boston (Legislative News Service) — A policy that allowed home care institutions to treat more patients was suspended when pandemic-era emergency medical measures ended on May 11.
The Healy Driscoll administration ended the COVID-19 public health emergency this spring with several policies designed to increase government and healthcare flexibility. These included measures to allow physiotherapists to conduct an initial comprehensive assessment visit for patients discharged from hospital for home care.
Current regulations require a certified nurse to conduct this visit, which typically lasts a few hours, to arrange the patient’s medications, educate family members on how to care for the newly discharged patient, and provide therapeutic treatment. , said Christine Mattson. Care Central VNA & Hospice Inc. Chief Clinical Development Officer
Once physiotherapists are able to perform this initial, time-consuming appointment (which must be made in order for a patient to be admitted to a home care facility), the facility will be more flexible and accept more patients at once. Mattson said in his speech. Webinar hosted Thursday by the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association.
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“At a clinic like mine, the clinical team is large, but it is almost half and half nurses and physiotherapists, and the presence of the nurses limits the number of patients that can be admitted on any given day. I’m back to being in a situation where I’m working,” she said.
Home health care is one of many health care areas facing widespread shortages and service cuts across the state.
“The loss of flexibility is really threatening the capacity of many government agencies, all government agencies,” Mattson said.
By Sam Drysdale/SHNS.
