In California, there were 14.3 million home care visits to 620,000 patients paid for by Medicare alone in 1994. 3 And strong growth of 16 to 20 percent annually is projected to continue between now and the end of the century. As in all health care, new technology is helping drive growth, and this article will present some of the sophisticated new technologies allowing delivery of safe and innovative services in the home. This article discusses perinatal and pediatric home care. An aging population is increasing the demand for home care.
New technology means safe delivery of additional services in the home.
Home care services are appropriate for patients with acute as well as chronic conditions. Hospital and skilled nursing facility stays continue to decline, and in some cases facilities seek to avoid admissions. The cost is about one-third that of hospitalization. Services that previously could not be provided in the home can now be safely and efficiently delivered there. Nearly all of the home care services described here can result in excellent outcomes at lower costs than in the hospital.