New research details chronic illness problem
A study of chronic illness in America, published Nov. 13 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, corroborates what people in the home health care industry have been saying for a long time: Although half the U.S. population (100 million) suffers from chronic illnesses, health care delivery is geared to handle acute care, not chronic care.
Because chronic illnesses, such as arthritis, bronchitis, diabetes, heart disease, HIV infection, renal failure, ulcers, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease afflict people of all ages, not just the elderly, the situation will get worse.
Conducted by researchers at the University of California San Francisco with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the study predicts that unless new systems of care are created, by 2030 chronic care alone will cost $798 billion in direct medical and nursing home costs.
Home health care has a great opportunity to provide a solution to the problem. Gary S. Wolfe, RN, CNA, CCM, vice president of clinical affairs for Lifeway in Miami, says it is a cost-effective means to keep people away from expensive institutional care.
Home care survey available through AHA
The Society for Ambulatory Care Professionals (SACP) has just released the results of its 1994 SACP/AHA (American Hospital Association) survey detailing key aspects of the home care industry. Available through AHA Order Services, A Profile of Hospital Home Care Delivery discloses the organizational structure, service delivery, revenue, and home care integration results gathered from more than 1,000 agencies nationwide. Information was reported by census region, metropolitan statistical area, and agency size.
The cost of the survey is $99 per copy for SACP/AHA members and $159 per copy for non-members. To order, call AHA Order Services at (800) 242-2626. Request item #C-016221.
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