Shortened hospital stays and the desire to be cared for in the comfort and security of home have led to an expansion of care options. Home services can be provided by nurses, therapists, and aides. Planning for home care services begins while a patient is in the hospital. A discharge coordinator works with patients, families, and physicians to coordinate care. Not every patient is a candidate for home care, says June Stire, RN, BSN, infusion coordinator for Care Partners, a Morgantown-based agency that provides home therapies and home health services.
Families are the key.
Most of the time a family member is the main caregiver. Home care provides continuity of care from skilled medical professionals in the comfort of home. For many families, home care services are the best thing that's happened since the days when doctors made house calls. Care Partners was formed when West Virginia University Hospitals and Monongalia Health Systems began collaborating to provide specialized care to patients and their families. Care Partners' two branches provide different services.