New Survey Reveals Need for More In-Home Care Services in Mid-Atlantic

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Suzanne Musial

BrightStar offers medical, non-medical homecare to seniors, new mothers, recovering patients

CHICAGO, IL – As the cost of healthcare continues to be at the forefront of U.S. Government debate, a recent survey reveals that more than 40 percent of hospital case managers may only provide information regarding private duty in-home care services if it is requested by the patient at discharge. The results of this survey indicate that more Mid-Atlantic residents should be provided with in-home care information in order to fully recover from their hospital stay.

The survey was completed by hospital case managers in attendance at 7th Annual ACMA Maryland Chapter of Hospital Case Management Conference, held on September 26, 2009 in Columbia, Maryland. BrightStar, a full-service healthcare staffing agency that provides medical and non-medical homecare to private clients within their homes, as well as supplemental healthcare staff to corporate clients such as hospitals and nursing homes, conducted the survey onsite.

The survey found that 54 percent of Mid-Atlantic hospital case managers discharge 6-25 patients per week. While the majority of survey participants responded that they do not provide their patients with information on in-home and follow-up care, 24 percent always provide information to their patients upon discharge, regardless if they know that the patient can afford such care. Sixteen percent of the survey respondents stated that they only provide referrals if they know that the patient can afford this care.

When selecting which private duty homecare agency to refer a patient to, hospital case managers ranked the following criteria from most to least importance:

1. Ability to provide a caregiver on short notice
2. Feedback from the patient or family on the last referral
3. Ability to always provide the entire referral list to the patient
4. RN on staff to supervise and develop the plan of in-home care
5. Ability to coordinate with Medicare agencies
6. Availability when called

Local BrightStar owner Lynn Berberich, who provides homecare services to residents in Baltimore and Baltimore County, was surprised by the survey results. "A very large portion of private duty in-home care is not paid for by the patient," Berberich stated. "It is the family members who individually or as a group pay for the care of their loved one and it is important for all patients who are discharged from the hospital to consider continued in-home care."

According to a Rand Corporation study released in 2005, patients who underwent hip and knee replacements were less likely to end up in more costly institutions when they were discharged directly from the hospital to homecare after surgery. The study also revealed that home-based rehabilitation saved patients $3,500 to $8,000 per episode over similar treatment provided by skilled nursing or inpatient rehab. "The results of the BrightStar survey show that more patients who have been hospitalized in the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia and Delaware may not be receiving the proper information about in-home care services to fully recover," stated Barnett Lloyd, owner of BrightStar of Rockville.

According to the United States Government, healthcare spending is projected to reach nearly $3 trillion by the end of 2009. While senior citizens make up the majority of BrightStar's private duty clientele, the company also works with pediatric and worker compensation cases, long term care and Veteran clients, as well as private trust and public guardian payers. BrightStar is also active in school nursing programs, retail health clinics and provides day care services. Whether it's assisting clients who require high levels of medical care or simply providing a loved one with companionship, BrightStar strives to improve their clients' quality of life, maintain their dignity, and relieve the stress that their families face on a day-to-day basis, all while remaining in the comfort of their own home.

About BrightStar
Based in Chicago, BrightStar is a full-service healthcare staffing agency that provides medical and non-medical homecare to private clients within their homes, as well as supplemental healthcare staff to corporate clients. Our well-qualified, attentive caregivers provide peace of mind to clients and their families. We work to understand the needs of our clients and provide a customized care plan to match them with a qualified, pre-screened caregiver who is compatible with their needs. BrightStar is one of the few home healthcare providers that offer both medical and non-medical homecare, available to all clients 24/7.