The CareWell Health - Case Study Example

Introduction: The CareWell Health care centre is a not for profit health care centre situated in downtown New York The clinic was started by a group of like minded physicians and businessmen to provide self-subsidized medical care to the poorer residents of the neighborhood. At present there are three full time and five part-time physicians at the clinic. The funding has been done by the doctors and a group of ten businessmen from New York. The clinic has been in existence since 1995 and has been able to provide quality health care in the following disciplines namely, general health, rheumatology, diabetology and physiotherapy. Each of the physicians of the clinic are experts at one of the disciplines above and hence the clinic can now cater to all the disciplines. The clinic also has a part-time physiotherapist. The only restriction that is in place is the number of patients that will be seen per day which is twenty patients for each discipline. There is no in-patient facility at the clinic. It has now been proposed to add a comprehensive home-care facility to people of the neighborhood. Home care service: There are many patients who would be benefited by receiving certain areas of medical assistance from their homes instead of coming to the clinic or hospital. According to MedlinePlus, “Home care is care that allows a person with special needs stay in their home. It might be for people who are getting older, are chronically ill, recovering from surgery or disabled.” (Home care services). A survey initiated by the clinic has found that there are a number of persons belonging to the categories mentioned in the definition above who can benefit from such services in and around the neighborhood of the clinic. Access to services: Any person who feels that medical assistance from home is preferred can avail of the services. Services will be charged according to the ability of the patients to pay. It is also proposed that some patients can be given free services at least for a certain period of time. Members who are more affluent will be charged accordingly since this service is also intended to raise money for the CareWell Clinic so that they can continue and also expand their philanthropic work. Persons who need assistance should book their requests at the front office. Bookings can also be done by the hospital or doctor who is treating the patent. It is proposed that services can start within one week of booking. An area of five miles radius of the clinic will be the limit of services offered initially. The following services are proposed to be offered. a) Blood pressure management. b) Assistance to patients with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. c) Palliative care. d) Respite care. This is to give relief to family members who need some rest after long hours of nursing. e) Physiotherapy. f). Personal help with daily activities for disabled patients. g) Managing diabetes h) Help in wound dressing. i) Periodical visits by the physicians themselves occasionally and in case of an emergency more services are to be added later once the service has started. Outcome of care: The outcome of care by proving the above mentioned services are varied. For example, an elderly patient will need assistance in dressing, bathing, brushing teeth etc. For a patient who is resting due to an injury, the services will be similar as above, but it will only be until the patient recovers. Parkinson patients will also need help in moving about. Respite care is aimed at giving relief not only to the patient but the family member or caretaker. They will be able to go about their regular activities (going to work, shopping, caring for their children etc) by this service. For diabetes patients, fixing their diet, assistance in injections etc will be helpful. Moreover help with taking correct and timely meditations is also a factor. In case of Alzheimer patients, the family too will need counseling which can be given by our expert counselors. The ultimate outcome is to make the lives of the patient and family members as comfortable as possible. Patient and family experience of care: Since this is not a community project, the factor is not included here. The staff required for the project will be selected with utmost care. It is proposed that apart from providing quality services, focus will be on courteous, kind and caring behavior towards both patients and the family members. Any one who requires counseling can avail of our services. The concerned staff will also be at hand to just listen to the patients and family so that they might get some mental relief.. Such experience will generate word of mouth publicity for the service which will ultimately help to expand the service to other areas as well. Process of Care: The process of care will also vary according to patient requirements. For some patients, only visits during fixed hours are necessary. For example, a patient would need assistance only during the day when family members have to leave for work. For others, visits for dressing, medications, injections etc are required. For some other a full time resident nurse will be needed. The process of care will be managed according to the needs of the patient. The physiotherapy sessions will be fixed in advance the therapist will visit the houses at the prescribed time. Doctors are scheduled to visit the more serious patients at least once a month and in some cases twice a month. A home visit in case of sickness or emergency can also be arranged. Structure of care: The clinic proposes to hire twenty nurses and five physiotherapists for the new service. The present staff of permanent and visiting physicians is enough for the time being. The whole unit will be managed by one of the physicians who will be assisted by a qualified manger. The manger will be responsible for the day to day operations of the Home care Service. There will be front office attached to the present front office of the clinic that will be in charge of receiving calls and for subsequent bookings. The staff there will have to balance the availability free staff and allocate them for patient needs. The whole department will run in the premises of the CareWell Clinic. Salaries and other benefits will not be substantial, but adequate. Hence, only persons with a mind for service will be hired for the purpose. Staff will be provided adequate number of vehicles to go about their daily routine. Creation of an educational program: It is proposed to start an education program also which will be managed by the current staff. This is mainly aimed at bystanders of the patient who may or may not be family members. Training as to giving injections, proper handling of bed-ridden patients, diet management tips, psychological training that teaches the correct approach and behavior towards patients etc are necessary and hence will be provided as a part of our services free of cost. This training can be done while on the job itself. If there is a resident nurse, the training can be provided when other family members are present. Otherwise a time can be fixed at the clinic where a group of people can come and attend training. A psychological training is especially necessary for family members of Alzheimer patients since the disease is more traumatic to the family members rather than the patient. Starting of such a service which combines service as well as business would be a great help to needy patients in the area. The clinic is confident that this project will be well accepted by the residents of this area. Plans for expansion can wait until the correct proposals are implemented and begin to run successfully. References Home care services. (2008). MedlinePlus: Trusted Health Information for you. Retrieved August 08, 2008, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/homecareservices.html Read More