The Fit Stop Blog

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What is Home Care Physical Therapy?

What is Home Care Physical Therapy?

There are many different facets of the physical therapy profession. Most of the time when we think “physical therapy” we primarily think of sprains, strains, post-surgery, and sports rehab. But did you know that’s only a very small part of what physical therapists do? Many work in hospitals (inpatient settings) to help people recovering from an illness, accident, or surgery. Others work in neurological settings and help those who have experienced a brain or spinal cord injury. Still more, other physical therapists work in a “Home Care” or “Home Health” setting – they come to the homes of those patients who are “homebound” or unable to come to physical therapy without assistance. But did you know that Fit Stop actually employs a home health PT? Here to tell us more about it today on the Fit Stop Blog is our home care specialist, Tyler Bluth, PT, MPT. Keep reading to learn more! Home Care Physical Therapy

shutterstock_166685732According to statistics from the National Association of Home Care and Hospice, therapists, nurses and home care aides drive one billion miles to care for patients in their homes every year.  Many of these patients are shut-ins and cannot receive out-patient Physical Therapy or other services, but therapists are increasingly playing a role in the recovery of patients – particularly following surgery. The home care component of rehab is an important aspect of the continuum of care offered by Physical Therapists.

Homebound

Understand that Medicare is an important aspect of home care. They are the primary payer of home care agencies that serve people in their home. Medicare will only pay for patients who are considered home bound. This plays a role following a patient’s surgery and inability to leave home. There are circumstances in which a patient can leave home. These include Dr. visits, attending church or a funeral. Even attending  a graduation is acceptable. For the most part, home care services are for people who cannot leave home.

Types of services

Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy is often required following surgery such as a total joint replacement. Oftentimes return to home following surgery is difficult. Many times nursing is required to oversee a patient upon return home. Blood work is often needed following a joint replacement. Taking medication that reduces blood clots is required Nursing can monitor the response to blood clot medication and  report this to their physician. They also monitor wounds for infection and are skilled in dressing management. The communication between nursing, the therapist and physician is valuable and plays a great role in the recovery of a patient.

Therapy

Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech Therapists all serve to perform rehab in the home care setting. These are all reimbursable services provided by Medicare and other private insurance companies.  This is a very valuable service particularly in the recovery of a patient following a difficult surgery. Therapists work with people in a person’s most important setting – their home. Here, activities of daily living such as walking, bathing and self-care can be worked on and improved. Following a total joint replacement,  activities such as climbing stairs and getting in and out of shower can be extremely difficult. Therapists are skilled in providing ways to improve these activities and make them successful again.

Therapists provide needed therapeutic exercise and activities to ensure recovery. Monitoring of  these exercises and improvement towards goals are reported to the physician. Compliance with these exercises is a very important aspect of recovery, particularly with the management of a patient following total joint replacement.

An example of this is Brenda following her total hip replacement surgery. “I couldn’t go up and down stairs without the fear of falling. The therapist came in my home and taught me how to do it” Climbing stairs with crutches can be a very difficult task (especially the older we get). “The exercises the therapist made me do helped me get stronger.” Patients are weak and sore following surgery. Physical therapists and occupational therapists teach strategies to assist a patient in becoming safe and teach exercises for strength and range of motion improvement. This is a great way to ensure there is no return to the hospital for further injury.

Benefits

While the majority of insurances will offer home health care, some insurance plans don’t cover these services. It is important that family members perform their due diligence when it comes to picking a home care agency. Talking to your Physical Therapist prior to surgery can be helpful. The therapist will put you in touch with an agencies that can help research if you will be covered. This will assist in the continuity of care following surgery and also eliminate stress that is potentially debilitating to recovery.

The therapists at The Fit Stop Physical Therapy provide in-home therapy services. Patients can be seen at home following surgery prior to the transition to out-patient therapy.  If you have any questions or if there’s anything regarding home care physical therapy, please contact us and we can discuss these services.

Fit Stop Physical Therapy Home Health: (435) 654-5607

Tyler Bluth, PT, DPT
Fit Stop Physical Therapy – Heber City
345 West 600 South Suite 200
Heber City, UT 84032
(435) 654-5607