Ensuring positive post-operative outcomes for orthopedic patients is a key priority for the healthcare providers responsible for their care. For many patients, the option to return home with home health care following orthopedic surgery may be a viable solution.
In this article, we will explore the evidence-based practices that a high-quality home health agency brings to the care and recovery of orthopedic patients, as well as what is known about improved outcomes for patients enrolled in home health following orthopedic procedures.
Home Health Care for Orthopedic Patients
Rehabilitation after orthopedic surgery is not one-size-fits all, and home health allows providers to customize recovery at home for patients who can return to their own familiar environment for continued treatment.
By offering rehabilitation exercises, pain management strategies, patient education, monitoring of the recovery process and conducting home safety assessments, home health care can help improve patient outcomes and reduce complications.
Some benefits of home health care include:
- Personalized instruction and support, tailored to the patient’s procedure, environment and assistive devices
- Real-time recommendations in the home environment for modifications that prevent injuries and falls
- Patient education including medication use, expected recovery process based on the orthopedic condition and proper exercise strategies
- Decreased infection rates for patients at higher risk 1
- Reduction of avoidable hospital admissions
- Higher patient satisfaction 2
- Decreased cost of care 3
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Essential Services Provided by Orthopedic Home Health
High quality home health agencies that achieve high Star Ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are required to follow certain criteria that directly affect orthopedic outcomes. Of the seven measures that comprise the Quality of Patient Care criteria, six routinely impact post-operative care at home: 4
- Timely Initiation of Care (process measure)
- Improvement in Ambulation (outcome measure)
- Improvement in Bed Transferring (outcome measure)
- Improvement in Bathing (outcome measure)
- Improvement in Management of Oral Medications (outcome measure)
- Potentially Preventable Hospitalization (outcome measure)
To achieve these goals, attention to established operational and clinical guidelines is critical. By prioritizing these measures, a home health agency helps ensure the success of their patients as well as referral partners.
Therapy services in the home for orthopedic patients have been shown to improve earlier recovery of baseline function. 5 Therapists will help patients increase strength and range of motion, minimize pain and swelling, and regain functional independence in the home while maintaining post-surgical precautions.
The home health team will also manage the surgical incision including any necessary wound care, monitor for signs and symptoms of infection, teach the patient about infection control and instruct on pain management including medication adherence. Along with physical therapy, the patient may need occupational therapy for environmental adjustments and safety with activities of daily living (ADLs), or skilled nursing services for patients with complex medical needs.
At Amedisys, we recognize that fall prevention is an important part of recovery and reducing the risk of post-op injuries. The home health team will instruct the patient on ways to minimize fall risk including reducing environmental hazards, use of assistive devices and adaptive equipment and proper body mechanics and techniques with household mobility and ADLs.
What to Look for in a Home Health Agency for Orthopedic Care
While referring a patient for home health care may seem straightforward, partnering with an agency that has a track record of high Star Ratings and favorable Home Health Care CAHPS (HHCAHPS) survey results combined with a dedication to fall prevention strategies can reflect better care outcomes and higher patient satisfaction.
It’s this dedication to quality that defines Amedisys’ ability to successfully partner with providers for successful post-operative care to support orthopedic recovery. Our Star Ratings consistently reflect our commitment to the highest level of care, with an average rating of 4.32 stars out of 5.
With online fast-track referral forms available to aid in seamless patient admission to home health care, you can be assured that your patients will have timely, effective care for the best outcomes.
Still looking for more information on our nationally accredited home health care services? Fill out our contact form below and talk to our team today.
Staci McGuire, DPT, MBA, serves as the Home Health Director of Clinical Strategy, Programs and Therapy Practice at Amedisys. With over 16 years of experience in various clinical roles within the organization, she is dedicated to empowering clinicians to provide exceptional care and achieve optimal patient outcomes by adhering to current best practices and standards of care.
