Health Services
The right care in the right place
Today's advances in medicine have made home health care an alternative to lengthy hospital stays. Patients now may recover in the security of their own homes surrounded by family and friends. Great River Home Health professionals understand this and strive to provide highly skilled care in a familiar, comfortable environment.
Great River Medical Center's home-care clients also benefit from receiving the type of comprehensive quality care that comes with a Medicare-approved hospital-based program. Great River Home Health is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Our commitment to you
We promise that you will receive information about your diagnosis, prognosis and any medications prescribed in consultation with your physician. In addition, you will:
| • |
Be a participant in decisions involving your health care |
| • |
Be assured that all information concerning you and your care will be kept confidential |
| • |
Be treated with respect and consideration |
| • |
Have the right to have individualized care provided by health-care professionals with appropriate qualifications |
| • |
Know the name and profession of any person providing care to you |
| • |
Receive prompt and courteous attention from our staff |
Is home care right for my loved one or me?
Home care can be a comforting and cost-effective option to a lengthy stay in a long-term care facility. Whether you are at home or in the hospital, our staff will work with you and your physician to decide if home care is an alternative.
If you are a patient at Great River Medical Center, our health-care professionals will meet with you before you are discharged. We will assess your needs and outline your home-care plan. Your physician completes this plan with instructions regarding your care. We will regularly report your progress to your physician, who will update your care plan as necessary. If you are being referred to Great River Home Health from another facility, we will work with the treatment team at that facility to develop a home-care plan and assure a smooth transition to your home.
Who comprises the home health-care treatment team?
The following health-care professionals are members of the home health-care treatment team:
| • |
Registered nurses — These nurses provide skilled care, teaching and treatments under a physician-authorized plan of care. They also coordinate other services that you receive from home-care personnel. Great River Home Health registered nurses are available by telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Registered nurses also serve as links between home-care clients and their physicians by keeping the physicians informed of clients' conditions and consulting with them about treatment changes. An important contribution of the home-health nurse is teaching family members various skills necessary for home care. |
| • |
Home-health aides — These individuals are trained to care for you under the supervision of a registered nurse. They will help you with your daily routine. This may include helping you with:
|
| • |
Medical social workers — Medical social workers can help you and family members sort out personal, family, work-related and financial problems that may occur because of your illness or disability. They also can help you obtain the services of other beneficial community resources. |
| • |
Physical therapists — Under a physician's orders, physical therapists work with you to relieve pain in your joints or muscles and to restore the use of your muscles through exercises and other treatments. |
| • |
Speech pathologists — Speech pathologists help patients regain language and communication skills and oral and facial functions. |
| • |
Occupational therapists — Occupational therapists help you with the skills necessary for your return to daily routines. Such skills may include dressing, bathing and homemaking. |
What other services does Great River Home Health offer?
We also provide the following services to our clients. You may not need all these services, however, they are always available to you.
| • |
Laboratory procedures — Registered nurses draw specimens for laboratory tests only with a physician's order. This usually occurs during the regular nursing visit. |
| • |
Intravenous therapies — This service is for patients who need to receive home intravenous nutritional support, antibiotics, fluids for dehydration and analgesics for pain control. |
| • |
Medical supplies and equipment — Great River Home Health can help you obtain the appropriate supplies that you need for home health care. |
| • |
Spiritual support — Great River Medical Center's chaplains are available at no charge to help with spiritual needs. The chaplains also serve as a link between your clergyman and the home-health-care staff. |
What about payment?
Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance carriers reimburse home-care services. Great River Home Health will help you research your benefits, and we will file for your reimbursement.
If your physician decides that certain home-health-care services are medically necessary, Medicare will pay for these services in full as long as you are confined to your home. Your physician must order at least one of the following services for you to be eligible for Medicare coverage for home health care:
| • |
Physical therapy |
| • |
Skilled nursing care |
| • |
Speech therapy |
If your physician prescribes at least one of the services above, the following services are reimbursable for home health care:
| • |
Home health aide services |
| • |
Medical social services |
| • |
Occupational therapy |
The following home-health services are available and may be covered by Medicare:
| • |
Intravenous therapies |
| • |
Laboratory procedures |
| • |
Medical supplies and equipment |
Medicare sets home-health-care fees within very narrow guidelines and reimburses Great River Home Health only for what it costs to deliver these services to you. You will receive a statement every month from Great River Medical Center showing what home-health services have been billed to Medicare.
Federal law requires Great River Medical Center to send this statement to you. It is not a bill — only a statement of services delivered to you. Any private insurance policies that you have may differ in their requirements. We will be happy to help you with insurance filing and billing.
Great River Home Health does not receive financial support from the United Way, local property taxes or any other federal, state or county grants. Great River Home Health is a not-for-profit agency relying on insurance payments to meet operational expenses.
For more information
If you would like more information about Great River Home Health, please call (319) 768-3350. Our telephone is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Great River Home Health is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in the admittance or care of patients because of race, color, national origin, mental or physical disability or age. There is no obligation for you to choose Great River Home Health. You should choose the home health-care provider best suited to meet your needs.