is provided for those expected to live six months or less

Program CostsProgram Expansion

Costs vary relative to geographical region Services will be contracted with local home

health and hospice agencies Costs increase with increased requirements Average costs nationwide are:

Assisted living: $2073 per month in rural Arkansas to $5231 in Washington, DC. “Average is under $2500 in many non-metro markets” (Nursing Home, Home Health, Assisted Living, 2011).

Home health aides: national average is $21/hour, with broad geographical differences. Hourly rates are $25 in Rochester, MN; $18 in New York City, $23 in Chicago, and $13 in Shreveport, LA (Nursing Home, Home Health, Assisted Living, 2011).

This service can be operational in any city at any time: Contracted with local agencies Dependent on veteran presence and request in

specific geographical areas

Most cities have home health and hospice readily available Now favored by federal government, including VA,

Medicare and Medicaid Services generally must be ordered by a

physician

Economic changes may change local costs

Market changes are underway and will be more dramatic in the future

Federal budget changes can affect local supply

A survey of veterans using the site can guide program development and expansion plans

Nursing Home, Home Health, Assisted Living - General Average Cost. (2011). ConsumerHealthRatings.com. Retrieved August 5, 2011 from http://www.consumerhealthratings.com/index.php?action=showSubCats&cat_id=208.