Tips from Joint Commission to Improve Access to Home Care Services

​Whether due to patient or family refusals, or because of healthcare providers not doing enough upon discharge, a substantial gap exists between patients who are eligible for home care services and those who receive them, according to the September 2017 issue of Joint Commission Quick Safety. Patients who receive home care after being discharged from the hospital are less likely to be readmitted, and they have a higher quality of life, the report said. Common reasons that patients or their families refuse home health services include that they view it as an invasion of privacy, they don't feel home help is needed, they are unaware of the service, or that they cannot pay for it. The report noted that information provided at discharge about home health services may be incomplete or treated as a one more item to cover from a checklist.